The races for Clark County council are now settled after Tanisha Harris, candidate for the District 3 position, called John Blom on Friday to congratulate him on his victory.
On Tuesday’s election night, the race was within less than 200 votes, and neither side was ready to concede defeat. But by Friday afternoon, Republican Blom had expanded his vote count to 20,906 to Democrat Harris’ 19,911 with an estimated 10,500 ballots left to count.
On Thursday, Roman Battan conceded to Eileen Quiring, meaning that the county council will be made up entirely of Republicans with the exception of Chair Marc Boldt, no party preference.
“I think we had the right message for what Clark County needs right now,” said Blom, who added that his experience on the board of Columbia River Mental Health Services, the county planning commission and his experience as a real estate agent resonated with voters.
Here is where the two winning candidates stand on issues going forward.
Growth and housing
Clark County is growing rapidly, with the price of housing rising. A report last year from the state’s Office of Financial Management placed Clark County as the second fastest-growing county in the state. So what can the county do about it?
Both Blom and Quiring said they want a diversity of housing options from apartments to houses. Blom said that the challenges brought by environmental group Futurewise and property rights group Clark County Citizens United to the county Comprehensive Plan, which guides growth, need to be resolved first.
Quiring said she questions the population projections used in the plan, which she said she is “not in favor of.” A member of the county’s planning commission, she said she wants to slightly expand the Urban Growth Boundary to increase the supply of housing. Doing so will make housing more affordable she said.
“When you don’t have a supply, your demand goes up,” she said. “Does that mean I want sprawl? No. That’s not what I’m after.”
Fee waivers
Quiring said the fee waiver program for developers, a policy championed by then-Commissioner David Madore in 2013, was generally a good idea. The county council voted to wind down the program this year and the county auditor questioned its effectiveness. But Quiring said the program has contributed to economic growth.
Blom is less willing to embrace the program. He said fee waivers should have job creation requirements attached.
“It doesn’t make sense to say you’ll waive a lot of fees to get a new Dutch Bros.,” he said. “Some of these projects would happen anyways.”
Pot shop ban
Quiring supports the county moratorium on recreational cannabis shops.
“I don’t think it’s good for our youth,” she said.
Blom said it might be worth a second look at the moratorium, noting that the shops are legal in Vancouver and the county is missing out on public safety revenue.
Budgeting
The county is facing a multi-year structural deficit, with costs (particularly those associated with labor) rising faster than revenues.
“I have been on a budget committee,” said Quiring, a former Oregon legislator. “And I will tell you, it takes a scalpel. It’s not an easy thing to do to cut further into the budget.”
Although the budget will be voted on before the new councilors are sworn in, she said that some departments could afford more cuts than others and objected to the $2.7 million cuts in County Manager Mark McCauley’s proposed budget to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
“I’m sorry, that budget needs to be protected,” said Quiring, adding that public safety is the county’s “first duty.”
“I think that Mark gave the councilors a good starting point,” said Blom, who added that he would continue to look for efficiencies.
Taxes
The county, under state law, can increase its property tax levy by 1 percent each year. The county hasn’t increased property taxes since 2011. County budget numbers show that it’s forgone $8.6 million in revenue by not taking the 1 percent property tax increase.
The county manager’s proposed budget includes taking a 1 percent property tax increase. But when asked if she’d vote for an increase Quiring replied, “No way, Jose.”
Blom said he is reluctant to raise taxes, but will if needed.
“That should always be a last resort,” he said. “But there are certain services that are mandated by the state (and need to be funded).”
