Double Duty-Doing The Job While Running For Election For The Job!

The job of a Yakima County Commissioner is big, broad, and never-ending.  District three runs north of Selah, up into the training center, and down to the lower valley cities.

Norm Childress was elected to the office in November 2018, but unfortunately, he passed away mid-term.  An appointment process followed and Sunnyside Hospital Director of Medical Staff Services, LaDon Linde was named to the position and after nearly a year on the job, he's running to keep the seat.

 Linde's background includes work in agriculture and the medical field, both in human resources.  He says the pandemic lockdown was a major inspiration to run for office.  He wanted to help small businesses that he saw unfairly squashed by restrictions while big box stores were allowed to flourish.  He saw private contractors shut down while state projects continued.  So he entered the fray to help confront what he calls government overreach and to try to achieve some level of balance.

.Linde says he is no fan of "heavy-handed" Covid mandates which he also calls government overreach. He said the highly publicized friction between the health board and the County Commission resulted in a better board.

As he made his way around the County he says the common concerns include water issues, crime, and the homeless.

The sense I got from Mr. Linde is that he is a very good man, working hard on behalf of the county.