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County chair candidates spar on budget, Clean Water Services, data centers and jail expansion
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Summary
A League of Women Voters forum heard three county-chair candidates debate priorities including balanced budgets and economic resiliency, Clean Water Services rate-setting and oversight, whether to encourage data centers, HUD voucher rulemaking affecting affordability, undocumented residents policy, and approaches to the county jail.
The League of Women Voters hosted a county chair forum in Washington County where the three announced candidates outlined sharply contrasting approaches to budgets, utilities and land-use issues.
"This is my home," Jenny Kampreth said in her opening, framing her campaign as an outsider challenge to the status quo. Kampreth criticized prior oversight of Clean Water Services and accused leadership of excessive pay and spending, saying voters are "very, very mad about the situation." She said she would audit and cut red tape to spur business and protect taxpayers.
A second candidate (identified in the forum but not by name in the transcript) described decades of public-sector experience and emphasized collaboration, citing work to save the West Slope Community Library and to open the Center for Addiction, Triage and Treatment (CAT Center). That candidate said the county must meet legal budget requirements and pursue economic resiliency to grow revenue.
On a question about Clean Water Services rates, Kampreth cited public anger over executive pay; the other candidate said the commission approved an updated rate-setting process and insisted a 100% increase was not guaranteed, noting that the process (not rates) has been approved and rates would be set later.
Data centers prompted sharp debate. Kampreth said she opposed large data centers being sited on 1,700 acres of prime farmland, calling them poor long-term job creators and citing public opposition; the other candidate urged more data gathering and coordination with state advisory groups before deciding county policy.
Housing, HUD vouchers and undocumented residents earned sustained discussion: one candidate warned that proposed federal HUD rule changes could eliminate subsidies if undocumented household members are present and said the county should protect vouchers for eligible families; Kampreth argued federal law limits spending on undocumented residents and emphasized prioritizing citizens.
On jail capacity, candidates diverged. Kampreth urged repairing or repurposing existing space and cautioned against building new capacity the county cannot staff; the other candidate argued the county must expand the jail to avoid forced releases and ensure the justice system functions.
The forum concluded with closing statements reiterating differences: one candidate emphasized experience and endorsements from mayors and unions; Kampreth promised audits and a campaign to cut regulations and protect public safety.
The forum offered voters side-by-side comparisons on utilities oversight, land-use policy and public-safety priorities ahead of the May election.
