Congressman Derek Kilmer met with North Beach business leaders, toured Ocean Shores’ jetty, marina and Damon Point on Friday, departing with what he said were several new perspectives on the issues impacting the central Washington coast.
Later in the afternoon, he visited Taholah and the Quinault Indian Nation, viewing the endangered and threatened seawall there that had to be shored up with emergency repairs earlier in the year.
“I know there are specific and unique issues out here on the coast,” Kilmer said. “Coastal communities have substantial challenges, such as infrastructure challenges, challenges of the tourism industry, challenges facing our small businesses. So I think it’s important to be out here and hear how I can be a good partner.”
In a day that started with breakfast hosted by the Ocean Shores/North Beach Chamber of Commerce, the first-term Democrat from Gig Harbor painted a picture of a Congress largely gridlocked by partisan issues despite the efforts of many enthusiastic newer members like himself. The 40-year-old representing the 6th Congressional District currently is running for his second term against Republican Marty McClendon, a Gig Harbor real estate broker.
“I think there is a lot of opportunity to have an impact down here,” Kilmer said of the county as a whole. “Frankly, we still have a number of challenges down here. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. Grays Harbor County unfortunately has consistently vied for the highest or near-highest unemployment in the state.”
He noted that Congress has been out of session since the end of July, which gives him the opportunity to tour the district, but it also keeps Congress from doing its job.
“Congress is earning its low approval rating,” Kilmer said.
Later, he outlined economic development as the “biggest challenge facing both our area and our country.” While there is no “silver bullet” to get the economy going again, Kilmer said he believes there is some “silver buckshot. I think there is a bunch of stuff you’ve got to do,” he told the Chamber. “I spent a decade working in economic development in Pierce County.”
What he learned is that “workforce matters. In fact, the No. 1 issue … that businesses use when making their relocation decisions is the availability of good, skilled workers.”
The other lesson: “Infrastructure really matters. Sometimes the efforts and the failure of the federal government to make investments, either to address threats or just basic road or sewer infrastructure, is very, very important.”
Kilmer said he was working on bills to strengthen what he called “coastal resiliency,” and later in the morning took a tour of the impact erosion has had on the jetty, the Geotubes along the shore, the undredged marina, and the impact of storms and erosion at Damon Point/Protection Island.
“He has been amazing in paying attention to what is going on in Grays Harbor County, and we haven’t had a lot attention in the past,” said Ocean Shores Mayor Crystal Dingler in introducing Kilmer to the Chamber. “I really, really appreciate the fact that he is coming out to see not just us, but he’s coming to all the cities, he’s talking to all the people.”
It was the second time in the past year that Kilmer has visited Ocean Shores since he won the seat previously held by the retiring Norm Dicks.
No comments:
Post a Comment