After patrolling the city as a police officer, Doug Smith is ready to patrol Hermiston City Hall as a member of the city council.
Smith, who recently retired from the Hermiston Police Department after 25 years, is now a residential general contractor and is currently running against Cameron Bendixsen for the Ward 4 position. The winner will replace Frank Harkenrider, who announced earlier this year that he will step down after his current term ends.
Smith said his years with the police department have given him a solid base of knowledge of the city, its organizational structure and the people at city hall.
“I believe my somewhat unique view of our city could be a beneficial addition to the council,” he said. Smith said serving on the council would also give him the opportunity to continue his service to the community.
During his years with the HPD, Smith was the crime prevention/community watch coordinator for four years and assisted with the Head Start neighborhood revitalization program. Smith was also the D.A.R.E. officer in Hermiston for about a dozen years and founder of the Lower Columbia Basin Coalition which focused on drug abuse and the growing methamphetamine problems in Hermiston at the time. If elected, Smith said crime prevention would be key area he would like to focus on.
Smith was also involved in Hermiston Little League and Babe Ruth baseball for many years as an umpire and spent 22 years as a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 687.
The former HPD officer said he strongly supports the current council’s effort to restrict medical marijuana dispensaries inside the city limits of Hermiston. He said he does not strongly oppose any actions the council has taken, but said he is “concerned about some of the ways the taxpayers’ money is being spent.”
Smith specifically cited the plans for the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center.
“This is a huge project, but there is little information going out to the public,” said Smith. “I’m concerned about the costs that have already been spent and the future obligations to our taxpayers that are not being disclosed – and judging from the people I have been talking with, the support for the project is not there.”
The election will take place on May 20.
