The Clark County Council will have a different look next year, with two incumbents opting to not seek reelection. In District 3, The Columbian’s Editorial Board recommends Wil Fuentes and John Jay as the best candidates to help create a thoughtful, engaged governing body.
As always, this is merely a recommendation. The Editorial Board trusts that voters will examine the candidates and the issues before casting an informed vote for a successor to Karen Bowerman on the five-person council. Three candidates will appear on the ballot for the Aug. 6 primary, and the top two vote-getters will advance to the November general election.
In Fuentes, voters will find a candidate who has held several civic leadership roles. He has served with the Clark County Low Income Housing Committee, The Heights Community Investment Committee, the Comprehensive Climate Community Working Group and Fourth Plain Forward. In the process, he has developed a broad understanding of community issues and how they directly impact citizens.
During an interview with the Editorial Board, Fuentes said he would support the permissible annual 1 percent increase to the county’s property tax levy and believes density is the key to adding affordable housing and mitigating the homeless crisis. There is “ample land to build within the growth boundary,” he said, stressing the importance of preserving natural rural spaces.
Perhaps most important, Fuentes clearly articulates his position on the issues and demonstrates an understanding of their complexities.
Jay, meanwhile, has served on the Clark County Parks Advisory Board and writes in his campaign material of a desire to prioritize “our thinly spread Greater County Parks District resources so that more people will have outdoor recreation opportunities closer to home.”
He has an understanding of how government works, mentioning the need to secure federal grants for worthy projects and a desire to coordinate with city governments and lawmakers in Olympia to promote items that are beneficial to Clark County.
Chuck Keplar also is on the ballot and has some strong qualifications. On his campaign website, Keplar writes “families are overtaxed and getting less for their money in Clark County.” He also opposes tolls on a new Interstate 5 Bridge, an issue that is beyond the purview of the county council.
Keplar embraces populist positions that might sound good but don’t necessarily reflect the reality of issues facing Clark County. For example, he told the Editorial Board that he longs for a day when “everybody can have a backyard.”
While voters should study the candidates, this race provides a clear framework for examining their differences — although county council positions are nonpartisan.
Fuentes has been endorsed by state Sen. Annette Cleveland and Reps. Monica Stonier and Sharon Wylie — Democrats who represent the 49th Legislative District. He also has the support of several Vancouver City Council members. Jay has been endorsed by legislators Paul Harris, Kevin Waters, Greg Cheney, and Stephanie McClintock — all centrist Republicans. Keplar has been endorsed by the Clark County Republican Party, which typically represents the extremist MAGA faction of the Republican Party.
Regardless of their support, the Editorial Board believes that Wil Fuentes and John Jay bring the most thoughtful insight to their candidacies. We recommend them in the race for councilor from District 3.
