There was standing room only in the Clark County council hearing room Tuesday morning, as dozens came to watch the beginning of a new era for county politics.
Marc Boldt, no party, and Julie Olson, a Republican, took their oaths of office before Judge James E. Rulli to thunderous applause and cheers from the packed audience. With the pair’s swearing-in ceremony, the cornerstone of the county home rule charter is now in place — expanding the board from three members to five.
“We’re actually making some history here today,” Acting County Manager Mark McCauley said.
The morning’s ceremony represented a homecoming for the new county chairman. Boldt was a county commissioner up until the 2012 elections, when he was ousted by sitting Councilor David Madore.
The audience was visibly thrilled for Boldt’s return, cheering and giving him a standing ovation.
“The county government is here to protect and to serve, to serve the needy and protect all individuals,” Boldt said. “That’s exactly what we will do. We’ll be here to serve you, and we’ll move forward.”
Olson will serve as councilor for the new District 2, which covers northwestern Clark County. The newcomer to county politics thanked the audience and county staff, and offered an optimistic view for the county’s future.
“We’re ready to embark on kind of an exciting new adventure here in the county, and I am humbled and honored to be part of it,” Olson said. “I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and the opportunities ahead.”
The audience was packed with elected officials and county staff, along with members of the public and a small crowd waving familiar black-and-blue pro-charter signs.
Nan Henriksen, the former Camas mayor who chaired the board tasked with developing the charter, said she was seeing a better government structure “as it materializes right before our eyes.”
“This is another Christmas,” Henriksen said. “All that hard work was worth it.”
Boldt and Olson will join Councilors Madore, Tom Mielke and Jeanne Stewart, all Republicans, on the dais on Jan. 5. The councilors will hold a retreat on Jan. 22 to set goals for the new year.
The first few weeks will be busy for the councilors, as the county is in the midst of updating its 20-year growth plan and recently opened discussions about transportation over the Columbia River. Boldt recently said he’d like the council to roll back or change many of the controversial policies it recently adopted.
