Community Government Health & Wellness

Nielson, Sehmel campaigning for PenMet Parks board position

Posted on October 5th, 2023 By: Ed Friedrich

Voters will place Steven Nielson or Billy Sehmel in a PenMet Parks board seat that’s opening in January. The winner in the Nov. 7 general election will replace Amanda Babich, who didn’t seek re-election.

The men advanced out of a three-person Aug. 1 primary race with Sehmel receiving 49.5% of the vote and Nielson 32.3%. Madelyn Hunter tallied 17.7% and was eliminated.

Commissioners oversee staff, volunteers

The five at-large commissioners approve policies, adopt an annual budget and set the direction for the park district’s professional staff and volunteers. Terms run six years. PenMet operates parks outside Gig Harbor city limits between the Narrows and Purdy bridges. It owns nearly 600 acres of parks and other facilities and is building a Community Recreation Center sports complex at the former site of Performance Golf Center on 14th Avenue.

A PenMet board meeting at Arletta Schoolhouse.

Nielson, 43, has lived in Gig Harbor since 2018. The Enumclaw native embarked on a 20-year aerospace engineering career after graduating from the University of Washington in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering. He now works as a senior program quality manager in rocket engine production for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin in Kent. His professional focus has been on space and its colonization.

The father of four, Nielson was appointed chairman of Orting’s Parks and Civil Service Commission from 2013-15. He volunteered to help restore trails and preserve habitat with the Audubon Society. He has coached youth baseball with PenMet Parks and coordinated workplace events for the American Heart Association.

Sehmel, 40, is among the fifth generation of the family that homesteaded the property that is now PenMet’s jewel — Sehmel Homestead Park — in the 1880s. His father, Bill Sehmel Sr., served as an early commissioner with PenMet, which formed in 2004.

Sehmel has worked for more than 20 years in the internet technology field, the past 15 managing teams for IBM. He leads teams that develop and support cloud computing automation products and services. He lent his expertise to PenMet in 2019-20 as a member of its Information Technology and Communications Citizen Committee.

The father of three, Sehmel served on a PenMet citizen workshop committee dealing with park sorting and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. He also volunteered with EnviroCorps as an adopt-a-road participant and performing trail maintenance.

Nielson said he has hit his fundraising and endorsement targets and can fully concentrate the final five weeks on the campaign. He has received $2,153 in contributions, topped by $1,000 from BBQ2U owner Gary Parker and $263 from Harborside Property Management owner Randy Boss, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Endorsers include We the Governed founder Glenn Morgan, the Committee Against the Levy Lid Lift, Pierce County Young Democrats, Citizens Political Action Coalition, Gig Harbor Republican Club and Hunter, his former opponent for the position.

Levy lid lift a major topic

“We’re out in the community, getting great feedback,” said Nielson, who emphasizes park safety. “There’s a lot of questions around the levy lid lift so it’s easy to draw comparisons to opposing positions and be able to talk about our campaign and the property tax proposal as well. … I would say the race has really become about the levy lid lift.”

The levy lid lift is on the same Nov. 7 ballot as the board position. The proposition would restore the district’s property tax levy rate from 58 cents to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2024 and allow increases of up to 6% for the five succeeding years. Nielson opposes it. Sehmel supports giving residents the opportunity to vote on it. (See questions below)

Sehmel contributed $798 to his own campaign. He didn’t accept outside donations. He is endorsed by all five current PenMet commissioners, 26th District state Reps. Michelle Caldier and Spencer Hutchins, David Olson of the Peninsula School Board, Key Peninsula Parks Commissioner Shawn Jensen and former Pierce County Councilman Derek Young.

PenMet staff members at the front of the renovated community resource center welcome guests to last month’s groundbreaking for Phase 2.

Besides sending the levy lid lift to a vote of the people, Sehmel says he favors in-district pricing and priority registration. Thirty percent of users are from outside of the park tax-paying area.

“I also believe big projects should go to the vote of the people for the ultimate decision and I hope that in the next few years we will be voting on an aquatics center for the district as there is a big push to bring one to the area, as well as more fields and pickleball courts, all of which I am in support of,” he said.

Ballots coming Oct. 20

Ballots will be mailed on Oct. 20. They must be postmarked no later than Nov. 7 or placed in a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on election night. Local drop boxes are at Fox Island Fire Station 53, 906 Kamus Drive; Gig Harbor City Hall, 3510 Grandview St.; Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive; and the Purdy Park & Ride, 14567 Purdy Drive.

Oct. 30 is the last day to receive online or paper registrations. In-person registration is available through 8 p.m. on election day.

The local voters’ pamphlet, voters’ guide, sample ballot and other information can be viewed on the Pierce County Elections website.

The candidates were asked to respond to four questions. Below are their unedited responses.

Billy Sehmel

Would you encourage the parks district to fully develop its existing properties before buying more or should it always be seeking to add good sites when they become available?

Over the years, many of the properties the district has received have been given to them by the county, state or other local agencies. There are only a handful that have been purchased by the district. If a property is not fully developed, then it falls into the open space category until development or use is determined later.

This question has been asked a lot at public forums, specifically regarding the Peninsula Gardens site. I am against selling it or any site. We should always think about our future generations of the district. Land isn’t going to be cheaper in 50 to 100 years.

I still stand behind my idea that the board should create a “Land Opportunity Fund” to help fund future property purchases. Land can still be acquired through grants and donations, not just through purchases.

How have your views changed or developed about the proposed levy lid lift?

No, my views have not changed on sending the levy to a vote of the people to decide if we should renew our rate to 75 cents per $1,000, which was approved in 2004 when the district was formed and re-approved in 2017.

With the additional funds, the district would be able to develop and improve existing properties as well as continue to provide and expand programming opportunities for kids, adults and seniors – of all abilities. It would also help to improve fields and install or refresh sport courts.

Though if the community decides not to renew the levy, if elected I will work with the other board members and staff to maintain current park assets and do what we can at the lower rate.

Phase 1 of the community recreation center fell months behind schedule and still hasn’t been completed. How can board members help assure that the much larger Phase 2 goes smoothly?

The board approves the contracts, policies and adopts an annual budget while working with the executive director. However, they are not involved in day-to-day operations or management of the park district. The staff oversees the projects and ensures that they are completed per the contractual agreements.

Per state law, contracts are awarded to the lowest qualified bidder, and delays in large construction projects can happen for several reasons, including Mother Nature, material supply issues and others. If a contractor is liable for failure to meet contractual agreements, the district and their legal counsel should work through those matters with the other parties, trying to come to a resolution in a timely manner.

PenMet and the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation have both begun separate efforts to build a senior center. Does that make sense? How would you like to see the pursuit of a senior center proceed?

The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation started out as the Pen Met Foundation. That is the official IRS name of the nonprofit. My thoughts are that we should not be competing with a long-standing community organization for a capital project but help augment their offering.

The GGHF has already begun various phases of their proposed senior center — located just minutes away from the community recreation center. I believe the parks district has plenty of current facilities that can and do offer senior programming and we should look to collaborate with the others to provide the best opportunities for our senior populations. The Park district has offered over 5,000 hours of senior programming in the last two years alone.

Steven Nielson

Would you encourage the parks district to fully develop its existing properties before buying more or should it always be seeking to add good sites when they become available?

I believe in a balanced approach, but I cannot endorse poor acquisition choices at the same time the commission is asking for a significant property tax increase. Developing existing properties to their fullest potential should be a priority to maximize the value of our current assets, including catching up with basic maintenance needs that have been identified as sub-par in parks studies.

Let me be very clear, it’s essential to remain open to acquiring new sites when they align with our long-term goals and serve the community’s needs. Currently, however, we appear to be investing in property acquisition that is misaligned with identified growth needs which is counterproductive and not in line with maximizing our park’s financial efficiency. It’s about finding the right balance to ensure our parks continue to grow and evolve while making fiscally mature decisions.

How have your views changed or developed about the proposed levy lid lift?

My position on the levy lid lift remains firm. I do not support it because I firmly believe that the parks can reprioritize growth and maintenance plans within the current budget allowances.

I am concerned about the potential harm to families facing dramatic property tax increases on artificially inflated property values. Leadership means making tough decisions and ensuring the park’s department is financially mature before considering additional financial burdens on our community.

My commitment is to work diligently within existing resources to fulfill our parks’ needs without imposing undue financial strain on residents.

Phase 1 of the community recreation center fell months behind schedule and still hasn’t been completed. How can board members help assure that the much larger Phase 2 goes smoothly?

To ensure Phase 2 of the community recreation center goes smoothly, it’s critical to address the issue of project management, including communication of needs and any additional scope with contractors.

Full contract authority granted to the executive director means that failures in project management fall directly within that role’s responsibilities. As they say, “heavy is the head that wears the crown” … but also, “the buck stops here.”

The situation with Phase 1 completion has raised leadership concerns and exposed the parks department to potentially costly litigation. This is another example of poor stewardship of taxpayer funds, which does not reflect well on current leadership, especially as they are asking for a significant property tax increase.

As a candidate, I’m committed to enhancing project oversight by the board, improving communication and transparency, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.

PenMet and the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation have both begun separate efforts to build a senior center. Does that make sense? How would you like to see the pursuit of a senior center proceed?

While both PenMet and the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation (GGHF) have expressed interest in building a senior center, it’s important to prioritize collaboration over competition. GGHF is currently in the site planning and design phase, and PenMet should fully support and endorse these efforts.

Seeking long-term program relationships with these venues is a wise approach, but it’s crucial not to compete for resources or project leadership. Such conflicts can slow progress and do a disservice to our community. As a candidate, I believe in fostering strong partnerships with organizations like GGHF to ensure a unified vision and efficient allocation of resources for the betterment of our senior community.