District 2 candidates eager to help implement charter

County council election coverage

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District 2 candidates, backers and foes, call for changes to fee-waiver program

o Transportation

County chair candidates weigh in on transportation issues

Councilor candidates in District 2 discuss transportation priorities

o Growth management

Candidates for county chair position divided on growth

Growth management plan of particular importance to District 2 as area grows

o Home-rule charter

Sharp split in county chair race on home rule charter

District 2 candidates eager to help implement charter

Five candidates are facing off for a county government seat created with the implementation of the home-rule charter: the Clark County Council District 2 seat.

Only voters who live in District 2 will cast their votes in both the primary and the general election for this race — a change from Clark County’s previous form of government, where voters elected representatives by district in the primary and at-large in the general election. District 2 generally includes part of Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Felida, Ridgefield and north to the county line.

Here’s what the candidates have to say about their role in charter implementation:

• Chuck Green, Democrat: Charter advocate Green, along with former county commissioner Betty Sue Morris, have hosted several charter education workshops for citizens since the beginning of this year.

“When people ask questions about it, I’m the go-to person,” he said.

He has also criticized the county for being slow to implement the charter, saying county councilors have done a poor job of separating themselves from executive authority, which the charter removes from the council and gives to a county manager.

• Mike Pond, Democrat: Pond said he was in favor of the charter and will work to set benchmarks and goals for its implementation. He estimates it will take at least two years before the county is able to completely implement the charter.

Pond also said the charter’s passage is a sign that Clark County voters are ready for significant changes in their county government.

“They don’t want the same-old, same-old and that (change) is what I’m going to bring,” he said.

• Mary Benton, Republican: Benton, who would only communicate with The Columbian via email, said “the county council needs to comply with the guidelines that are set in the charter,” but did not specify how.

When pressed for additional comment, Benton did not respond.

• Tanner Martin, no party preference: Martin said the Clark County council needs to better rely on its experts — department managers, for example — to govern.

“I want to make sure we’re working as a team for our region,” he said.

• Julie Olson, Republican: Olson, a former member of the Ridgefield school board, said the county council shares many similarities to a school board: the legislative body is able to set policy and direct the manager, while “respecting that delineation” between the two.

“To hire the right manager is the No. 1 job, and then to let them hire really good people,” she said.

Olson added that the charter doesn’t prevent individual councilors from asking questions or consulting with department heads. Charter opponents, including Councilor Tom Mielke, claim the charter prevents councilors from questioning department heads.