Soria jumps into City Council race

YAKIMA, Wash. — A flurry of last-day filing activity highlighted by the surprise entry of Yakima School District Superin-tendent Ben Soria shook up Yakima City Council races Friday.

Flush with the success of last month's $114 million school bond measure, the soon-to-retire school leader filed for the at-large seat on the council held by Bill Lover, who is seeking re-election.

"I've put stakes in the ground here," Soria said, adding, "This community has grown on me. I love this place. That's why I want to contribute in any way I can."

Two other candidates -- 31-year-old postal carrier T.J. Davis and Mitchell Smith, 51, who sells health supplements and other products online -- are also challenging Lover. Like Soria, Smith filed for election Friday.

With Friday's filings, all four Yakima City Council positions up for election this year have contested races. Friday was the last day to file for the fall elections.

As expected, KIT radio personality Dave Ettl officially joined the race Friday to oppose Sonia Rodriguez. Ettl, 56, announced his candidacy weeks ago. A third candidate in that race, Sharon Madson, was more of a surprise. Madson, a homemaker and former hairdresser, applied for the council vacancy created at the beginning of this year when Norm Johnson left for the state Legislature. Madson was not a finalist for that seat, which went to Rodriguez.

The other well-known name to throw his hat in the ring Friday was former Yakima Mayor Paul George, who will challenge Council-woman Maureen Adkison. George is a Democratic Party activist and former Yakima Herald-Republic sports editor. Adkison, 61, a recent appointee to the council seat vacated by Neil McClure, has been president of the Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center board. She co-chaired state Sen. Curtis King's winning 2007 campaign.

The 68-year-old Soria said his decision to run for council was influenced by the fact that he is soon going to have a lot more free time and that, after a career that included stops in Tacoma, Albuquerque, N.M., and Southern California, he now considers Yakima home.

Soria questioned the receptiveness that some council members have to new ideas such as a paramedic program for the fire department and a proposed aquatic center. Lover has opposed both proposals.

Said Soria, "What I would like to offer is a greater vision for the possibilities of this community."

Lover could not be reached for comment Friday, either at home or by his cell phone. A retired Boeing manager and self-described "common sense conserv-ative," he was first elected to the City Council in 2005 and is making his first bid for re-election.

The fourth contested race pits incumbent Micah Cawley, 24, against former Mayor Mary Place, 65. Both filed for election earlier in the week.

* Chris Bristol can be reached at 509-577-7748 or cbristol@yakimaherald.com.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.