OTHELLO — Incumbent mayor Shawn Logan and business owner and school board director Ken Johnson are both seeking your votes to be Othello’s next mayor. Both candidates were asked to answer a questionnaire consisting of the same questions. Here are their responses:
KEN JOHNSON
- What is your professional and personal background, and how has it prepared you for the role of mayor?
I’ve spent most of my life in Othello—not just living here, but working, serving, and helping
build this community from the ground up. I bring over four decades of leadership experience across local government, education, business, and nonprofit service.
● Served 14 years on the Othello City Council, including six years as Mayor Pro Tem
● Served 8 years on the Othello School Board, including 2 years as Board Chair
● Served 12 years on the Washington State North Central SkillSource Board, 3 years as
Board Chair
● Managed and operated a family business in Othello for 42 years
● Charter member and 4-year Board Chair of ACDC (Adams County Development
Council)
● Active in local nonprofits for over 45 years
● Worked with budgets ranging from $100,000 to over $80 million
These experiences have prepared me to lead with integrity, understand the complexities of city government, and make smart, community-driven decisions. - What specific experiences do you have in public administration, community leadership, or other areas relevant to running a city?
My experience in city and regional leadership includes:
● Deep involvement in city policy, budgeting, infrastructure planning, and annexation
during 14 years on the City Council
● Oversight of multi-million dollar education budgets and policy implementation as a
school board chair
● Regional workforce development experience from serving on the SkillSource Board,
collaborating with employers and state agencies
● Hands-on leadership from running a successful family business for over four decades
These roles all required collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning—core skills
for running a city like Othello. - What are the most significant public safety challenges facing our city, and how do you plan to address them?
The biggest challenge right now is the status of fire protection in city limits. The collapse of our long-standing contract with ACFD5 created uncertainty for residents, and the city’s attempt to stand up its own fire department raises concerns about readiness, cost, and sustainability.
I believe we need to restore that partnership—or find another viable long-term solution—based on professional standards and public safety, not rushed planning.
I also support the Othello Police Department in its efforts to reduce crime and keep neighborhoods safe. Our officers need the tools, training, and community support to succeed.
Lastly, school safety is a priority. I would strengthen coordination with the school district to ensure preparedness, communication, and a united approach to keeping our kids safe. - What is your plan to increase the availability of affordable housing in our city?
The housing market is driven by supply and demand, and right now, demand is outpacing what we’re building. Add in high interest rates, and families are struggling to find homes they can afford.
We’ve seen progress through recent developments by nonprofits and private companies building large apartment complexes. This added rental inventory helps reduce pressure on working families.
But we need to do more:
● Encourage multifamily development by working with developers directly.
● Streamline permits and platting to make building more efficient and attractive.
● Incentivize construction in areas where infrastructure already exists.
We must remove barriers and build with intention—so Othello remains a livable city for people at all income levels. - What is your vision for the city’s economic future, and what steps will you take to attract and retain businesses? For example, do you foresee development happening along the SR-26 corridor?
I do see some potential along the SR-26 Corridor, but I believe there’s more immediate opportunity east of 14th Avenue along Main Street, where infrastructure is already in place to support growth.
My economic vision includes:
● Proactively welcoming developers instead of making the process difficult
● Streamlining planning and permitting
● Improving infrastructure readiness for commercial growth
● Supporting small business retention while attracting strategic new investment
We have to create a development culture that inspires growth rather than delays it—and that starts with city leadership that says “yes” to opportunity. - What are your thoughts on the combining of the Mayoral position with the City Administrator position?
This is one of the biggest structural issues facing our city government today.
The mayor is supposed to lead with public input. The city administrator is supposed to manage operations, staff, and implementation. When one person holds both roles, there’s no oversight—no one to say when something is a bad idea.
Many missteps could have been avoided with a separate, qualified administrator. That’s the role of good governance: cross-accountability, checks and balances, and shared responsibility.
If elected, I will separate these roles immediately and advocate for hiring a dedicated city administrator to handle day-to-day operations professionally. - Regarding public safety, what do you believe is the best course for adequate, professional fire protection in Othello’s City Limits?
The answer is simple: annexation into ACFD5 is the best path forward.
Adams County Fire District 5 has decades of experience protecting Othello. They already have
the stations, staffing, equipment, and training systems in place. Why reinvent the wheel when we
already have a proven model that works?
Starting a brand-new fire department from scratch introduces risk, cost, and staffing concerns we may not be ready to handle. Annexation is the most cost-effective, professional, and sustainable long-term solution—and it’s what I will pursue if elected. - What are your top priorities for Othello?
● Fix fire protection by restoring negotiations with ACFD5 or finding a viable long-term alternative.
● Tighten city budgeting, especially as grant funding becomes more limited
● Plan for future water access and infrastructure needs
● Increase affordable housing by working closely with developers
● Actively recruit businesses that bring jobs and investment to Othello
● Restore transparency and public trust by improving how our city communicates and governs.
SHAWN LOGAN
- What is your professional and personal background, and how has it prepared you for the role of mayor?
I’m a lifelong Othello resident. I’ve owned a successful insurance and financial advisory business in Othello for 42 years. Being a financial advisor and insurance agent has prepared me for this role. Finance, government, and risk are my areas of expertise. - What specific experiences do you have in public administration, community leadership, or other areas relevant to running a city?
This is my 6th year as the Othello City Administrator, I earned an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities, and I was elected to the Othello City Council for 3 years and Adams County Commissioner and served 4 years. I’m a four time President of the Othello Chamber of Commerce. Past Chairman of the ACDC, the economic development arm of Adams County. - What are the most significant public safety challenges facing our city, and how do you plan to address them?
As the Othello Panhandle continues to grow, the need for a jail is critical to the criminal justice system for our County. Additionally, there is certainly an element of crime and juvenile crime that law enforcement continue to do an excellent job for our residents. The City of Othello Police Department has achieved Accreditation status each of the last 3 two year periods. It reflects the high level of policing that OPD provides. Emphasis on Parks, burglary, theft, domestic violence and human trafficking are paying dividends to our community. - What is your plan to increase the availability of affordable housing in our city?
Affordable housing for a low to moderate income community is difficult because of lower wages, restrictive zoning and building codes. I have been working with the Community Development Director and Planning commission chair to discuss smaller lot sizes, mini housing, and utilizing the information from the Housing Needs Assessment conducted several years ago. The City has been implementing some of their recommendations, but there is work to be done. - What is your vision for the city’s economic future, and what steps will you take to attract and retain businesses? For example, do you forsee development happening along the SR-26 Corridor?
Our future is bright. We are developing a long term sustainable water supply in an area where we depend entirely on a rapidly depleting ground water aquifer. We have available power from Avista and Big Bend Electric. We have developable commercial and industrial property. While other cities in the Columbia Basin are struggling to establish a supply, the City of Othello is well positioned with our Aquifer Storage and Recovery project, powered by a Water Treatment Plant. To establish jobs in a region, you need water, power, and developable land. We have all three. It’s taken the City quite some time to get ourselves in position, but we have had a great City Government over the past 11-12 years that has believed in investing in Othello.
I do see development happening along the Hwy 26 corridor as infrastructure improvements are made. The Port of Othello and the City are considering partnering on a roundabout on 14th Avenue and Hwy 26 which would allow for a safe flow of traffic south of the Highway. - What are your thoughts on the combining of the Mayoral position with the City Administrator Position?
I’m biased since I currently hold both positions in the City for the past 6 year, but let the accomplishments speak for themselves:
New 3.5 million gallon water tower paid by grant. Streets and potholes have been leveled and chip sealed in the city. Decorative street lighting project was completed by grant. $2 million Lions Park playground was completed by grant last year. 4 court basketball courts completed by grant. The first Futsal Court in the Columbia Basin in Kiwanis Park was completed by grant this year. The Lions park baseball fields and concession stand refresh was completed by grant. Taggares Park has become the Soccer mecca for Othello with more coming. Pickle Ball courts and resurface of tennis courts in Lions Park. When I took office almost 12 years ago, the City had $3 million in debt. We have accomplished these projects and more and we have less debt today.
My conclusion: The City made a good investment in a local financial advisor who has political connections and relationships all over the State with the sole purpose of benefiting Othello. - Regarding public safety, what do you believe is the best course for adequate, professional fire protection in Othello’s City Limits?
The City Council didn’t want to start their own fire department. When all efforts to negotiate an agreement to benefit both entities, the Fire District was unwilling. The City’s costs for Fire protection under the District has gone from $300,000+ to over $1,000,000 in 2025. The skyrocketing costs over the past five years and the Fire District wanting the City to continue to pay them these costs brought these two departments to a crossroads.
Additionally, there was no increase in service with this additional revenue. Why wouldn’t the Fire District budge? Because they believe they had the City over a barrel and we couldn’t start up a fire department ourselves. It became an easy decision for the City Council because we realized that with our growing community, the amount we spent on Fire Protection over $1 million per year, continuing down that path was great for the Fire District but not for the citizens of Othello. We represent you.
Many in the Fire Community were understandably upset. My question for them is why didn’t they make a deal? Now they are asking for more money with a Levy Lid Lift and a tax increase on County Residents. According to the State Auditors office, the Fire District had over $2.3 million in reserves last year.
Meanwhile the City is looking to hire a Fire Chief late this year and an assistant chief, along with a full time fire fighter, and an office staff person. We have hired a transition consultant, and working on a volunteer pool to be properly trained on our equipment and knowledgeable in fighting fires. We have hired a 3rd party independent fire apparatus evaluation of our city owned fire trucks. We have also hired an architect to do an assessment on our City owned facility. We intend to implement a rigorous public education program and will continue push ourselves to increase the level of service to the community.
Lastly, the City has a $1.75 million CDS request with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray for improvements to the City Fire Building to meet current standards and requirements. The request has passed a major hurdle and we should hear by November if we receive that earmark. We have another $500,000 in requests with other granting agencies to buy equipment and upgrades. - What are your top priorities for Othello?
1. Get the Fire Department up and ready to go on May 1, 2026
2. Continue to solicit funding to construct the Water Treatment Plant.
3. If the Bond Levy passes in November, get the pool fixed. If not we will spend more time to get input on what the community wants.
4. Build the Splash Pad in Kiwanis Park to be ready by next Summer.
5. Work with Non-Profits and agencies to build relationships with at-risk youth and open them up to opportunities.
6. Construct a new Wastewater Treatment Plant.
7. Establish an Irrigation Utility.
8. Park shelters in Lions and Taggares parks.
9. Roundabout at 14th Avenue and Hwy 26
10. Shopping, Restaurants and hotels
