The primary mail-in ballot period has started and so here’s what the three Aberdeen mayoral candidates had to say about running for the city’s top position.
Douglas Orr, Debi Ann Pieraccini and Dee Anne Shaw each shared their reasons for running for mayor, gave their ideas to improve the city, laid out their governmental experience and summarized the city of Aberdeen the way they would to someone who is unfamiliar with the city.
Douglas Orr — Director of the Aberdeen Art Center
Why is Orr running for Aberdeen mayor?
“I’ve been active in our city for about 10 years now,” Orr said. “I believe the time has come for Aberdeen to take its place as a destination city in Grays Harbor. Our collective years of mourning the losses of our past have gotten us nowhere. The time to stop tearing down our history is over.”
Orr doubled down on that last line with what could be a campaign slogan nominee, “The time for a plan of action is now.”
“The time for a leader who thinks of you, the people, first is now,” Orr said. “The time for a leader with a clear vision — and a path to get there — is way past due.”
Orr said he believes his “unique set of skills and experiences,” are what Aberdeen needs to pull itself up “out of its doldrums and set it on a new path to sustainable success.”
It’s evident from his strong words that Orr loves the city.
“Aberdeen is the powerhouse and the heart of Grays Harbor,” Orr said. “And it’s time we started to act like it.”
How can Orr make the city better?
“By working hard to fix many of the challenges that Aberdeen is facing,” Orr said.
Orr’s plan is to implement downtown improvements, which includes:
Form a commission tasked with finding ways to fill the second floors downtown
Obtain downtown facade improvement grants instead of loans
Pass ordinances to encourage property owners to keep buildings filled and maintained
Improve enforcement of camping and loitering laws downtown
Work closely with property owners to move the dike project along for flood control
Orr also wants to build community pride by:
Improving all entrances to town — add flowers, mow lawns, weed gardens. “First impressions kill us,” Orr said
Taking out billboards and ads to boast about our assets. Work better with Grays Harbor Tourism and State Tourism to promote Aberdeen’s events, trails, parks, water access, history, tall ship, central location, brew pubs, historic homes and more
Allowing more access to the waterfront with boat launches, trails, parks, water taxi and water tours. Extend Broadway to the river as the entrance to a new waterfront park
Building a parking area near the “Come As You Are” sign for people to visit it and take photos safely
Adding bright, new holiday decorations downtown
Creating a 25 Days of Christmas calendar downtown with events every day
Building a city center park downtown with a band shell where we can schedule live music and events downtown year-round
Orr also wants to “implement decisive solutions to the unhoused population issue,” by:
CCAP and The Moore Wright Group are both working on up to 68 low-income and transitional housing, which will help “immensely”
Seek more funding to do camp cleanups more often
Work to get the empty buildings rented out. If the buildings are occupied, many of the problems with vagrancy and vandalism will diminish
Remove stolen property from the streets, including shopping carts
Enforce public nuisance laws
Target “hot spots,” such as the Sun sculpture downtown. Add some decorative wrought-iron to the top of the cement base to stop people from sitting on it
Get the new Aberdeen Museum of History up and running.
What sort of governmental experience does Orr have?
While Orr has no official government experience, he explained that could be an advantage.
“I believe this lack of political involvement means I won’t be following expected norms when governing,” Orr said. “I’ll be more able to see things clearly, without preconceived expectations. I’ll be more apt to think outside the box and create more meaningful and sustainable changes.”
How would Orr briefly summarize the city of Aberdeen to someone unfamiliar with it?
“Aberdeen is an amazing place on the Washington coast,” Orr said. “It is centrally located in Grays Harbor County, just minutes from beaches, hiking trails, hunting and fishing, mountain climbing, whale watching and so much more.”
Orr called Aberdeen “a gritty city laden with a glorious history.”
“Once the logging capital of the world, it still holds the world record for most lumber exported in one year,” Orr said. “From ship builders to brothels, its secrets and dreams are just waiting to be explored. Aberdeen is a city filled with people filled with stories to tell. Some stories include grand names like Boeing, Bennett and Cobain.”
Orr then defended Aberdeen.
“Aberdeen is a city people love to talk trash about, but most of it is exaggerated BS,” Orr said. “We have had more than our share of hard luck to deal with and we’ve all just been waiting for our luck to change. I’m willing to get my hands dirty working to bring us all some good luck for a change.”
Debi Ann Pieraccini — Ward 5 Position 10 Aberdeen city councilor
Why is Pieraccini running for Aberdeen mayor?
“I am running for mayor to help lead our city in the economic growth that is destined for our area and to play a bigger role in helping to find a solution to the homelessness issue that is plaguing not only our community, but the nation as a whole,” Pieraccini said. “I believe that we can do better. We are coming into an exciting time for Aberdeen as we embark on the levee project, the museum project and the railway separation project. We have a great opportunity to lead in infrastructure growth with fiscal responsibility.”
How can Pieraccini make the city better?
“I believe it’s important to keep the lines of communication open to the public on projects and that a transparent government makes for a successful city,” Pieraccini said. “I am a person who finds out what our needs are and then gives an order of importance to the needs.”
Pieraccini said one need is a new police station.
“We have a lot on our plate with the exciting projects that are coming up, but we can make it a priority to find the funding to meet the needs of our police,” Pieraccini said. “Without public safety, we don’t have a city. The community priority is a safe city. I feel the same about the fire department.”
What governmental experience does Pieraccini have?
Pieraccini has attended council meetings for four years, but she’s been on the city council for “just over a year.”
“I am the Finance Committee chair, the Homeless Response Committee chair, I’m on the Personnel Committee, the Fire Pension Committee and will be on the Rezoning Committee as requested by Mayor (Pete) Schave,” Pieraccini said. “It’s been a rewarding experience to learn the ins and outs of the city from the point of view of a council member.”
How would Pieraccini briefly summarize the city of Aberdeen to someone unfamiliar with it?
“I am an Aberdeen native, so my love for our city runs deep,” Pieraccini said. “We are a small community with a big heart for people. We are the entry point to the rainforest, the ocean beaches and have been the home to famous individuals such as Kurt Cobain and Elton Bennet. We have the Lady Washington at the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport. We have birdwatching and beautiful parks that other communities only dream of. We have a fantastic art community, fishing, boating and local breweries that excite the palates of beer connoisseurs.”
Dee Anne Shaw — Ward 6 Position 12 Aberdeen city councilor
Why is Shaw running for Aberdeen mayor?
“My campaign has three areas of focus,” Shaw said. “Illegal camping/homelessness, drug enforcement and infrastructure development.”
“We are on the cusp of reinventing our economy,” Shaw said back in May. “More than $72 million is slated to be invested in our community over the next several years (the North Shore Levee, the rail separation project, a new bridge) and I want to be in the strongest position possible to support these projects. This is not counting the $18 million Fry Creek Project currently under way in our West End.”
Shaw said with the funds secured for the above projects, “the work has just begun.”
How can Shaw make the city better?
The former journalist said her career and her current position have prepared her for governance.
“We need a strong mayor to support the work of our new city administrator and staff to ensure these projects reach completion,” Shaw said. “Homeowners and business owners, especially our downtown and residents who live in the flood plain, will benefit from these projects. If we plan wisely and promote well, our city has the potential to become a beacon to visitors and outside investment.”
Another need Shaw sees for the city is to “tackle the illegal camping situation under the bridge more effectively.”
“I am an advocate for a homeless and housing strategy that taps into all available resources,” Shaw said. “This means developing a plan and being willing to do what is needed to become eligible for outside funding. I am not afraid of a properly operated, drug free, low-barrier shelter. It should be obvious by now that it would be better than the current situation.”
Shaw has an issue with the amount of money spent on the area’s homeless.
“We are spending way too much money on managing the impacts and not enough on preventing the squalor in the first place. Aberdeen is a compassionate community, but I think we can curtail the illegal activity that makes our downtown feel unsafe. We need to have the necessary strategies and partnerships in place so that we can go after outside funding to help us with this very challenging and complex problem.”
Shaw also wants to “re-energize drug enforcement” in Aberdeen.
“We don’t quit writing speeding tickets because we can’t catch all the speeders out there,” Shaw said. “I believe selling or providing drugs to minors is evil. Every time one of our kids needs help because they’ve gotten ahold of drugs, I would want to know that our police department is investigating where that kid got those drugs.”
What governmental experience does Shaw have?
Shaw has nearly eight years on the Aberdeen City Council from the 6th Ward. She’s spent six years as Public Works Committee chairperson and two as Aberdeen City Council president.
Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.
Dee Anne Shaw
Dee Anne Shaw
