Boldt, Harris face off

Jeanne Harris

Marc Boldt

Marc Boldt says the Cowlitz Tribe would probably be happy with the conditions Jeanne Harris would ask in exchange for signing a new county-tribal deal.

Jeanne Harris says Marc Boldt’s proposal for less restrictive permits on rural land would be a “slippery slope” toward urbanizing rural areas.

But both of them want more laws to protect farmers against neighbors’ complaints, and both think our aging population will require changes to local transportation patterns.

Boldt, a Hockinson Republican and incumbent county commissioner, and Harris, a Democrat on Vancouver’s city council, have plenty of ideas to pursue if they’re elected to the Board of Clark County Commissioners on Nov. 4. But in election season, it’s easy to get a politician to tell you why their ideas are good.

What’s hard is to find out whose ideas are better.

With that in mind, The Columbian is sponsoring a Sunday morning print debate between the candidates. We asked 10 questions of each, then invited their opponent to respond to each answer.

The result shows that the two agree on many problems, but see different ways to solve them. It also shows two politicians laying out disagreements with both clarity and respect.

A debate in the other county commissioner race, between Tom Mielke and Pam Brokaw, can be found by searching www.columbian.com for the phrase “we grill candidates.”

1. You’ve said the county should do more to support families. Is this really an issue for local government?

Absolutely. The county can enhance providing services to families using the resources it already has by partnering with other agencies and nonprofits, such as school districts and the Boys and Girls Club, to provide family services. In particular, I would like to see more after-school programs for our kids.

2. What are your top two accomplishments on the city council?

I’m very proud of the work I’ve done in contributing to the growth and success of Vancouver, from developing more than two dozen new parks, a world class community center, improving infrastructure, attracting good paying jobs, developing a new downtown, keeping our citizens safe with excellent police and fire services to green initiatives that move us toward sustainability and an even more livable city while controlling the cost to citizens.

3. You’ve never worked full-time for the public. How do we know you’ll be able to hold your own in debate?

Serving on city council I’ve often engaged in dynamic dialogue regarding issues. What I’ve learned over the years is to recognize how and when to compromise to get to a solution that serves everyone well, what swords to fall on and which battles will not win the war. I prefer to engage all sides of the issue and come to the meeting ready to find a way to work together without compromising my core principles.

4. In 2004, voters preferred Boldt to you, 53-47 percent. What are you doing differently this time?

I think people thought I was more interested in the growth of cities than in rural Clark County. My opponent has proven to be much more pro-growth, focusing on residential growth, and supports urbanizing more of the county. I would like to see us manage our growth so we have room for jobs, which contributes to controlling taxes.

5. Can the county afford to hire eight new sheriff’s deputies every year?

Because of our rapid growth there is a need for more deputies. The more urbanized parts of unincorporated Clark County are putting a strain on our deputies. Urban areas demand urban levels of service, managing growth in the unincorporated areas helps control the additional cost of higher levels of service.

6. What’s one thing the county can do to help farmers?

Give them predictability, advocate for water rights and protect their right to farm. If we want to have any rural land in Clark County in the next 20 to 50 years we have to draw a line and commit to it.

7. Should big rural lots have more subdivision rights than they do now, including cluster development?

I’d like to see Clark County adopt a mechanism such as transfer of development rights to encourage density in urban growth areas and maintain rural lands for agricultural use.

8. What would the Cowlitz Tribe have to offer for you to sign a new deal with them?

A commitment to participate in funding more multimodal and green initiatives as well as contributing more resources towards services relating to gambling addiction and domestic violence, affordable housing and provide union family wage jobs. I’d also like to see a development designed to be sensitive to the surrounding environment.

9. If you could pass, change or kill one county rule, what would it be?

Pull all ordinances that have to do with farming and rural into one chapter of code, add disclosure and strengthen “right to farm” rules.

10. What else isn’t on the county’s radar, but should be?

The next sustainable economy is the green economy. As commissioner I would like to create a regional economic development team that creates a regional vision and priorities for the kinds of jobs we want, implement a plan to provide the infrastructure and make Clark County shovel-ready and competitive for the best jobs in the country.

l. The support our county can give to families is to keep taxes at a minimum so parents can have time with their kids. From there we need to support parks, good schools and open space recreation.

2. That is a lot. However, the question is about our own accomplishments. I also have accomplished much with my other two commissioners and associates I work with.

3. I believe the question was about resilience. This job has some very long days, and with the current economy, some very tough days ahead.

4. I believe in 2004 she was against the revision of the growth plan — a plan that now contains new acreage for jobs we need.

5. I also agree we need them, along with more prosecuting attorneys and jail space. But given our economic times, at this given moment, we may have to wait. Also, annexations of unincorporated land into cities change the need for new deputies.

6. Good weather and decent commodity prices lead to predictability, but that is out of our control. We can have a impact on water rights and habitat rules which will help.

7. For (transfers) to work the cities will have to accept the increase in density and be willing to give the proceeds to the rural land owners.

8. If this is all she is going to ask for, I believe the Cowlitz Tribe will be happy.

9. Very good.

10. Jobs to produce products for new environmental technology is good. However I do have a concern about picking all the jobs. It is fine if you are the winner, but not if you work or want to work for a company that some say we do not want.

1. Your most frequently cited goal for the next term is to shorten the review process for developers. Why should voters care?

For homeowners or renters, an extra 30 or 60 days or longer for a permit is extra interest, which is added to a mortgage payment or rent. For business owners or those wanting a job, it is certain that your project will be turning dirt on time; that will attract you to Clark County.

2. What are your top two accomplishments on the county board?

Bringing together Columbia Basin Rail, the county’s contractor, and BYCX, our rail nonprofit group, to work together on our rail line. Working with Washington State University to get the 78th Street poor farm back into our county’s hands with no county expense.

3. You’re almost silent in many hearings and work sessions. Why don’t you have more questions?

I try to read all materials presented beforehand and do ask questions as I go along. When I ask questions, they are ones that I feel the public may want.

4. The state says the big urban expansion you supported last year wasn’t legal. If this one loses in court, will you want another?

First, it is a unelected board that said that. We are now challenging that in an elected court. If at the end we do not prevail, I would agree to wait until the next plan review.

5. Can the county afford to hire eight new sheriff’s deputies every year?

At the present time, no. But in the future, it will depend on tax revenue, annexations, and the deputies-to-population mix.

6. What’s one thing the county can do to help farmers?

Make it easier to get water, labor and services.

7. Should big rural lots have more subdivision rights?

No, unless cluster development is revisited and implemented.

8. What would the Cowlitz Tribe have to offer for you to sign a new deal with them?

For them to accept our preferred alternative to the EIS — the “economic development” (no casino) option.

9. If you could pass, change or kill one county rule, what would it be?

To require conditional use permits for a clear purpose and change the rest to permitted uses.

10. What else isn’t on the county’s radar, but should be?

Our changing demographics to a older population. Smaller homes, transportation needs, services, etc. We need a senior citizen advisory board for these solutions.

1. Streamlining permitting and other county regulations is essential in reducing costs. I would also propose the county pre-qualify tier 3 (LEED Gold/Platinum) green builders and provide accelerated/abbreviated site plan review.

2. Clark County is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in a new green economy. Together we will create a regional plan as one region, one Clark County and we will be competitive with the rest of the world.

3. My years of experience on city council and numerous boards, including eight years on C-Tran’s board, have prepared me for the high level of communication skills that this job demands.

4. Had the commissioners waited the minimum five years between reviews, the comprehensive plan would be open next year, and we would not have spent money on planning but rather for public safety.

5. We don’t have time, and it isn’t responsible to wait — citizens deserve protection now. My opponent would rather wait until the area requiring the most service, Hazel Dell, either annexes or incorporates. [Footnote 1]

6. During the last four years farmers have asked for simple things the county can do; disclosure, right to farm and help with water rights and my opponent has not responded to the farmers’ requests. [Footnote 2]

7. Recently the Rural Lands Task Force that Commissioner Boldt developed and chairs [Footnote 3] has recommended downsizing parcels outside a UGA and implementing cluster development. This is a slippery slope to rural urbanization.

8. My approach is to work with the Cowlitz to establish an agreement that integrates the tribe as a partner into the region. We can make the relationship a win-win.

9. This issue needs more work or we will find ourselves sliding towards urbanizing rural areas, outside of rural centers, which seems to be what Commissioner Boldt would like to do and not what I would do.

10. By adopting smart growth we give everyone the option to walk, bike or use transit to access services, work, education and recreation. A comprehensive trail system is essential for the health of Clark County.

[1] Boldt said he doesn’t want to wait until Hazel Dell is a city, only that the county can’t afford to make the hires now.

[2] Commissioners have asked the state Department of Ecology to strengthen farmers’ water rights.

[3] Boldt suggested the task force and helped choose its members, but he didn’t chair the group and avoided its meetings.