MOSES LAKE — Longtime Moses Lake resident and former Moses Lake Fire Department Chief Tom Taylor announced today his candidacy for the Grant County Board of Commissioners.

Taylor will run for the District No. 2 seat, currently held by Carolann Swartz until the end of this year. Swartz recently announced that she will not be running for re-election.

Tom Taylor is a retired 24-year U.S. Army veteran, and he served on the Moses Lake Fire Department for 25 years, the last 10 as Fire Chief, retiring in 2015.

With a focus on the future, Taylor is emphasizing the following priorities in his campaign bid:

1. Support Law, Justice and Public Safety.

2. Promote Fiscal Accountability.

3. Increase Efficiency in Building and Planning.

“I am not a politician,” Taylor said. “But I am a problem-solver with a long history of leadership and commitment to our community. My number one priority, law, justice, and public safety, isn’t just a platform statement. I’ve lived it over the course of my working career and will always want what’s best for our community when it comes to safety. Between that and my vision for fiscal accountability and long-term economic growth, I am truly focused on the future best interests of county residents.”

Taylor welcomes questions for the public and has opened several routes for people to connect with him. He can be reached at 509-760-6672, or via email at tomtaylorforcommissioner@outlook.com .

He is also available for discussions on his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/tomtaylorforcommissioner.