POSTED: Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011

"Illegal entry into and occupation of our city by illegal aliens constitutes rape of Kennewick," he wrote in his official candidate statement. "This is not a misdemeanor. This is an offense that warrants the highest penalty."

Young said Thursday he's not surprised Nichols finished second. The candidate who finished last, William Miller, declined to say anything publicly about his political positions. He didn't even publish a candidate statement in the voter pamphlet.

But it is surprising that Nichols received as many votes as he did, Young said. Young garnered 939 votes.

"I take any opponent seriously, and I take threats of violence from other people seriously," Young said. "This isn't what we want to be proud of in our city. I certainly don't think a majority of people in Kennewick feel that way."

Young said he understands that the issue of illegal immigration has inflamed many people, and he said he agrees that the U.S. has a dysfunctional immigration system. But he also said the city of Kennewick has little authority to weigh in on the issue, and he said he believes the societal costs of illegal immigration have been overstated in certain quarters. Illegal immigrants have caused few problems in Kennewick beyond driving without licenses or car insurance, he said.

Many farmers in central Washington rely on illegal immigrant labor.

And, Young said, Kennewick has much more pressing issues than immigration to deal with. Thousands of workers contracted to clean up the nearby Hanford Nuclear Reservation face the possibility of imminent layoffs, and as the reservation is cleaned up, fewer workers will be needed there, so it's important for the city to diversify its economy, he said.

"We've got to create jobs," Young said. "The state of Washington has pulled a lot of money away from economic development and tourism, leaving communities to fend for themselves."