Pullman Candidates Close, Except In Votes Town’s Mayoral Candidates Say They Have Only A Primary Difference

For all the votes that separated Mitch Chandler and Floyd Larson in Pullman’s mayoral primary, there isn’t much separating the two philosophically.

“Our beliefs are very similar,” said Chandler, who captured 1,382 votes to Larson’s 581 as the two beat Jim Rowland on their way to next month’s general election.

“We really don’t have any issues that we differ on,” said Larson.

Whitman County voters will see a full ballot as they go to the polls Nov. 7, weighing in on a dozen small-town money matters and a bevy of cemetery, fire and sewer districts.

But for the most part, the races won’t feature a lot of friction.

In Pullman’s mayoral race, the most obvious difference may be the age of the candidates: Chandler is 43, Larson is 70.

Larson has been on the City Council five years and haunted City Hall for nearly a dozen years before that as a reporter for the now-defunct Pullman Herald. He also has been president of the Pullman Lions Club, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Pullman Senior Citizens Corp.

He hopes to tackle Pullman’s growing parking problem with some sort of permit system and review city regulations to avoid duplication and clarify their intent.

Chandler has no history of elective office but a long record of civic involvement as president of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, the Pullman Downtown Association and Pullman High School Booster Club. He chaired the Pullman Planning Commission, an appointed position, and the Pullman Transit Commission.

Chandler lists as a top priority the looming city finance problem as state revenues drop by $1 million in the next budget cycle.

“We’re just basically going to have to pinch pennies and hopefully it won’t be to the fault of programs,” he said.

Chandler said he also wants to better the relationship between the city of Pullman and Washington State University and work to improve the city’s aesthetics.

In other Pullman races, Joan Honican, an environmental activist who successfully fought the proposed Pullman city golf course, will bid for the Ward II City Council seat held by Ron Wachter, general manager of the Nu Chem farm chemical dealership.

Mike Staley is challenging at-large City Council incumbent Matt Carey.

Voters who want to learn more about the Pullman candidates can attend a candidate forum at 7 tonight at the Trinity Lutheran Church, NE 1300 Lybecker St.

In other Whitman County mayoral races, Albion’s Catherine E. (Kai) Johnson is being challenged by Dan Emerson, Colfax’s Norma Becker faces a challenge from Tom Miller and, in Tekoa, Robet W. Beitz and Chuck Patrick race for the seat being vacated by Don Prince.

Also on the ballot are parks and recreation levies in Tekoa, St. John and LaCrosse, cemetery levies in Oakesdale and Garfield and municipal levies in Farmington, Palouse, Colton and Tekoa.

, DataTimes