So it begins.
After much anticipation, the newly-expanded Clark County council will take their seats. Council Chairman Marc Boldt, no party preference, and Councilor Julie Olson, a Republican, will join sitting Republican Councilors David Madore, Tom Mielke and Jeanne Stewart, marking full implementation of the Home Rule Charter approved by voters in 2014.
Tonight’s meeting is bound to be a heated one, as the council is considering undoing eight resolutions written by Madore and approved on Dec. 22 by he and Mielke, and may readdress a 2 percent cut to Clark County’s property tax levy approved last month.
Tonight’s meeting will likely be a full house. On Monday evening, Clark County Republican Party Chairman Kenny Smith emailed Republican precinct committee officers to urge them to attend the meeting. The Clark County Republican Party was a vocal opponent to Boldt’s election.
“I implore you to attend tomorrow’s meeting to encourage the Republican members of the council to promote small government, private property and low tax policies,” Smith said. “From what I witnessed at the swearing-in ceremony, and read in the Columbian, the progressives believe they have taken charge of the council. We need to prove them wrong.”
Clark County reporter Kaitlin Gillespie will live tweet tonight’s council meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at the Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin Street in Vancouver. Follow along here or on Twitter.
