News / Clark County News

Neighborhood leader to run for Vancouver City Council

She is seeking seat now held by Jeanne Harris

By Stephanie Rice

Published: March 13, 2013, 5:00pm

Anne McEnerny-Ogle, whose civic titles include chairwoman of the Vancouver Neighborhood Alliance and president of the League of Women Voters of Clark County, said Thursday she will run for Vancouver City Council.

McEnerny-Ogle, 59, said she’ll run for the seat currently held by Councilor Jeanne Harris.

Harris, 56, hasn’t formally announced plans to run, but it’s expected she’ll seek her fifth four-year term on the council.

McEnerny-Ogle unsuccessfully challenged Harris in 2009.

In 2011, she and Bill Turlay beat incumbent Pat Campbell in the primary, then Turlay went on to win the general election.

City councilors currently earn $1,781 a month and receive health benefits.

Along with Harris, Councilors Jack Burkman and Jeanne Stewart are also up for re-election. Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt has already announced his plans to seek a second term.

No other challengers have publicly come forward.

Candidate filing week is May 13-17.

McEnerny-Ogle said she chose to run against Harris because she sees Burkman and Stewart out in the community, working with different groups.

“It takes a lot of energy to be out there, listening to and working with people,” she said. “And not just waiting for Monday evening for people to show up.”

McEnerny-Ogle, a retired math teacher, previously served on the city’s planning commission and volunteers with the Neighbors on Watch and Fire Corps programs.

Last week, she was among those honored at the annual Real Heroes breakfast, an annual fundraising event for the American Red Cross of Southwest Washington.

She was named “First Aid/CPR Hero,” for noticing signs her friend may be suffering a heart attack while on a Boy Scout bike trip near Crater Lake in Oregon.

When her friend lost consciousness, McEnerny-Ogle and her husband, Terry, performed CPR until paramedics arrived 15 minutes later.

McEnerny-Ogle said Thursday that she’ll focus her campaign on “the economic struggles of the workers, families and small businesses in the city.”

She and her husband have lived in west Vancouver for 33 years. Their son, John, will graduate this month from Western Washington University.

Harris could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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