Time of change: Three outgoing Yakima City Council members offer reflections and advice

Dec. 27--YAKIMA, Wash. -- On Tuesday, the Yakima City Council will gain three new members but lose more than two decades of council experience.

Council members Avina Gutierrez, District 2; Bill Lover, District 4; and Maureen Adkison, District 6; will be taking a combined total of 22 years that saw several city managers, a gang-free initiative, major street improvements and a voting rights lawsuit, among many other issues.

We sat down to talk with outgoing council members about their experiences, advice for residents and future council members and where they're headed from here.

Avina Gutierrez, 2 years

Q: What did you learn while on the council?

A: How difficult it can be to get anything done.

Q: What was your favorite project or initiative to work on?

A: My most rewarding interactions have been with the families of my district, especially the children, who are so vitally important to our community.

Q: Is there anything you regret or wish you could change about your time on the council?

A: I have no regrets, only lessons learned. One of those lessons was the realization that nothing great comes easy.

Q: What advice do you have for future council members?

A: Stay focused on serving the best interests of your constituents and when in doubt, ask them. Stay focused on the needs of your district even as they work with other council members to improve the lives of all Yakima residents. Be cautious to not get distracted by those who would seek to gain unfair advantages for themselves. Focusing on your constituents' needs will keep you grounded.

Q: What issues should residents be watching in the coming months?

A: Quality of city services versus their increased cost. Also, the $150,000 proviso the governor has secured for Yakima to establish a gang prevention pilot program.

Q: What's next for you?

A: I plan to remain active in the community and look for ways I can contribute, including continuing to raise political awareness about those who feel alienated or forgotten. I hope to see the changes we have made on council have an impact in our community on continuing discussion of advancement of educational equality and an increased number of minorities and women in different career fields across the city.

Bill Lover, 12 years

Q: What's the biggest change you've seen in the council over the years?

A: When I first came on it was about government, but now it's more about politics. That's something that's changed across the country, not just in Yakima. This is a nonpartisan position but more and more I see people advancing a political agenda instead of voting based on good governance of people.

Q: What is your favorite or most memorable project?

A: We pushed through the initiative to require a super majority of the council members to raise taxes. So at least now we're only arguing whether it's a tax or a fee.

Q: What's next for you?

A: I've been involved in the American Legion's Boys State program. I also work very close with the local JROTC programs.

I'll pick certain city issues that I want to follow. I'm interested in how the new members move forward with the YMCA swimming pool, the plaza and the new Community Integration Committee. If the city starts a port district, I might be interested in running for a spot, but that's the only thing I can see myself running for in the future.

Q: Do you have any advice for future council members?

A: The future is theirs. But we're too quick to pick out-of-town consultants. We have a tremendous amount of ability in the town and staff. I don't want to see someone from Tucson come in and talk about whatever part of town. I want to see someone local.

Q: What should voters be watching for in the future?

A: We need to have a conversation about why people aren't voting and find new methods to increase voter turnout so people are participating in their government.

Q: Is there anything you regret from your time on the council?

A: There's no vote I wish I could change. Sometimes I voted no and knew it wasn't going to matter, but it was going to make me feel better so I got the votes I lost out of my mind pretty quickly. I just stuck with what I knew was correct.

Maureen Adkison, 8 years

Q: What major lessons did you learn while on the council?

A: I learned the art of patience. You really have to have a lot of passion to move something through the council, and that took me a little while to learn. I'm a better person for it.

Q: Are there any particular projects or initiatives you were passionate about?

A: The plaza. I've been all in on that since day one.

I was also deeply involved with the gang-free initiative. We gathered a lot of information and we didn't make a huge difference yet. But because of that the governor asked, "If I can find some money, what would you do with that?" So a lot of the information we gathered will come into play in the future so we can keep up that work.

Q: Is there anything you regret?

A: I don't think so. I don't know that I always voted right, but I voted what I thought was right. I did all my homework on everything we were going to vote on and voted my heart.

Q: What's next for you?

A: I'd like to stay on the Yakima Arts Commission and Yakima Morelia Sister City Association. I also told Mayor Kathy Coffey I'd help in whatever way I can. And I'm going to be spending time with my grandsons. But I'm not dropping out. I've been busy in this town for 35 years. I'm not going to stop now.

Q: What issues should residents be watching?

A: I'd keep an eye on violence and gangs because that's something that's going to be addressed in a big way.

I also think they should watch how diversity is represented and how the council encourages the community to work together.

Q: Do you have any advice for future council members?

A: Do your homework before you run and understand the true time commitment. Then, once you're elected, be patient. Keep pushing whatever rock you have up the hill, but be patient and don't give up.

509-577-7709

kbain@yakimaherald.com

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