Steve Stuart touches on major issues

“It (the home rule charter) gives the opportunity for more citizen involvement in county government,” he said.

Fifteen Clark County freeholders will be tasked with drafting the charter, which will allow the county to be governed by its own set of rules, as long as those rules don’t conflict with the U.S. or Washington state constitutions, or state laws, Stuart said. Clark County has 110 candidates running for 15 freeholder positions on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Changes to county government could include expanding the board of commissioners or creating an elected county executive, Stuart said.

The new charter must be approved by voters.

“If the voters say yes, that’s how we’ll move forward,” he said.

Commissioners this year are also asking county voters to weigh in on the best routes across the Columbia River, as well as whether light rail and bus rapid transit should be included. Public opinion will be measured by 11 nonbinding advisory votes on the November ballot.

Stuart, who was re-elected in 2010, has made it clear he favors replacing the current Interstate 5 Bridge. His counterparts, Republican Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke, are each leaning in opposite directions. Mielke has said a bridge west of Vancouver would better connect the region with Highway 26 and Highway 30 in Oregon. Madore favors a span in east Clark County at Northeast 192nd Avenue.

In a Friday follow-up call, Stuart said he expects the disagreement will be settled by a clear majority of votes, although he declined to say which option he thought would be most popular. Regardless, the advisory vote’s outcome won’t be pressed into law.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that all three options will get the same support,” Stuart said. “I think there will be a clear favorite among our citizens.”