Connecting Clark County’s work here is done — for now.
The political action committee launched to oppose Republican Clark County Councilor David Madore’s re-election bid is disbanding, its founder and primary donor David Nierenberg said Friday.
“We feel that our continued active existence is no longer necessary,” said Nierenberg, a Camas investor and philanthropist.
Connecting Clark County opposed Madore’s campaign in District 3, as well as Republican Eileen Quiring’s candidacy in District 4. The political action committee also supported Republicans John Blom in District 3 and Jennifer McDaniel in District 4.
Public Disclosure Committee records list the political action committee’s key leaders as a slew of familiar names in local politics, including land-use attorneys Steve Horenstein and Jamie Howsley, Republican political strategist Kathy McDonald and former Democratic Clark County Commissioner Betty Sue Morris.
The political action committee raised $157,521, and Nierenberg estimated the group spent all but $4,500 of that on expenses including mailers, yard signs and television advertising.
The effort succeeded in part. Madore lost his race, finishing behind Blom and Democrat Tanisha Harris with a little less than 25 percent of the vote. Quiring, however, ran first in District 4, attracting more than 39 percent of the votes. McDaniel finished third, so Quiring and Democrat Roman Battan advanced to the November general election.
Despite McDaniel’s loss, Nierenberg said the political action committee’s steering committee is “satisfied that we did achieve our primary campaign objective.”
Nierenberg did note, however, that Connecting Clark County will reorganize if Madore or his allies attempt a write-in campaign in District 3.
Last year, after Madore lost the race for Clark County council chair, he backed a write-in campaign for Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, giving more than $300,000 to back the ultimately unsuccessful effort.
“If they accept and respect the voters’ decision, then we would end our activity and return unspent funds to our donors,” Nierenberg said. “But, if they do not, then we would ramp up all over again and restart the campaign.”
