Battle Ground City Councilmember Adrian Cortes has announced he’s running for Clark County Council in a special election this fall.
His announcement came in the form of a press release issued Tuesday indicating he would seek the seat currently held by Republican county Councilor Gary Medvigy representing a largely rural district that includes Camas and Washougal.
Medvigy was appointed to the council in January when Eileen Quiring vacated the position after winning her race for council chair.
Cortes could not be reached for comment. The press release highlighted his roots in Clark County and community engagement while broadly outlining the issues he says are facing the county.
“I have seen our region transform and grow, but I am concerned about our direction. We have seen county government suffer from a host of challenging issues; whether it’s higher property taxes, property rights threatened or poor management of county resources,” Cortes said in the statement. “I hear you and I am ready to lead.”
The press release does not mention Cortes’ party affiliation, but filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission indicate he will run as a Democrat. Medvigy, a former California Superior Court judge and Army general, has filed with the Public Disclosure Commission to run. Filings show neither has raised any money. Whoever wins the race will have to run again in 2020 for a full term.
Cortes is in his second term on the Battle Ground City Council and also serves as the chair of the C-Tran Board of Directors. In the press release, Cortes stated he has “championed policies that have kept Battle Ground the most affordable community in our region.” He mentioned support of reducing the city debt and a “pay-as-you-go approach” and “sound oversight of taxpayer dollars.”
According to the press release, Cortes grew up in the Battle Ground area and attended Clark College. He currently serves on the Clark County Disabilities Advisory Board and previously on the board for the ARC of Clark County. He works for the Camas School District as a special educator and is a Certified Autism Specialist.
“I remember working during the summer months picking berries on Mrs. Koski’s blueberry farm and working on the Cotton family farm riding the raspberry picking machines with childhood friends,” Cortes said in the statement. “My deep roots of over 37 years in Clark County, along with my faith, my family and my neighbors continue to inspire me.”
