Lawrence to lead county Dems

Clark County Democrats have elected Kathleen Lawrence, a retired schoolteacher and longtime Democratic activist, to serve as their chair for 2011 and 2012.

Lawrence outpolled Dena Horton, who sought re-election to the post she has held for a year and a half. Only Democratic precinct officers who were elected in August were eligible to vote in the Monday election.

A resident of Hazel Dell, Lawrence began her political involvement as a delegate for Jimmy Carter at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. As a leader of Clark County Democratic Women, she chaired three Democratic Women State Conventions in Vancouver.

She served six years as a state committeewoman for 49th Legislative District Democrats and was re-elected to that position last Saturday during a meeting of the 49th Legislative District Democratic Central Committee. In that capacity, she is a voting member of the Washington Democratic State Central Committee.

Lawrence said the November election, in which Republicans picked up two county government offices and one seat in the Legislature, demonstrated the need for active Democratic Party organization and leadership.

She noted that two seats on the Board of Clark County Commissioners, both now held by Republicans, will be up in two years, as will all nine seats in the state Legislature, representing all but a tiny corner of the county.

What’s more, she said, the county faces substantial shifting of political boundaries as a result of the 2010 census.

“We will continue to work hard to elect candidates who share our Democratic values of putting people first,” she said.