Voters looking for an alternative on the Clark County council are in luck. Republican John Blom and Democrat Tanisha Harris are engaging in thoughtful, insightful campaigns that suggest either would be a worthy and impressive addition to the county’s governing board.
Because of this, The Columbian recommends votes for Blom or Harris in the primary election to represent District 3 on the Clark County council. As always, this is simply a recommendation designed to add to the discussion. The Columbian trusts voters to examine the candidates and the issues and to be well-informed when casting a ballot.
In studying the race for council member from District 3, constituents will find that they have been poorly served by incumbent David Madore. In four years on the council, Madore has engaged in governing that has been divisive and damaging for the community. Stridency in defense of one’s beliefs often is a virtue, but Madore’s megalomania has been conjoined with poorly devised plans that have made his service a failure of both personality and policy.
A far-from-inclusive list includes violating established policy in hiring an unqualified Don Benton to run the county’s Department of Environmental Services; embracing a divisive plan to add an “In God We Trust” sign to the county’s meeting room; unilaterally developing an alternative to the growth management plan while eschewing input from staff and experts; picking administrative fights with agencies ranging from the city of Vancouver to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington; and clinging to a program that waives impact fees for developers but has demonstrated little positive impact.
During a meeting with The Columbian’s Editorial Board, Blom said: “We need someone who can bring a more collaborative vision.” Regarding the fee-waiver program, he criticized the “amount of money that’s been given away with very little to show for it.” As an aside, it should be noted that Madore declined an invitation to join his fellow candidates in front of the Editorial Board.
That said, a vote for Blom and Harris should not be viewed solely through the prism of an anti-Madore vote. Both are strong candidates who bring solid credentials and engaging demeanors to the race.
Blom has served as president of the Clark County Association of Realtors and has been on the Clark County Planning Commission since 2013. This experience will be essential in planning for future growth in the county and in dealing with a housing shortage that is impacting the region on many levels. In regards to Madore’s efforts to alter the direction of land-use planning, Blom stresses a desire to do what is best for the county rather than “listening to a small group of citizens that have an agenda,” and he says he will govern within the parameters laid out by a county charter passed in 2014.
Harris has a long employment history with social services in the area and says, “Clark County has been marred for too long in partisan bickering and controversy.” She emphasizes a need for county government to repair relationships with cities in the area, and notes the power of a community working together: “Government service is not evil; it’s not bad.” She also is a proponent of enhancing public transportation options and shares in the criticism of the fee waiver for developers.
Through their professional histories and in-person interviews, both Blom and Harris demonstrate an understanding of what it means to collaborate. That would be a welcome change for the voters in District 3.
