RSSWapato council says no to only applicant for open seat
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WAPATO, Wash. -- Empty seats on the Wapato City Council are nothing new.
Last year, two of the council's seven seats remained unfilled for three months before anyone showed any interest in serving as a council member.
And this year, the lone applicant for another seat that has been empty since January is being turned away.
"The only thing that gets to me is they have a vacancy and no one has bothered to apply, and here comes someone and then they turn me down," said Elvia Lopez, a former council member who applied for the post Monday night.
She says the move is all political. Lopez, a 34-year-old Wapato substitute teacher, said she's interested in bringing youth activities to Wapato, while most of the seven-member council is more concerned with supporting local liquor licenses in this rural Lower Valley town of 4,555 people. She served on the council from November 2004 until January 2006, after losing her seat to Lloyd Benscoter.
"They know where I stand," Lopez said of current council members, "and of course they don't want me."
Monday night, the City Council declined to appoint her to Position 6, which was vacated by Frank
Rodriguez in January.
Council members said this week they denied her the post because her past tenure on the council was too closely aligned with former councilman Juan Orozco, who they consider too controversial.
"I don't think she'd be a good fit," said Mayor pro tem Tony Guzman. "I think she'd cause unnecessary friction."
Lopez supports youth activities and wants fewer liquor licenses in town, where panhandling and public intoxication have been longstanding problems.
A majority of the council has routinely supported local businesses and liquor licenses in an effort to keep sales tax revenue flowing into city coffers. And given Wapato's budget problems, there's little incentive to change policy.
In fact, Rodriguez cited the council's support of liquor licenses as his reason for resigning from his seat.
On Monday, Councilman Cuco Roa made a motion for the council to consider Lopez's application for the vacancy, but it died due to a lack of a second.
Council members kept their heads low and said nothing, Lopez said.
"They didn't even give me any eye contact," she said.
Roa, Lopez's only supporter on the council, said he was frustrated that the council wouldn't second his motion to consider her application, especially since she's the only applicant.
He said a union representing the city's police department even submitted a letter to the council in support of her appointment.
"She was a community center volunteer and worked for the betterment of youth while on the council," said Roa, who served with her. "She's well qualified."
Mayor Jesse Farias said he didn't have an opinion on Lopez's application because he doesn't have a vote in her appointment. He wouldn't comment on the overall lack of interest among Wapato residents in City Council positions.
According to state law, Yakima County commissioners are to appoint someone to city council posts that remain vacant more than 90 days.
But that's a move that county commissioners are only willing to take if asked by Wapato, said Commissioner Rand Elliott.
"I guess we aren't inclined to stick our nose into Wapato's business without an invitation," he said. "Nobody is even claiming to be a qualified person. It's kind of tough."
Now, the City Council plans to advertise the position again.
"We've been actively seeking somebody to fill that position," Guzman said. "Somebody that's qualified, not somebody that's interested in fulfilling their own self-made agenda."
Either way, Lopez says she's not going away.
"I told them I would be back again," she said.
* Phil Ferolito can be reached at 509-577-7749 or pferolito@yakimaherald.com.
IT is a shame that elected official are like a bunch of babies like here in Wapato ! If there is an empty seat. Put the lady on it. Unbeknown to the council evidentally is that they are to listen to everyone, even their opponents! And if the council has some friction with Lopez. Maybe the council should grow up and listen to her. What I see of Wapato is that the council is not doing all that great of a job for the once fine town. If this council cannot go outside of their own views, then maybe they should all resign their positions. It is sad when elected officials cannot look beyond their own weaknesses!
Report ViolationIT is a shame that elected official are like a bunch of babies like here in Wapato ! If there is an empty seat. Put the lady on it. Unbeknown to the council evidentally is that they are to listen to everyone, even their opponents! And if the council has some friction with Lopez. Maybe the council should grow up and listen to her. What I see of Wapato is that the council is not doing all that great of a job for the once fine town. If this council cannot go outside of their own views, then maybe they should all resign their positions. It is sad when elected officials cannot look beyond their own weaknesses!
Report ViolationJessie Farias, Mayor of Wapato, has been a huge disappointment to the Latino Community. When he became Mayor of Wapato, it was thought that he would revitalize and bring Wapato back to life. He has not done anything like that.
What he has done is to run Wapato like his own little kingdom and hired his relative
in a good paying position and reigns over a town that is slowly dying because the residents are leaving one by one.
A drive down the City’s main street is like driving through a deserted town with the majority of the store fronts vacant and empty and unfortunate people walking like zombies passing away their life.
Anyone taking a stand about the high charges for water or supporting the youth or voicing any criticism is not allowed to prosper but is actually driven to silence.
In my August appearance before the Wapato City Council in support of a city residence charged with a city code violation, the Mayor asked whether anyone on the Council had spoken to me or the property owner contrary to his previous commands. All on the Council said no.
I had always thought that one should be able to approach a Council member to talk about the problems one was having with the city BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN WAPATO, PER THE MAYOR’S INSTRUCTIONS.
SO IF HE DOES NOT WANT MS. ELVIA LOPEZ, his weak city council will not approve of her and, therefore, no trouble will come to his kingdom. WRONG!
LET THE COUNTY OF YAKIMA HEAR OUR CRY IN SUPPORT OF MS. ELVIA LOPEZ TO FILL THE VACANT SEAT ON THE WAPATO CITY COUNCIL!
"...her past tenure on the council was too closely aligned with former councilman Juan Orozco,..."
Aligned with John Juan Eddie Orozco...enough said.
Wapato has really begun to intrigue me. It is quite apparent that the council made the right decision based on the applicants public statements alone. I'm not saying they should deny someone a chance at the position because they disagree with the council, but if they start out by speaking out against the council publicly... there are going to be problems. Way to go Wapato City Council! Good luck in your search.
Report ViolationMaybe the Wapato City Council and the Yakama Nation Tribal Council should merge? Then they would have a combined i.q. of two. Both councils are going no where, and fast. Un-stable people on both councils appear to have their own hidden agendas.
Report ViolationWhat is wrong with the City of Wapato. They're just like the City of Toppenish. They complain about drunks but insist on keeping their liquor license? How dumb is that? If they're talking about Yakama Nation, the Tribe has a treaty of 1855 which prohibits selling liquor, wine and beer on the reservation. When they tried to enforce the law they were put down by the so called "Stand up Committee" They want to complain about drunken Indians, but continue selling! Hire Elvia Lopez! She's thinking about the youth and cleaning the town up. Hurrah of Elvia!! We need some strong women in council!!
Report ViolationTAKE A LOOK AT THE YAKAMA NATION, AS SOON AS WOMEN WERE ELECTED TO COUNCIL. IT BROUGHT FORTH THE EVENTUAL DEMISE OF THE ONCE STRONG NATION.
NO DISRESPECT TO MRS. LOPEZ, SHE MAY BE WELL EDUCATED AND QUALIFIED TO FILL THE POSITION. WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR WOMEN ON THE YAKAMA NATION COUNCIL. THEY ARE ALWAYS PREACHING TRADITION SUPERCEDES EDUCATION. WITH THAT BEING SAID; TRADITIONALLY, ONLY MEN WERE ALLOWED ON TRIBAL COUNCIL.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: WHERE ELSE CAN PERSON SEEK TAX FREE SALARIES, TRAVEL 1ST. CLASS, MAKE MAJOR FINANCIAL DECIONS AND BE IN CHARGE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS? ALL WHILE BEING UNDER QUALIFIED AND UN-EDUCATED?? WOULD THESE INDIVIDUALS BE ABLE TO SEEK REAL EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE OF THE TRIBE? NOT UNLESS THEY LIKE WORKING GENERAL LABOR.
YAKAMA NATION OF COURSE
It seems like the comments made towards Yakama Female Tribal Council come from a former male employee who may be educated and is now disgruntled, because his contract ran out and he didn't get his way. The salaries are justified, they don't fly first class, the women on council have a great respect for education and tradition. I am an educated Yakama woman and I am unemployed, but that does not give me the right to publicly discredit the Yakama Nation and our elected officials, especially in a forum that is dedicated to problems within the city of Wapato and their council. I think on a positive note that the Yakama Tribal Council and the city councils within the Yakama Nation should get together to brain storm and seek solutions together on various issues involving all our community members.
Report ViolationCORRECTION: Un-educated elected patrons.
Two reasons, they are not educated; hence not OFFICIALS.
THERE IS NO ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE YAKAMA NATION TRIBAL COUNCIL. THEIR RESUME AND ACTIONS SPEAK LOUD AND CLEARLY.
IF THEY RESPECT EDUCATION, THEN WHY NOT BUILD A NEW CENTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (TRIBAL SCHOOL) AND/OR BOOST SCHOLARSHIPS? INSTEAD OF HANDING OUT 20 MILLION WITH LITTLE OR NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. OH, FINISHLINE AND FOOTLOCKER SAW A 350 PERCENT INCREASE IN SALES. I WON'T EVEN MENTION THE NUMBERS THE STATE RECEIVED IN ALCOHOL SALES TAX MONIES.
I MAY HAVE JUST GIVEN A COUNCIL MEMBER SEEKING RE-ELECTION AN IDEA ABOUT EDUCATION. LOL HEY, ANYTHING TO THEIR ADVANTAGE THOUGH. RIGHT?
THE ANNUAL CIRCUS (YAKAMA GENERAL COUNCIL) BEGINS THIS TUESDAY. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE IT THEM TO FINISH THE AGENDA? ITS EITHER UP TO A YEAR OR THEY NEVER DO.
REMINDS ME OF A BUNCH OF CRABS IN A BUCKET, TRYING TO GET TO THE TOP. CLAWING AND DRAGGING EACH OTHER DOWN TO MAKE IT OUT AT ALL COST. ANY ONE PERSON CAN PICK UP THE DAILY PAPER OR TAKE A DRIVE DOWN TO THE LOWER VALLEY AND SEE THAT THINGS ARE NOT WELL. NOW DAYS I HEAR YOU NEED A BULLET PROOF JACKET FOE SAFETY THOUGH. AT TIMES THAT MAY NOT EVEN BE ENOUGH, BECAUSE A TRIBAL OFFICER MAY HANDCUFF AND ASSULT YOU. NOT TO MENTION DISPOSE OF YOUR BODY ON A SACRED MOUNTAIN AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
BIA NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE OVER FOR THE CORRUPT YAKAMA NATION.
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