Union Gap councilman to run for county seat

By DAVID LESTER

YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

UNION GAP -- Dan Olson wants to do more than represent the residents of Union Gap.

The councilman and mayor pro tem announced Friday he will run for the District 2 county commission seat now held by incumbent Ron Gamache.

Gamache, 65, is running for re-election to a third term representing that part of the county south of Tieton Drive in Yakima and west of the Yakima River south to the Klickitat County line. Gamache lives in west Yakima, having moved there from the Toppenish area two years ago.

The two Republicans may have to move over to make room for another primary challenger.

Toppenish farmer Kevin Bouchey confirmed Friday he is evaluating a run for the seat.

Bouchey and his wife, Renee, operate SKD Farms in Toppenish where they produce asparagus, mint and potatoes.

"A lot of people have approached me," the 47-year-old Bouchey said. "I'm getting bombarded. I am evaluating the situation and plan to make a decision very, very soon."

The potentially crowded Aug. 19 primary will be conducted entirely within the district, with the winner moving on to a countywide vote in the general election.

Filing for elective office begins June 2.

Olson is making his second run for a commission seat. He lost in the GOP primary two years ago for the District 3 seat eventually won by Commissioner Rand Elliott of Moxee.

Olson said he plans to move his residence to 4201 Main St. prior to the filing period to be a district resident.

A developer, the 63-year-old Olson said he would more
aggressively represent the district if elected.

He said he will seek additional state funding for the county's public safety agencies and courts, the largest portions of the county's $52 million budget.

"Law and justice costs are eating us up. It is a big expense to Yakima County," Olson said during his
announcement at the main entrance to the Valley Mall.

He said he would seek to modify the recently adopted county critical areas ordinance, which governs rules for environmentally sensitive areas of the county. He criticized buffer zones surrounding streams in agriculture areas.

"They don't have a right to do that. If the county wants to pay, that's fine," he said.

He took a shot at Gamache, saying he would not have agreed to turn the White Swan rail line over to a private carrier when a Toppenish-based nonprofit group had resurrected the county-owned line.

Olson described himself as a property rights supporter and fiscal conservative.

He is serving his second term as a member of the city council. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year, losing in a tight, three-way race.

Olson previously served three years as mayor between 1995 and 1998 when he resigned after then-county Prosecutor Jeff Sullivan accused him of using insider information to purchase water meters before the public was made aware of a price increase.

* David Lester can be reached at 577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.