A first-term state senator who was one of the region’s biggest champions of the Columbia River Crossing project is facing a challenger who was pleased the project was killed.
Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, is seeking a second term. Republican Lewis Gerhardt, a former Yacolt town councilor who now lives in Vancouver, is vying to unseat her.
Gerhardt, who works as a master technician for Restaurant Technology, a company that automates restaurant kitchens, said he was prompted to run because he doesn’t believe the incumbent is leading the state in the right direction.
“I want to see taxes lowered, not raised … As far as education and some of the other issues, she’s a politician that feels like throwing money at the issue rather than solving it,” Gerhardt said.
If elected, Gerhardt said, he would prioritize education funding and transportation issues. He believes in building a third bridge across the Columbia River.
“I think it’s common sense to have more bridges across the river before we shut one down for reconstruction,” said Gerhardt, who said he is supporting Republican Donald Trump for president.
Gerhardt also believes more teachers should be in the classrooms and more vocational and training programs need to be created.
Cleveland, who is supporting Hillary Clinton for president, points to her legislative work and ability to compromise.
“I’m the candidate with extensive public policy experience. Having served in the state Senate for four years, I served in the minority and absolutely understand the need for compromise,” Cleveland said.
In her first term, Cleveland worked on a measure to expand the number of medical clinics that will treat Medicaid patients. She pushed a measure to strengthen oil-by-rail safety, established a task force to address the rising cost of prescription drugs and was instrumental in bringing money to the region for the downtown Vancouver waterfront park and to renovate the Providence Academy.
If re-elected, she said she would continue to work to lessen the pay disparity between men and women and to revive discussions about replacing the Interstate 5 Bridge.
