Pasco has two competitive city council races on the Nov. 4 ballot. The Tri-City Herald sent each candidate a list of questions from readers and our newsroom. Candidates were asked to answer the same questions as their opponent, or respond to a question relevant to a specific position an incumbent has taken.
1. What special skills and background do you bring as a candidate for the Pasco City Council? I bring over 15 years of hands-on experience working in Pasco and a strong mix of public and private sector knowledge. As a construction services manager in the engineering field, I understand infrastructure, permitting and project delivery from the ground up. On the council, I’ve helped modernize outdated codes, reduce fees that slow development, and pass reforms that improve efficiency and transparency. I may be direct, but the public will always know where I stand, and I will continue to hold our local government accountable. I’m also a professional who believes in constantly learning and improving, which is why I obtained both the Certificate of Municipal Leadership and the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. My approach is results driven, data focused and rooted in accountability to Pasco’s taxpayers. Based on my skills and the results I’ve been able to accomplish with the help of the council, I’ve earned the trust and endorsements of our Pasco firefighters union, law enforcement professionals, local builders, and organizations like the Tri-City Association of Realtors. We got things done, and the people have noticed. 2. The Pasco council is currently considering creating a car tab fee or making a sales tax increase for citywide road improvements. What is the best option and why? I oppose both. Families are already stretched thin by high costs. Before asking taxpayers for more, we need to better manage what we have. We also need to ask if we’re doing the projects residents actually want to see. Sylvester Street was a disaster that drew significant public backlash, and we need to learn from that. I want to see us prioritize projects that truly add value to our quality of life. That’s why we’ve reformed our transportation impact fees, transportation impact analysis process, and other development regulations so we don’t leave money on the table. By making sure growth pays for growth and that our fees are predictable, we’ll enable more development and long term revenue for the city. Pasco’s road issues won’t be solved by more fees or higher taxes. They’ll be solved through smarter priorities, accountability, and stronger financial discipline. 3. The city is spending its reserves and making department cuts to offset a budget deficit. What do you see as other possible solutions to increase revenue and reduce spending? We need structural, not short term, fixes. That means controlling operational growth, freezing unnecessary hires, reviewing contracts and cutting programs that don’t deliver measurable value. It’s not just about smarter planning. It’s about asking where we’re spending taxpayer dollars and whether the community is getting value out of it. The council in 2022 should have never rubber stamped the hiring of hundreds of employees without new, recurring revenue to support it. That’s why I will push for a policy that states we don’t hire or spend any tax funds without a recurring revenue source in place. This council has already updated our fee structures to better align with neighboring jurisdictions. We were leaving money on the table. From development review fees to water rights charges, those updates directly support responsible growth. For the general fund, the focus should be on increasing sales tax revenue by promoting economic development, not raising taxes. Investments in infrastructure that attract commercial growth, like the Broadmoor TIF and the future Targeted Urban Area, will help flip our tax base. We can’t keep expanding government. It’s our biggest expense. 4. The city council has weighed in on controversial issues, like water fluoridation. Do you feel the council is the appropriate place for these conversations? Why or why not? Yes. The council exists to represent the people’s voice. When residents raise concerns, we have a duty to listen and ensure transparency. Honestly, it’s kind of an odd question to ask if this is something we should address, given that a previous city council in the 1980s approved adding fluoride to the water. If that decision was made decades ago, it’s reasonable for today’s council to review it and hear from the public again. That’s the problem with the media. They label these topics as controversial, but why can’t we have honest conversations about issues that need to be addressed? That’s why government is often reactive instead of proactive. We shouldn’t shy away from these discussions. We should be running toward them and doing what the people are asking us to do. Decisions should always be guided by facts, data and community input, not political pressure. 5. City councils are non-partisan, but we often see endorsements. Would you accept an endorsement from a political party? Why or why not? Let’s be frank. My opponent has been endorsed by the Franklin County Democrats, and I’ve been endorsed by the Franklin County Republican Party. This position is non partisan in the sense that we don’t put an R or D next to our name, but we all have values and principles that guide our decisions. Mine align with the Republican Party. The people of Pasco spoke in 2023. They wanted a community rooted in family values, fiscal conservatism and government accountability. Those are the values I represent, and that’s how I lead. 6. What is your stance on local firework ordinances? I support responsible celebration with common sense rules. Fireworks are a long standing tradition in our community, but safety and respect for neighbors must come first. We need to enforce our laws and look into how we can cite people who break them. I’ve been working on this issue to help our police get a better handle on enforcement. I’m not going to wait for someone’s house to burn down. This is about accountability and focusing our council on quality of life issues that directly impact our residents. Leo Perales is the incumbent. He is a construction services manager. Bryan Meehan-Verhei Bryan Verhei 1. What special skills and background do you bring as a candidate for the Pasco City Council? I bring a mix of business experience, housing knowledge and community perspective that fit well with the responsibilities of city council. As a real estate broker, I’ve spent years helping families and small businesses navigate Pasco’s housing market, so I see firsthand how issues like affordability, transportation and infrastructure affect everyday life. That background gives me a practical understanding of how growth happens on the ground — and how city policies can either help or hinder it. I also bring experience working with local labor and neighborhood groups, which has shaped how I approach problem-solving. I value fairness, clear communication and long-term thinking, especially when it comes to infrastructure and development. My goal is to help Pasco grow in a way that keeps opportunities within reach for working families while maintaining transparency and accountability in how the city makes decisions. 2. The Pasco council is currently considering creating a car tab fee or making a sales tax increase for citywide road improvements. What is the best option and why? I’m not interested in raising any taxes or fees that are simply a tax by another name, without first having real conversations with the public. People deserve to know exactly what they’re getting, what it will cost, and how it will benefit them. Just as importantly, I want to hear their thoughts before any decision is made. Transparency and community input have to come first. If, after those conversations, the community agrees that additional funding for road improvements is needed, I would lean toward a small sales tax increase rather than a car tab fee. A sales tax spreads the cost more fairly across everyone who uses our roads—residents, visitors, contractors, and businesses from neighboring cities. It doesn’t single out car owners and creates a steadier, more predictable source of revenue over time. Roads are used by everyone, and the responsibility for maintaining them should be shared. 3. The city is spending its reserves and making department cuts to offset a budget deficit. What do you see as other possible solutions to increase revenue and reduce spending? Before looking for new revenue, I think the city needs to start with a full, transparent review of how dollars are being spent. That means identifying what’s essential, what can be delayed, and where efficiencies can be found without cutting the services people rely on most. I’d also like to see the city improve how it tracks the long-term costs of decisions. Sometimes what looks like a savings today ends up costing more down the road. On the revenue side, we should focus on growing our economic base instead of leaning on one-time fixes or new taxes. That means supporting responsible development that brings new businesses and housing into Pasco, helping existing local businesses expand, and attracting employers who provide family-wage jobs. As Pasco grows, that growth should help sustain city services through a broader tax base. Finally, I think the city should explore partnerships, public, private, and regional, to share costs on infrastructure and services that benefit more than just Pasco. Collaboration can stretch our dollars further and reduce the need for deeper cuts while still keeping the city on a solid financial footing. 4. The city council has weighed in on controversial issues, like water fluoridation. Do you feel the council is the appropriate place for these conversations? Why or why not? Yes, I believe the city council is an appropriate place for these kinds of conversations, especially when they involve public health, safety, and infrastructure. Council members are elected to represent the people of Pasco, and that means being willing to engage with difficult or controversial topics openly and respectfully. Avoiding those conversations does not build trust; transparency and dialogue do. It is also important that these discussions are grounded in credible data and expert guidance. In the case of water fluoridation, the science is clear that it improves public health by reducing tooth decay, particularly for children and families who may not have regular access to dental care. While the topic can be emotional, it is exactly the kind of issue where the council has a duty to listen to the community, weigh the evidence and make a decision based on long-term public benefit. 5. City councils are non-partisan, but we often see endorsements. Would you accept an endorsement from a political party? Why or why not? I believe the city council should remain a nonpartisan body. Our city manager form of government was created that way for a reason, to keep party politics from getting in the way of solving local problems. When we let political labels shape how we see each other, we lose sight of what really matters, which is how our decisions affect the people who live and work here. One of the biggest problems we face today, not just in Pasco but everywhere, is the “us versus them” mindset. It divides neighbors, stalls progress, and keeps us from having honest conversations about what our community truly needs. Local government should be where we set that thinking aside. We should be focused on fixing roads, supporting local businesses, creating housing people can afford, and making Pasco a great place for all its residents. None of that depends on political affiliation. I did accept the endorsement of the Franklin County Democratic Party after reaching out to several community groups to listen and exchange ideas. We found common ground on how to strengthen our city, and that alignment led to their support. But my focus remains on community, not party. This campaign is about people, policy, and working together to make Pasco stronger for everyone. 6. What is your stance on local firework ordinances?
Original article online at: https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article312341386.html