Voters may have a tough time deciding who to pick for the Position 1 seat on the Lacey Fire District 3 commission because the challenger and incumbent both bring a lot of experience to the table.
Challenger Paul Perz, 67, is a former assistant state fire marshal, a job he held for seven years. Gene Dobry, 62, who is set to retire from the U.S. Department of Agriculture this month, seeks a second, six-year term on the commission. Dobry’s background is in finance — he worked with loans and grants at the USDA — and has been part of a fire district that has operated with a budget surplus the past 18 months.
Lacey Fire District 3 Position No. 1 commission candidate Paul Perz. Lacey Fire District 3 Position No. 1 incumbent Gene Dobry. Lacey Fire District 3 Position No. 1 commission candidate Paul Perz. Lacey Fire District 3 Position No. 1 incumbent Gene Dobry.
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Lacey Fire District 3 Position No. 1 incumbent Gene Dobry. Courtesy Gene Dobry
“I’m on the winning team and I want to see it through fruition,” Dobry said.
But Perz touted his background, too, saying not only would he bring his fire marshal experience to the board, he has years of management experience in state government.
“I bring a unique set of skills to the board of fire commissioners,” he said.
If elected, Perz wants to ensure Lacey firefighters are prepared to deal with the oil and coal trains that pass through the county near Lacey. This means making sure they are properly trained and equipped.
“They do get training, but not comprehensive training,” he said.