Four candidates running for the Position 1 seat on the Vancouver City Council sounded off on taxes, infrastructure, affordable housing, a proposed oil terminal and other issues facing the city during a visit to The Columbian’s Editorial Board on Friday.
The seat being vacated by Councilor Jack Burkman has drawn five candidates that include Scott Campbell, the government and community affairs liaison with Waste Connections; David Roberts, a real estate photographer and Nicolette Horaites and Jacob Kerr, both students at Washington State University Vancouver. Maureen McGoldrick, another candidate for the position, was also invited but did not attend.
Campbell, a longtime resident, noted his community involvement and work with local nonprofits and how he wants to see Vancouver continue on its current course. Roberts expressed a desire to enhance the environment for small businesses and expressed misgivings about the city’s plans to purchase the Town Plaza property. Kerr said he opposes new taxes on small businesses. Horaites pointed to her activism and her desire for more inclusive local government.
When asked about how the city should spend money from Prop. 1, an affordable housing levy passed by voters last year that will raise $6 million annually over a seven-year period, Kerr called for better coordination of services for homeless people. Roberts said that the housing market will balance out with more apartments coming online.
“We need to spend a little bit more money on getting people out of the homeless situation into what’s already available,” he said.
Horaites said she wanted the money to be allocated to a tiny-homes development started by Community Roots Collaborative. She also said she wanted to see the money spent on already developed properties rather than new buildings on the city’s outer rim. Campbell said the Prop. 1 is a “good start” and that he wanted to see more help for people on the verge of becoming homeless as well as more collaboration between government and various nonprofits on the issue.
When asked about their political leanings and who they voted for for president, Campbell and Kerr demurred. Roberts said he voted for Hillary Clinton after initially supporting Bernie Sanders. Horaites described herself as “incredibly progressive.”
“I am running because I believe everyone in our community should have a place at the table,” she said.
Each candidate stressed the importance of funding for public safety. Campbell said that the city should have a more long-range vision instead of facing a recurring shortfall when going through its two-year budget cycle.
“We shouldn’t have to go through this every two years,” he said.
Almost every candidate expressed opposition to an oil terminal in Vancouver. Kerr said he would be reluctant to take a position on an advisory vote until he could see details on the terminal.
“It’s probably going to happen, to be honest,” he said.
On transportation, specifically the failed efforts to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge, Kerr said he opposed light rail and wanted to improve infrastructure with the aim of bringing more jobs to Vancouver. Roberts said he wants to replace the I-5 Bridge and make it light-rail-compatible but noted he was “not interested in the light-rail component at the moment.”
“I would be in favor of light rail,” said Horaites.
Campbell said that he supports replacing the bridge and also getting second and third crossings for the bridge. He also said that traffic going east and west was also “horrendous.”
The primary election will be Aug. 1. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 7 general election.
