Since Winlock Mayor Glen Cook decided to leave his seat and run for Position 5 on the City Council, three candidates have stepped up to seek the mayor position.
Former Mayor Don L. Bradshaw, who served as mayor from 1992 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2002, will try for a third term against Councilor Denise Green and political newcomer Lonnie J. Dowell.
Each candidate has emphasized the importance of fixing the city’s sewers and streets.
The city has been trying to replace water lines under First Street for more than a year to fulfill a transportation improvement grant to repave the road between Alder and Rice streets. Winlock received an additional $35,000 to upgrade water lines from an anonymous donor in March 2012.
The candidates are also focused on creating jobs and marketing Winlock as a destination for tourist off Interstate 5.
Bradshaw, currently serving as Winlock Police Commissioner, said the city needs to find a way to connect the sewer line out toward the freeway and expand the city and possibly create jobs.
“Since I left office 10 years ago, the jobs are just gone,” Bradshaw said. “The only way we are going to solve that is to solve our sewer and water problems. We have to get sewer and water to the freeway, and if we don’t do that we will keep shrinking in size.”
Bradshaw said the City Council has not done enough in the past four years to improve the city.
The city cannot take another four years of nothing,” Bradshaw said. “Four years of nothing will turn us into Tenino.”
Bradshaw is especially critical of Green.
“I went to three council meetings in May and June and Denise is holding the council hostage,” Bradshaw said. “She will go on tirades without facts, and in the two terms I was mayor you can’t reason with her.”
As mayor again, Bradshaw said, he would focus on bringing jobs back to the community.
“This is the time to do it with the economy recovery,” Bradshaw said. “Until we have jobs there is no reason for people to build homes here.”
Dowell, a 20-year Navy veteran who is running for political office for the first time, said he felt compelled to help move projects forward like the sewer and street improvements.
“I retired from the Navy after 20 years. I’ve been here six years now and nothing has been done,” Dowell said. “The current administration does not support the mayor. I’m trying to get things moving forward.”
Dowell, a native of Winlock, said his time in the Navy has help him developed leadership skills that will transfer into a mayor position.
“I've been a supervisor my entire Naval career,” Dowell said. “Being mayor is about what is best for the community. I don’t have any agendas. It isn’t about me. It’s about Winlock.”
Dowell said he started attending council meetings regularly this year and he wanted to get involved further.
“I had support of my wife and other family members to run,” Dowell said. “It just seemed time for someone to do something because nothing was getting done.”
Green, a city councilor since 2011, said she is interested in improving the communication between the city and the community.
“I’m pretty much a liaison between a lot of places anyway,” Green said. “I’m willing to compromise.”
Green, a relative of homesteaders in Winlock, said she is proud of the work she has done for the historical preservation of the city. She designed historical tour guides and historical zones in the town.
“I am very familiar with where we were and where we are going,” Green said.
Green admits her personality might not mesh with others on the council.
“My mom died recently and I’m a little scatterbrained,” Green said. “I’m still able to function. Some people would have fallen apart.”
Green, who has lived in Winlock for 25 years, said she is motivated to better market the town.
“We need to start focusing on how to get more bang for our buck and we have to look forward to our future,” Green said. “People need to know where Winlock is. We need to market ourselves so people know we are here.”
Lonnie J. Dowell
Age: 45
Education: Winlock High School
Occupation: Retired from 20-year career in the Navy
Community Activities: None
Family: Wife Michelle, one daughter and one son.
Number of Years in Winlock: Whole life
Denise K. Green
Age: 54
Education: R.A. Long High School in Longview, Centralia College
Occupation: Homemaker for 36 years, historian and volunteer.
Community Activities: Restored the Old Winlock Fire Hall/Museum, painted the car mural on the back of city hall in 2000, made historical walking tour guides for the city.
Family: Husband Jeff, two children and one grandchild.
Number of Years in Winlock: 25 years
Don L. Bradshaw
Age: 70
Education: Graduated from W.F. West High School, completed many military leadership courses and attended many college courses while in the military for 30 years.
Occupation: A Winlock police commissioner since 2010, served two terms as mayor from 1992 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2000 and served on the council in 1997.
Community Activities: Served as chairman of Lewis County Joint Housing Committee, president of Lions Club, commander of American Legion, president of Historical Museum, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, Civil Service Commission.
Family: Wife Susan, two daughters and a grandson.
Number of Years in Winlock: 24 years
