18th Legislative District: Rivers, Kampe

Residents of the 18th Legislative District are used to quick decisions. About a month after scandal-plagued state Rep. Richard Curtis resigned in 2007, Clark and Cowlitz county commissioners appointed Jaime Herrera as his successor, and later that same day she was on the job in Olympia.

This year, another newcomer will step into that same job quickly, by political standards. Although Herrera was mentioned as a possible replacement for retiring Rep. Brian Baird throughout the early months of 2010, it wasn’t until May 21 that she formally announced her candidacy for Congress. That left just three months for her replacement to be chosen; this time voters will make the choice. Voters in the 18th District are fortunate to have two admirable choices (among seven candidates) in the Aug. 17 primary, which will send two finalists to the Nov. 2 election. The Columbian recommends Republican Ann Rivers of La Center as the strongest candidate, with Democrat Dennis Kampe of Hockinson also qualified to advance to the fall showdown.

Rivers was one of three finalists among 11 candidates for the appointment Herrera landed in 2007. She’s a public relations consultant who lists lower taxes and job creation as her top priorities.

Kampe for almost two decades has directed the national award-winning Clark County Vocational Skills Center. He, too, is focused on job creation and wants to protect social services during the challenging budget process.

Rivers and Kampe both have amassed numerous endorsements from politicians in their respective parties. The 18th District (Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Salmon Creek, La Center, Ridgefield and much of Cowlitz County) has trended strongly Republican in recent elections. That has enabled Rivers to emerge as tops in campaign contributions: $61,000, more than twice the $27,000 raised by Kampe, who has more than doubled any other contender’s war chest. Kampe is not discouraged by the district’s conservative track record, insisting his beliefs coincide with the district consensus in most issues, excepting his alignment with labor unions’ support.

Rivers is the most visible, effervescent and persuasive campaigner among the four GOP contenders. To balance the state budget, she would send it first to atate Auditor Brian Sonntag, who this year in performance audits identified millions of dollars in potential savings. We’re concerned that her public relations clients have included Storedahl, the gravel-mining company that for years has gouged the ecologically fragile East Fork of the Lewis River. But we like the fact that she is anti-casino, as reflected in her clients who have fought the proposed Cowlitz casino near La Center.

Kampe will have a tough time convincing enough 18th District voters to overlook his union ties, but there is no disputing his achievements in work-force development. Bloomberg Business Week magazine hailed the Clark County Vocational Skills Center as one of the nation’s top three, and local educators are well aware of Kampe’s talents as manager, administrator and program developer.

Five other candidates, three Republicans and two independents are making few waves on the campaign trail. Brandon Vick is a capable conservative but lacks Rivers’ experience. Jon Russell, a city councilor in Washougal, has been mired in multiple controversies of that council and has been less than forthright in describing his academic background. Anthony Bittner, 18, is running a stealth campaign. Rich Carson has many good ideas, but he and firebrand maverick Jon Haugen have mustered little support as independents.

For more information about Columbian endorsements, visit http://www.columbian.com/news/opinion.