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La Center voters favor candidates who back casino talks

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: November 5, 2009, 12:00am
3 Photos
Bill Birdwell, Jr.
Bill Birdwell, Jr. Opposes casino, but favors talks Photo Gallery

Battle Ground incumbents retain seats; Washougal elects new councilman

By Marissa Harshman

Columbian staff writer

Judging by the results of the city council races, La Center residents support negotiating with tribe officials regarding the proposed Cowlitz casino.

The six candidates for three city council positions stood firmly regarding the casino: cut a deal with the tribe or don’t. They also had clear views on whether to negotiate with tribe officials. And those who were open to negotiation were voted onto the council Tuesday evening.

Councilman Bill Birdwell Jr. will retain his Position 1 seat after defeating challenger Ron Ostrander. Birdwell garnered 366 votes to Ostrander’s 200.

Birdwell, 47, opposes the casino project but has said he is open to talking with the tribe about providing sewer service to the casino. He has served on the La Center City Council since March 2005.

Last week, Ostrander filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission against Birdwell, who listed his city e-mail address in the county voter’s pamphlet. The PDC is investigating the complaint.

Al Luiz will be the new councilman to hold Position 2 after garnering 368 votes Tuesday. Dale Smith pulled in 210 votes. Councilman Bob Smith did not run for re-election.

Luiz, 63, said he believes negotiation with the tribe is crucial. Luiz is a member of the city’s planning commission and serves on various other city committees.

Barbara Vining unseated Councilman Troy Van Dinter to take hold of Position 3. Vining pulled in 341 votes to Van Dinter’s 234 votes.

Vining, 52, said she is opposed to the casino but believes the city needs to take action to protect itself. Van Dinter, 42, has served on city council since 2005.

La Center has a total of 1,527 registered voters. As of Tuesday evening, 38.5 percent of registered voters’ ballots had been counted.

Battle Ground

Initial election results indicate the three incumbents on the Battle Ground City Council will retain their seats for four more years. But until all of the votes are tallied, one of the races could go either way.

Deputy Mayor Alexander Reinhold and challenger Adrian Cortes are battling it out for Position 5 on the Battle Ground City Council. As of Tuesday evening, Reinhold had pulled in 875 votes to Cortes’ 819. The city of Battle Ground has 7,592 registered voters. On Tuesday evening, only 25.9 percent of registered voters’ ballots had been counted.

Reinhold, 45, has served on the Battle Ground City Council for eight years and is completing his second year as deputy mayor. Cortes, 33, serves on the Battle Ground Planning Commission and the Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Commission.

Incumbent Lisa Walters defeated Michael Dalesandro to retain Position 4. Walters received 967 votes and Dalesandro garnered 745 votes.

Walters, 45, was elected to Position 4 in 2001.

Dalesandro filed a complaint with the PDC in late-October against Walters for listing her city e-mail address in the county voter’s pamphlet. Last week, the PDC announced that it would not take enforcement action against Walters.

Incumbent Bill Ganley, who holds Position 6, garnered 961 votes to Shane Bowman’s 782 votes. Ganley, 50, has served on the Battle Ground City Council since 1994 and was mayor from 1997-2001.

Incumbents Mayor Michael Ciraulo and Phil Haberthur ran unopposed for their council positions.

At the city council’s first meeting of the new year, Jan. 4, members will elect a new mayor and deputy mayor. Both are two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms a person can serve as mayor or deputy mayor.

Washougal

A current member of the Washougal Planning Commission will be the newest member of the city council.

Dave Shoemaker received 1,275 votes to Larry Wagoner’s 772. Both defeated Councilman Lou Peterson in the August primary.

Shoemaker, 68, said he plans to focus on addressing the recent findings by theWashington State Auditor’s Office and getting the Washougal economy moving again.

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“With 40 years in federal, state and local government, I can add to the conversation there starting the first of January,” Shoemaker said of his past employment with various governmental bodies. This was his first attempt at public office.

Incumbent Michael Delavar will retain his seat on the council after defeating Garry Alexander Sr. Alexander was deemed ineligible to serve in public office after being convicted in October of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, a felony. However his name still appeared on ballots.

Delavar received 1,617 votes to Alexander’s 413 votes. Delavar, 36, was appointed to Position 4 in June and will now complete the final two-years of the four-year term.

Incumbents Jon Russell, Paul Greenlee and Molly Coston ran unopposed.

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.

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Columbian Health Reporter