EPHRATA – As the city of Ephrata approaches its upcoming mayoral election, incumbent Bruce Reim seeks to continue his eight-year tenure. He said his extensive experience in government and community activism underlines his commitment to Ephrata, which he believes is transitioning from a small town to a robust city. 

“I have experience, which is a dual-edged sword,” Reim said. “Experience is big, but sometimes you get tunnel vision when you become experienced. I do think it is helpful to have history and go back to that without using it as your foundation, but to use it as an educational piece and an understanding of how it is going. I am not the ‘way we have always done it' kind of guy. Sometimes it may not be what I want, but it is best for people. I have 8600 people in the community, and they are my boss and every decision that we make has their interest in mind.”  

Reim worked with the State of Washington JRA Sunrise Community, a facility operated to help troubled youths, from 1975 to 2005. 

He said his involvement in various capacities has equipped him with a distinct understanding of local governance and community needs. He has also served as a board member of the Greater Ephrata Chamber of Commerce for 15 years, becoming chair in 2016.  

He has served as mayor since 2015 and previously held a position on the Ephrata City Council from 2002 to 2015. 

Reim said he thinks there is a need for increased resources for local law enforcement.  

“We’re going to need more police officers (over time) with all the supporting staff that goes with that, with all the issues that surround that. If we hire a new officer, we’re close to $200,000 into this officer before they even get in the car, because they have training, they have education, they have all the materials that get involved with that,” Reim said. 

Reim explained that while economic development can often feel like a responsibility of local government, he believes it fundamentally relies on basic economic principles and the community supporting the businesses it wants. 

“It goes back to supply and demand. If the community needs something, somebody will provide the supply for that to happen,” he said. 

Despite the shifting commercial dynamics brought about by online shopping, Reim said he remains hopeful about the potential for local businesses to thrive. 

“We have quite a few businesses coming into town and checking us out,” he said.  

However, he said he recognized the hindrances posed by existing structural limitations, such as flood zoning associated with the canal that runs through town, complicating the community's ability to attract new investments. 

“A big issue with bringing in new businesses is the flood zone that doesn't promote remodeling or new buildings that go in,” he said. “It's a real sticky wicket. My job with the city is to make it accessible. I've got public works cleaning the streets and the sidewalks, and we're looking at remodeling a lot of our downtown to be a lot more open for community involvement.”  

Infrastructure is also at the forefront of Reim's agenda, he said. City officials are working on an initiative to expand city hall and police departments, responding to the growth witnessed in Ephrata.  

“We are currently involved with the public service of creating a larger city hall,” he said. “We're looking at expanding our fire department, we're looking at expanding our police department, our public works based on need. Growth is happening all over the place.”  

Reim said he is also keen on fostering community engagement and transparency. With a revamped social media strategy, he said he aims to ensure accessible information dissemination if elected to a new term. That effort has already begun, he said. 

“Part of what we've done is we have completely revamped our social network. All of our council meetings... are now online through our website,” he said.  

This allows residents to participate in governance from the comfort of their homes, which he believes is improving public engagement in local affairs. 

“Part of what I've been championing is getting updates on what's going on with the city,” he said. “I'd like to see us have the ability to have emails or even on the phone apps to be able to get information out.”  

Reim has been a resident of Ephrata since childhood and said he has deep personal roots in the community. He and his wife, who is an educator, share what he said is a family legacy intertwined with the town.  

“We don't feel we need to see the world because we enjoy Ephrata and the whole culture that sits with it,” he said. 

Reim said he looks forward to continuing to watch the growth of the city, especially with the staff he has hired in City Hall. 

“I think that the citizens of Ephrata could be comfortable knowing that the competency within the city structure is paramount right now, and we're really excited about that,” Reim said. “I would really love to be part of that, to watch all the work that we've been doing. We have been setting up with the foundation to come through.”