Posted: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 12:00 am
Two incumbents are seeking reelection to the Lebanon Aquatic District Board, and one newcomer to the post is running unopposed this spring. Steven L. Wimer is looking for another term in Position 1, Janet L. Nadig is running for Position 2 again, and Cathy Benneth has filed to fill a vacancy in Position 3. All three are running without opposition on the ballot.
Wimer has served on the Aquatic District Board since it was formed seven years ago. He cited the progress the Lebanon pool facility has made during that time period, moving from a time when the pool was nearly closed down completely to serving nearly 64,000 users last year. Wimer said he has plans to help the District improve its services to the Lebanon area.
“By the end of my term of office as a board member," Wimer said, “I want the
district to have improved community services while during the same time have continued growth in its budget and financial picture. Also, I want the Lebanon Community Pool to continue to be in better shape physically so as to provide maximum services to the community."
To achieve those goals, Wimer stressed the need to retain the current pool director and staff, keep a close eye on the budget and increase public awareness of what the pool has to offer Lebanon residents.
Wimer, who works for RAM Trucking, Inc., has a career in the timber industry. He managed Thompson Timber for four years after serving as president of Wimer Logging Co. from 1985 to 2002. He has a degree in business administration from Southern Oregon University.
Jan Nadig, a retired aquatic director, is seeking reelection to Position 2. She has been involved with the Lebanon pool for many years, and has served as a member of the Linn County Parks Commission.
“The board needs to stay in touch with the heart of our community," Nadig said. “We need to continue to provide aquatic activities that are affordable to all our citizens. We need to promote and provide water safety to our patrons."
Nadig added that she would like the pool to be updated and expanded, and hopes to work in partnership with the City of Lebanon to provide a wading pool or fountain feature at Century Park.
Nadig taught for many years at Lebanon High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Hamline University in Minnesota, and a master's degree from Oregon State University.
Cathy Benneth wants voters to elect her to fill the vacancy for Position 3. She retired last year from teaching in the Lebanon School District, and said that freed up some time to pay back to the community for all she's enjoyed over the years.
“It's my turn now to give back to the community," Benneth said. “I've lived here 28 or 29 years and have taken advantage of the pool and other facilities. Now it's time for me to help ensure that they will be here for other families."
It was her family that brought Benneth into close contact with the Lebanon Pool. She said her children learned to swim there and participated on swim teams. When the pool was nearly closed several years ago, Benneth worked on the committee that was successful in keeping it open.
“I see our pool as such a gift to our community," she added. “I want it to continue to be as active, as accessible and as involving to all parts of our community."
She said that she would work to keep pool fees as low as possible to allow more access to more people in town, and would look at ways of improving accessibility to the building.
“I love the concept of families being a really integral part of what goes on at the pool and helping the Lebanon community see what a gift we have," she said. “It always amazed me when I went with my children to swim meets at this wonderful facility that we have. None of the Salem schools have anything close to what we have. It was always a matter of pride and thank you for the foresight of the people who put this together to start with."
Benneth also serves on the Library Advisory Committee. She earned a master's degree from the Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University).