By Adam Smith
Toppenish City Councilman Zachary Dorr is a natural leader. He is an idealist. He is an altruist. Although some of these attributes might be due to his 26 year old age and the possibilities of his very bright political future, he clearly holds fast to the notion that he is a realist and knows how to take on issues large and small, all important to the constituents of his community. 

A native of Toppenish and graduate of Toppenish High School where his family have been educators for many years Dorr, has many passions. But before discussing any of these, or any issue he might be eventually undertaking with his fellow city councilman, the first thing he will quickly say when engaged in discussion is, “I wouldn’t change Toppenish for anything. I am so proud of this city and the people that make it up. There is great diversity in our community. I want to listen to everyone’s ideas and represent them the best I can.”  He continues, “I do have political goals, but they are always about helping people in the community. I would like to run for the state legislature in the next five years but also want to say that if I didn’t do that I would be happy to serve on the Toppenish City Council for the next 25 or 30 years.”

Dorr is perhaps most passionate when he speaks about the “community of kids” of Toppenish. He believes very strongly that there needs to be partnerships forged between the city, local businesses, schools, as well as community and civic groups to provide an array of opportunities for “Toppenish kids.” Education and extensions of its opportunities are the foundation of making better communities, Dorr conveys. “After school activities are an essential part of the community fabric, he says, whether kids are getting instruction or tutoring, or whether they are involved in sports or other fun activities.”

When talking to Zach his idealism is never subdued. He does realize, however, there are realities of budgets and in getting a community to work together as one. Nevertheless, he believes there are some issues, concerning kids especially, where solutions are imperative.  One example he mentions in his sense of determinant idealism, “No matter what it takes,” he says, “the community swimming pool should be open year around.” He cites that there are often greater social costs when kids who are often from divided marriage homes, or kids who have two working parents, find activities that they should probably avoid taking part in. “The community pool, or places like that, are places where kids can go and everyone knows where they are, where they can be involved in positive activities, have fun with their friends, and I think we should do whatever we can to try to keep it open all the time.”   Tacit to that philosophy Dorr well identifies a practicable cost / benefit analysis for ever rising local taxes and utility costs. He is quick to point out that the availability and delivery of many city services, as well as  clean water and sanitation are simply non-negotiable items. It is the issue that has been brought to his attention more than any other in his first few weeks in office. Zach Dorr would like to be mayor of his town one day, and holds back nothing in announcing that. He derives as one great reward of his job with the American Red Cross the opportunity to travel quite a bit and understand perceptions of his town cradled on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation. He finds it somewhat “surprising” that the image of Toppenish is very positive. He thinks it is better now than in the not too distant past. But Dorr feels that is only fair stating, “A lot of towns have social problems like gangs, so it is not like those are only in Toppenish or other cities. Those problems are almost everywhere, and I think people realize that more.”

Zachary Dorr says he is still learning the ropes of how things work in city government, how meetings and public hearings are conducted and utilized pragmatically for effective governing. His sense of responsibility is acute, and he’s just getting started. It’s not difficult to see there will be many opportunities for Zach Dorr to lead his community, and perhaps collective communities, into the future.