The Clark County Republican Party settled on the top three candidates to fill a vacant seat on the Clark County Council.
On Tuesday night, the party’s central committee nominated airline pilot and transportation activist John Ley, Republican Party activist Brook Pell and retired California Superior Court Judge Gary Medvigy to fill the open seat on the council.
The vacancy was created after Republican county Councilor Eileen Quiring had to resign her District 4 council seat to begin her term as county council chair earlier this month.
Under the state’s process for filling the office, the local GOP was charged with nominating three individuals affiliated with the party who live in District 4. The candidates now go to the Clark County Council, which will determine who will replace Quiring.
A total of 117 Republican precinct committee officers (another joined in the middle of the meeting) out of nearly 180 from across the county gathered in the Marshall/Luepke Community Center in Vancouver where they heard brief speeches from 11 candidates seeking the post. Under the rules adopted for the meeting, the precinct committee officers cast votes for three candidates in the first round of voting. To advance, a candidate was required to get 50 percent of the vote. After the first round of voting, Ley was the only candidate to emerge with a majority with 61 votes.
During the meeting, Ley told the precinct committee officers that he got involved with local politics by opposing the Columbia River Crossing, a controversial replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge that terminated in 2013. Describing himself as someone who likes “digging into the details,” he’s since been active in opposing Oregon’s plans to place tolls on interstates in the Portland area. He also supported a third bridge across the Columbia River and reform of Washington’s Growth Management Act.
“We need to stand up for private property rights,” he said.
After the second round of voting, Pell and Medvigy emerged as the other candidates with a majority, getting 63 and 59 votes respectively.
Medvigy, who is also a retired U.S. Army major general, told the precinct committee officers that he and his family chose Clark County because of its quality of life, lack of an income tax and to be among like-minded people with strong moral values. He also stressed his conservative political outlook.
“Government in America should never be viewed as a growth industry,” he said.
Pell highlighted her work history as a paralegal and property manager, as well as her deep roots in Clark County and the district. She said she wanted to work on budget, transportation and planning issues. She also mentioned her endorsement from Quiring.
“District 4 is the most conservative district we have,” she said.
