Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
Two of Mayor Joe DePinto’s appointees, Wayne McCarten and Eric Cantu, were unanimously approved by Yelm City Council during a meeting on Tuesday, July 28, to join various city-related commissions.
The first of two applicants, McCarten, applied to join the City of Yelm’s salary commission. According to the City of Yelm’s website, the salary commission is responsible for reviewing, setting and adjusting the salaries and benefits for Yelm’s elected officials, including the mayor and city council members.
McCarten, who wrote in his application that he was born and raised in Yelm, has been a lifelong resident of the area. His home was recently annexed into City of Yelm boundaries.
“(I) have considered applying for planning commission in the past, however have not yet,” McCarten wrote in his application. “I am inclined to regularly watch city council meetings and study sessions in an effort to stay better informed in our rapidly growing community.”
His experience for the position includes his time in the Yelm Chamber of Commerce as treasurer and as a board of directors member. Additionally, McCarten serves on the ACU Foundation as a board of directors member and wrote that he has decades of wage and personal reviews among hundreds of staff members in his chosen field.
“I have a unique opportunity to engage with service industry workers in what can be a competitive environment in an effort to attract and keep staff, with an understanding that you generally get what you are willing to pay for,” McCarten wrote.
He was unanimously approved to join the Yelm salary commission.
The second applicant of the meeting on July 28, Cantu, is a retired U.S. Army Sgt., and sought appointment to the Yelm civil service commission.
“As a disabled veteran, I understand how important fairness and transparency are when it comes to public service,” Cantu wrote in his application. “I want to serve on the civil service commission to help make sure everyone has an equal chance to succeed based on merit, not bias. This is a way for me to continue to serve my community, give back and support the kind of accountability and respect our public institution should represent.”
If appointed to the Yelm civil service commission, Cantu said he would want to focus on making the city government more transparent and accountable to the residents who live in town.
“Too often, decisions get made behind closed doors and residents feel left out,” Cantu wrote. “I pushed for clear communications and policies that are fair for everyone, including employees and the public. I also want to make sure the city’s employees are supported and trained properly so they can serve the community without unnecessary roadblocks. That means accountability without punishing people unfairly for making the system work, not holding it back. And for me, as a disabled veteran, I want to see service and opportunities accessible to everyone so the city reflects the people living here, not just what looks good on paper.”
If appointed, Cantu believes he brings to the table a strong combination of real world experience, discipline and a commitment to fairness that he thinks “would benefit the civil service commission.”
“As a veteran, I understand structure, accountability and the importance of following rules while thinking critically,” Cantu wrote in his application. “Being disabled has given me a perspective on accessibility and inclusion that not everyone sees, which helps me consider how policies impact all members of our community.”
Cantu’s appointment was also unanimously approved by Yelm City Council.
