Citing his extensive background in law and military service, the Clark County Council voted unanimously Tuesday afternoon to appoint Gary Medvigy to the open seat on the council.
The seat was left vacant after Republican county Councilor Eileen Quiring began her term as council chair earlier this year. The vacancy triggered a process where the Clark County Republican Party nominated three candidates to the county council to replace Quiring, who was elected to represent District 4 in 2016.
Last week, Medvigy, along with airline pilot John Ley and Republican Party activist Brook Pell, was nominated by the party. All three appeared before the council Tuesday to answer questions.
During the meeting, Medvigy highlighted his 33 years working in government, including as a U.S. Army general and later a deputy prosecuting attorney and Superior Court judge in Sonoma County, Calif.
“I have a broad breadth of experience working with a lot of different kinds of people,” Medvigy said. “And I would just tell you that I have the reputation of getting things done. I work to get things done in a collaborative way. That’s the only way to get things done.”
Responding to questions from councilors, Medvigy said he wants to keep the cost of living down in Clark County while also helping it develop an identity independent of Portland. He wants to work on allowing industrial development along the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad, he said, as well as addressing challenges with the county budget and growth plan.
Medvigy praised the county’s response to an outbreak of measles in Clark County. He said the county did the right thing by declaring a public health crisis. He added that the situation could have been prevented with immunizations.
“It’s just not conscionable that we have such a large portion of children that are not immunized,” he said.
Medvigy, who moved to Clark County in 2016, called addressing the county’s aging and overcrowded jail a “humanitarian issue” that would require a broader look at the county’s justice system, particularly how it interfaces with individuals with mental health issues or drug addiction.
He also said that current efforts to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge were pointed at the “wrong issue” and that the focus should instead be on creating new crossings across the Columbia River.
After meeting in executive session for about a half-hour, the council returned and spoke glowingly of Medvigy’s credentials before voting unanimously to appoint him.
“I also feel that Mr. Medvigy has great experience and demonstrated a strong understanding of the diverse issues that our county faces,” Democratic county Councilor Temple Lentz said.
Medvigy was sworn in shortly after the council vote.
If Medvigy wants to keep his position, he’ll have to stand for election later this year. The position is also up for election in 2020, when the seat’s four-year term expires.
