Levi Johnson looks for seat on council

Levi Johnson sees public safety as the most pressing issue facing Electric City. So do his fellow officers.

Johnson is a police officer in Grand Coulee, as are two other candidates running against incumbents for Electric City council seats.

Johnson, who joined the Grand Coulee Police Department in 2015, says that's no accident. When the Electric City Council decided to change its police services contractor, choosing Coulee Dam over Grand Coulee last year, they took notice.

"I think that's kind of what got me interested in it," he said, but he's thinking more broadly. "That kind of made me feel like we needed to make a change. I've always thought that we needed one police department."

Local departments are always short of personnel, Johnson said. "We're constantly short. We're constantly working crazy, crazy hours. ... And I think if we could combine, I think the community and especially officers would all benefit."

It would reduce burnout, and the community would be served better "because we're not as tired," he said.

"The police departments have been feuding here for 16 years," Johnson said, "and it's time for time for something to give."

That could apply to local fire departments, too, he says.

"We need to just basically combine emergency services, especially, I think, on the fire front and EMS. They never have enough volunteers, anyway, so better just to have all our volunteers in in one spot."

Asked what Electric City's most important long-term problem is, Johnson said, "I'd like to see some growth, ... some big businesses come in. ... Since I came here, it feels like this place is dying."

Johnson admitted not knowing exactly what to do. "But I think there's things that can be done. ... Maybe we bring in more tourists or just make the place nicer. I mean, look at like Leavenworth and Chelan. I think there's a lot of water around here. And people like water."

Johnson said his law enforcement training and experience in de-escalation, scene management, and supervising can help him make good decisions on the council.

He can contribute by getting "everyone to collaborate and work together. ... I think the cities, all of them, have kind of butted heads with different mayors. ... It just seems like everyone's fighting everybody for something."

He'd just like "trying to get people to work together for the greater good."

He notes that he'll be on the ballot as Thomas Levi Johnson. He's running against incumbent Brian Buche.