Jack Turner

2331 Kaiser Rd. NW, Olympia, WA 98502

(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)
jackdturner@gmail.com
1) Why do I want to serve as County Commissioner?

Daniel Kemmis writes in his book Community and the Politics of Place that rural areas
could not exist without urban areas nor urban areas without rural areas because it takes
each for the other to recognize that the other exists. I have lived at the edge where rural
meets urban for my entire life. Growing up, my neighbors to the west were horses, deer
and elk while to the east was a typical small town city block where families lived and
children played. Even today, I walk across the street to get my mail bridging from the
county to the city limits and back again.

I want to serve as County Commissioner to serve both rural and urban citizens and build
bridges between the two. I want to serve as County Commissioner to inspire our young
to get involved in their community because I care for their future they face and how they
will face it. I want to serve as County Commissioner to inspire those experiencing
troubled times to believe that dreams do come true. I want to serve as County
Commissioner to inspire neighbors to come together to talk and solve their problems with
one another. I want to serve as County Commissioner to honor our elders and hear their
knowledge. I want to serve as County Commissioner to learn the wisdom from the
people that have been here long before me so that we can strive and work together to face
the challenges upon us. I want to serve as County Commissioner to strengthen the roots
and character of this county; both the rural character that serves as its backbone and the
urban artisan and creativity that host the Capital of this State. I want to serve as County
Commissioner to look out for the most vulnerable and improve the quality of life for all.
And finally, I want to serve as County Commissioner because I care. I care about our
well being as a country and a community and I care about the future we will leave for our
children and their children, and their children.

Having said the above, we are faced with difficult times. Times like this require a leader
who is willing to face such challenges and has experienced both professionally and
personally the challenge and opportunity difficulty bring. I have always believed in the
power of local government to lead the way in difficult times as well as to have the
resources to navigate the unseen challenges. I want to serve as County Commissioner
because the times of traditional leadership are over and the time for out-of-the-box
thinking that brings a culture of collaboration, shared resources, and creative problem
solving through the empowerment of our local resources is needed. At a time of cuts at
all levels of government, leading from a place of “yes we can” as a rural/urban
community is desperately needed and I want to lead the way in that belief and endeavor.
And that is why it would be an honor to serve as County Commissioner for District 3.
Jack Turner
2331 Kaiser Rd. NW, Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)
jackdturner@gmail.com
2) How I am uniquely qualified.

It was during the Reagan era when I began working for the United States Forest Service.
That era followed by Newt Gingrich’s Republican Revolution, established budget cuts
and shortfalls as the norm throughout my fifteen-year career with the federal government.
I spent most of my time working in one of the most poorly funded offices in the nation,
located in central Arizona, yet paradoxically, had the ability to get things accomplished.
In fact, this particular office was recognized by Congress in the late 1990s for its
achievement in being able to develop partnerships and build relationships both at the
various public levels as well as government, local to federal, and including the private
sector too. One particular achievement of this office was written about in the book
Beyond the Rangeland Conflict: Toward a West that Works by Dan Dagget and for which
I was interviewed. It was here that I began establishing myself as a leader in difficult
times.

Through this experience, I realized early on that the health of the environment is
interdependent with the health of the community. I went back to school here to attend the
Leadership Institute of Seattle so I could expand and gain skills in leadership, community
development, negotiating, conflict resolution, communication, and relationship and
partnership building. One of my greatest experiences was participating in a mock public
hearing where a juvenile detention center was planned in a neighborhood. My role was
one of the neighbors belonging to a neighborhood association that would be impacted by
the proposal. In a group of 18 people, I brought forward the concerns and possible
resolution that when presented to the mock city council, won approval.

This experience served me later in “real life” working for the Skokomish Indian Tribe
negotiating watershed and utility plans with Tribal Council and County and PUD’s staff
and elected officials. Work with the Tribe required involvement with staff and elected
officials from city councils to the county, state and federal levels. I was instrumental in
building a consensus on a watershed plan that involved two counties, two PUD’s, an
Indian Tribe and local citizens. I was the co-author of a forest restoration plan ordered by
U. S. Congressman Norm Dicks. And I single handedly negotiated the revival of a $2
million state and federally funded estuary restoration project in Puget Sound that was
nearly aborted due to legal entanglements.

These accomplishments were successful because of my ability to work with different

entities, to think out-of-the-box with the whole in mind, to creatively solve problems, and
bridge diverse interests, opinions, and issues. Rarely can an individual speak to their
position and listen to others to come toward an agreement of how to plan and take action
at a holistic level, as I have been able to in the last 15 years working on rural issues at the
grassroots level. I have the ability to facilitate a culture of collaboration to build
partnerships and to establish consensus in order to take action and get things done. And
that, ability to gain a broad range of support with various interest groups, from the
environment to business to rural landowners and of course, tribes, makes me uniquely
qualified as a County Commissioner.
Jack Turner
2331 Kaiser Rd. NW, Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)
jackdturner@gmail.com

3) How do I stand prepared to stand for election in 2009 and again in 2010?

It is commendable for anyone to enter into this position while at the same time gearing up
for two consecutive elections all beginning less than a year after being appointed.
Having been elected to student council and vice-chair for the county’s Storm and Surface
Water Advisory Board, this will be my first major election. It is a task that I, with honor,
accept, commit to, and will accomplish.

Serving in the appointed position will most certainly bring name and character
recognition due to my personable nature and my ability to gain broad support from
environmental groups, business owners, rural landowners and tribes. I will also be an
incumbent which is an additional advantage in being elected and then re-elected. And
naturally as a Democrat and being appointed by the Thurston County Democratic Party, I
will be running on the Party ticket for both elections of 2009 and 2010

Already a base of support has formed for this appointment that I will be relying on for
next year and the re-election campaign. I am committed to hiring a campaign manager
and treasurer with experience. The base also includes Democratic Party officials, fellow
County Commissioners, current and past, and supporters who have known me for some
time and believe in my capacity to hold this position through the next six years and
longer if desired. These supporters have already stepped forward, willing to knock on
doors and make phone calls. I am, as well, committed to doorbelling and making phone
calls in addition to attending the Democratic Party campaigning school with the goal
being elected and re-elected.

Also, I have been successful in raising over $2 million dollars, through grant writing
efforts, for projects to improve the environment. Other fundraising efforts include raising
money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Red Cross, City of Hope and the Muscular
Dystrophy Association.

Finally, I believe the election of 2009 and 2010 will be a vote of confidence as to the
progress I am making in dealing with budget shortfalls and providing services that are
looking out for the most vulnerable and improving the quality of health of the citizens.
More than any time in recent history, this position will be scrutinized as to whether I can
earn the respect of the voters with the decisions and actions I take as County
Commissioner. And it will be because of my ability to build bridges and my personable
character that I will earn that respect.
Jack Turner
2331 Kaiser Rd. NW, Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 956-2975; (360) 878-7095(c)
jackdturner@gmail.com
4) What do I intend to accomplish?

I believe that we will continue to face economic challenges countywide, statewide and
nationally for at least the next couple years. Reduced revenue should be expected and the
county could be faced with a decline in funding. Balancing the budget and living within
our means is a must and a great challenge as departments will be hard pressed to make
further cutbacks. And I will accomplish a balanced budget. And it will also be important
to prepare for the recovery when that happens, and it will. Thus, keeping programs in
tact that have taken time to build will be protected and finding ways to keep staff on
board as part of the downturn and the subsequent recovery is another objective I intend to
accomplish.

Balancing the budget after this year will require redefining essential services that are
most characteristic of these times and must emphasize improving the quality of life of our
citizens and looking out for the most vulnerable. The county should not add to its
citizens’ hardships.

Once having an updated definition of our essential resources, I will be proposing the
prioritization of those resources. The citizens must know where the county is putting its
energy and what it intends to accomplish. And the citizens need to be assured that the
county is living within its means and spending the taxpayers’ dollars prudently.

To accomplish this will require more commitment to cross program communication. Both
generally and utility/permit funded departments should be networking with each other to
surface duplicative efforts and opportunities to share resources to get the work the county
has prioritized done. This will be reported back to the administration, policy and
decision-makers to set up for balancing the budget for 2010.

In closing, I would hope to meet and shake the hand of every county staff person and
meet personally with those that are laid off and/or facing challenging times at home.

And finally, it is my intent to be elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2010 to serve another
four-year term and continue the work and momentum of my previous term.

To sum up, what I intend to accomplish is:

• Balancing the budget,
• Proposal to redefine essential services and prioritize those resources,
• Cross department networking and reporting,
• Strategizing for both downturn and recovery,
• Meeting staff and personally those who have been laid off and,
• Being elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2010.