It has been said that good political candidates make for good political races. With that in mind, the contest for Vancouver City Council, Position 5, should be a doozy.
Linda Glover and Ty Stober both bring strong credentials, strong experience and well-articulated visions for Vancouver to the race for the seat being vacated by Larry Smith. The Columbian recommends them for the Aug. 4 primary, which will determine two candidates for the Nov. 3 general election.
As always, this is merely a recommendation. We trust the ability of voters to investigate the candidates and the issues, and believe that the electorate, too, will be impressed with Glover and Stober. Among the tools for studying the contest is video of The Columbian’s Editorial Board interview with the candidates.
Kathleen Metzger also is in the race for city council, with the three candidates necessitating a primary election. Metzger is running a low-profile campaign and has declined requests to provide information that will assist voters in assessing her qualifications. Given that, it is difficult to envision her providing a strong challenge to Glover and Stober, both of whom are outstanding candidates.
But therein lies the difficulty. Glover and Stober not only are well-qualified, but they tend to embrace similar positions on the issues. Both are enthusiastic about C-Tran’s burgeoning bus rapid transit system; both are opposed to a proposed oil terminal at the Port of Vancouver (which the city council has no control over); and both generally support the maximum annual increase of 1 percent for property taxes.
Glover is executive director of the nonprofit Gifts for Our Community and runs the organization’s shop in downtown Vancouver. She is a former teacher and elementary school principal, and has been involved with numerous community organizations, including as a trustee for the Fort Vancouver National Trust.
“People say, ‘What do you want to see in the city in four years?’ I would love to see somebody at a conference somewhere pick up a marketing piece that tells them how fabulous Vancouver is and what a smart business decision it is to come here,” she said. “So they decide to come and see. And as they drive into the city, they see they’re welcomed by inviting entrances; and as they drive around, they see well-maintained streets, they see well-maintained parks, they have a sense that they’re safe. They talk to people and they find, yeah, there is a great education here. And they just feel the vibrancy and the vitality of the community. And then they say, ‘OK, I think this is a place where my business and my family can survive.’ “
Stober is a forward thinker who has a background primarily in high-tech industries, including the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. He also has been involved with numerous local organizations, and stresses the need for investment in infrastructure to support business owners and increase employment opportunities.
“When we don’t invest in infrastructure, we are shooting ourselves in the foot; we are turning away from what is our competitive, geological advantage here,” he said, adding that technological infrastructure is as important as roads and bridges. An innovative idea in that area: “We need an incubator space in downtown Vancouver” for startup high-tech companies.
Both Glover and Stober effectively articulate a vision that will position Vancouver for a thriving future. And that should make for an interesting race.
