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It is my honor to serve as your elected Pierce County Executive, the fifth in our county's history.
I have always felt blessed to live and work in Pierce County. I have watched local communities grow and flourish since moving here in 1975 with my husband John, a hometown boy and Bellarmine grad. From the shores of Puget Sound to the flanks of Mount Rainier, Pierce County is an amazing place to call home.
And yet it faces many challenges.
Transportation: An early focus of my administration has been on transportation. We built a powerful coalition of interests representing government, business, labor, tribes and environmentalists to persuade the Washington Legislature to protect funding for transportation projects that were promised to Pierce County.
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| We worked with the Port of Tacoma and our county's cities and towns to distribute federal economic stimulus funding for a variety of projects, including the crucial Lincoln Avenue grade-separation project that will improve freight mobility at the Port of Tacoma, which has a profound impact on our local economy. |
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Business: Our economic development team is working hard to promote Pierce County as a great place to live, work and do business. While we keep an eye out for businesses that want to move here, our emphasis is on nurturing existing businesses and helping them grow.
Spending: Those efforts are vital because the economic downturn is affecting nearly every sector in the economy. People are worried about their jobs and their homes. The recession is taking a big bite out of tax collections, resulting in the need to reduce county spending. Some popular and useful programs are going to feel the pinch, but in a time like this we have to focus on maintaining public safety and preserving the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. Everything else has to be on the table. Much like local families and businesses, Pierce County government must tighten its belt and look for ways to deliver necessary services while spending less.
Growth: We also need to be mindful of the future. We serve nearly 800,000 residents, making this the second largest county in the state. But projections show another 400,000 people will move into Pierce County by 2040. That's like adding almost two cities the size of Tacoma. Now is the time to get ready. We need smart, comprehensive planning for livable communities, which means safe streets and neighborhoods, quality parks and open space, clean air and water, and a stable infrastructure.
Opportunity: In regards to planning, I am very excited about hosting the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2015 U.S. Open championships at Chambers Bay Golf Course on the shores of Puget Sound. The Open, in particular, is expected to generate millions of dollars in economic benefits to the region, but we have much work to do to get the course ready. In the meantime, we are reaching out to build support for the continued development of Chambers Creek Properties. In the next year, we will build a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and open up two miles of Puget Sound beach to the public. This project, made possible by the development of the golf course, is poised to become a regional jewel that rivals Point Defiance.
These are just some of the topics on my agenda. I have assembled a motivated team of professionals in the Executive's Office to help turn Pierce County government into a more efficient, problem-solving enterprise with a heavy emphasis on quality customer service, transparency and accessibility. These are characteristics that have defined my previous service on the Tacoma School Board and as County Auditor.
The bottom line is I want my four children and three grandchildren to live in a place that promotes good jobs, protects and enhances natural resources and respects its neighbors.
If you already live in Pierce County, I encourage you to do your part to contribute to the community. If you are visiting, welcome!
Pat McCarthy
Pierce County Executive |
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