In Our View: Dalesandro For County Council Chair

Undoubtedly, the winner of the inaugural race for Clark County council chair will face a difficult task.

In taking a leadership position on a council that has an affinity for divisive issues, the county chair must possess strong diplomatic skills and a strong ability to clearly express their positions. As The Columbian wrote editorially prior to the August primary: “We would suggest that some of the most important traits for the job are articulate leadership; firm but not overbearing guidance; and the ability to encourage dissent but forge compromise.”

While two strong candidates have advanced to the general election, The Columbian’s Editorial Board believes that Democrat Mike Dalesandro best represents those desired qualities. The board recommends a vote for Dalesandro in his race against Marc Boldt, a Republican who is running as an independent. State Rep. Liz Pike has been endorsed by the Clark County Republican Party as a write-in candidate but is not actively campaigning for the position.

As always, this is merely a recommendation. The Columbian trusts the ability and willingness of voters to examine the candidates and the issues, particularly for a position that will play an important role in establishing effective governance for Clark County. We also recommend a viewing of the Editorial Board’s interview with the candidates (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzLsz5abi6A).

Dalesandro, a member of the Battle Ground City Council, is an articulate, thoughtful, well-reasoned newcomer to politics at the county level. “I think it’s important this person is an optimistic person, who speaks in optimistic terms, who doesn’t push a personal agenda,” he said. “You have to be professional, you have to be able to articulate the message.”

On policy questions, Dalesandro would consider elimination of the Department of Environmental Services; he believes that the Interstate 5 Bridge should take priority over a third bridge in east county; and he supports Alternative 3 to the growth-management plan, adding that Alternative 4, which was developed unilaterally by councilor David Madore, “would change the county forever.” He also says the county’s fee-waiver program for non-residential developers has been ineffective: “We need to look at targeted incentives for the jobs we want to have in Clark County. … I don’t believe this fee-waiver program is working; I really don’t. I think it is a handout to developers.”

Boldt has served as a state representative and as a member of the county board, and he describes his leadership style as: “Shut up and listen to people.” He has the ability to perform well as county chair and provides voters with a strong alternative to Dalesandro, but he often has difficulty articulating his message when compared with his opponent.

Boldt is more reluctant to consider eliminating the Department of Environmental Services, but says of the department’s director, who also serves as a state senator: “The first thing I would do is say, ‘Mr. (Don) Benton, you are not getting a county paycheck when you are in Olympia.’ ” He prefers Alternative 1 to the growth-management plan, stressing the importance of culling input from local cities and school districts; and he stresses the need to smooth over the county’s contentious relationships with city governments and other leadership groups in the area.

Repairing those relationships will be important for whichever candidate wins the election for county chair. Whereas Boldt brings experience and history to county issues, Dalesandro brings youthful enthusiasm and a clean slate. We think it might be time for a clean slate.