Email brent.champaco@patch.com
Phone 253-217-6060
Hometown Port Orchard
Birthday Nov. 4
Bio (professional highlights, marital status, hobbies, etc)
As a field-tested journalist who has spent the past five years covering University Place and other South Sound suburbs, Patch is my digital dream gig. I began my print news career a decade ago as a Chips Quinn Scholar in the Bay Area. I eventually finished school at Washington State University, then earned my journalistic stripes providing award-winning community coverage for newspapers in Pullman, the Tri-Cities and eventually The News Tribune in Tacoma. My most recent newspaper stint allowed me to help tell some of the South Sound's most tragic and unforgettable stories, including the Tacoma Mall and Lakewood police shootings. In my new role, I get to use my years of reporting on University Place to help provide you with news coverage you won't find anywhere else. I can't wait.
In 2012, I won Patch's first SPJ award in the Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journamism Competition, taking first place in the online, sports reporting category.
On the personal side, I'm a proud Chamorro American who was taught the value of hard work and discipline. My life is my wife and two daughters. When not in the throes of journalistic passion or pulling all-nighters in pursuit of a Master's Degree at Gonzaga University, I'm watching local sports. You name it - Sounders, Hawks, Cougs, Zags, whatever - I'm on the couch yelling at the television. (Calm down, Husky fans. When you're not playing WSU or the Zags, I'm secretly rooting for you)
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
My basic political philosophy is I support anything that benefits the greater good rather a select few. I know that sounds cliche, but I can't find a better way to describe it. Often, my familial Catholic upbringing is at war with my idealistic, fight-for-social-justice teachings. Generally, I lean to the left on national issues and to the right on local issues.
Are you registered with a certain party?
No.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)
As I stated above, I was raised in a religious Catholic family. My family went to mass, and they recited novenas and rosaries on a regular basis. (Heck, in Guam, every village has its own patron saint!) Today, I still attend church, although not at the rate that used to.
Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Town Center. It's the community's 800-pound gorilla of local politics. The city has invested a lot of money into the project and, at least so far, hasn't delivered what many residents are expecting. However, the city is adamant that without doing anything to create more revenue, University Place will struggle financially. The city is also dealing with its own financial struggles, and it laid off employees this last budget go-around.
Another hot-button issue is the Chambers Creek Properties and Chambers Bay Golf Course. What was once Pierce County's vision for a world-class golf destination is now a nationally renowned course - it hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur and will host the 2015 U.S. Open, one of professional golf's signature events. But the course's $20 million price tag has always had critics. Given the likely traffic and crowding that large tournaments could bring to their community, some University Place have questioned whether the course is worth the headache.
Where do you stand on each of these issues?
I can see both sides of the argument over Town Center and Chambers Bay. While Town Center has yet to deliver at the speed people want, the community needs some way to generate revenue if it wants to maintain the things that make University Place one of the most desirable communities to live in the South Sound. As for Chambers Bay, I am looking at it from a news standpoint. Having one of golf's signature events in your backyard isn't a bad news story.
The celebration in Lakewood at 10:30 a.m. Free round trip train rides from Lakewood to Tacoma will take place at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Is Sammamish High School's mascot the Totems offensive to you? We ask you, Patch users, do you think the mascot should be replaced to keep in line with the State Board of Education's recommendation on Native American-themed team names?
The Curtis grad and University of Washington product talks about the final race in the quadruple sculls event that earned her bronze at the London 2012 Summer Games.
The state Board of Education is encouraging all Washington schools to replace Native American mascots, according to The Associated Press. That includes the Warriors in Lakewood. We ask you, Patch users, do you think the mascot should be replaced?
The Vikings, coming off a big victory against Puyallup last week, hope to keep the momentum tonight. Patch will be providing updates, and we hope fans will give us their take from the stands.
Students with the Sustainable Building Science Program will add a garden to its Zero Energy House.
Van Thu Tran, 47, was also ordered to pay almost $5.8 million in restitution to the casinos for her role in the "false shuffle" scheme that she and her counterparts conducted, according to the Department of Justice.
The forum - hosted by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter of the League of Women Voters - will feature candidates for the 28th District in the state Legislature and Pierce County Council. It's scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Huskies defense stuffed the Cardinal up front and didn't allow a touchdown. Despite constant pressure, quarterback Keith Price found Skyline product Kasen Williams up the sideline late. Desmond Trufant got an interception to seal the upset.
More than 30 troopers, officers and deputies are expected to join forces on Sept. 29 beginning at 9 p.m.
The Curtis grad and University of Washington product talks about the experience of being part of the London 2012 Summer Games.
Lakewood and University Place residents who meet the criteria can schedule an appointment to receive an alarm that will be installed in October.
University Place and Lakewood residents who meet the criteria can schedule an appointment to receive an alarm that will be installed in October.
The Washington State Patrol reports that a 2-year-old involved in the accident wasn't injured but was still taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. The crash is still under investigation.
Visitors to the recreational area in University Place this weekend might want to be aware of runners.
I Corps has just launched a Twitter page. Be sure to follow them.
The two elementary schools – Carter Lake and Hillside – will total more than 132,000-SF.
University Place City Councilman Javier Figueroa says his platform addresses job creation and education.
Did the University Place City Councilman predict the Seahawks receiver would haul in one of the most controversial and memorable catches (according to the refs) in franchise history to help Seattle beat Green Bay? He kind of did.
Lakewood and other South Sound residents can begin using the service Monday, Oct. 8.