Vancouver City Councilor Larry Smith will run for a third term, he announced today in front of dozens of supporters at the new City Hall building.
Smith, 68, serves as the mayor pro tempore and also as the vice-chairman of the C-Tran board of directors. He first won election to city council Position 5 in 2003.
“I have no big political ambitions except to serve the community,” Smith said. “It’s sort of an adrenaline rush — when you’re helping other folks succeed — I enjoy that.”
An Army veteran, Smith has been active in veterans groups and was the co-founder of the Community Military Appreciation Committee, which is now planning Memorial Day services and other activities. Smith said he will remain focused on veterans, along with seniors and youth.
He said he also planned to campaign on infrastructure, transportation and job creation.
“I am a big supporter of that bridge,” he said, referring to the planned replacement of the Interstate 5 span between Vancouver and Portland. “That bridge needs to get built. It’s not a Democrat thing or a Republican thing, it’s an American thing.”
He said he also supports light rail and is proud of the waterfront development at the former Boise Cascade industrial site, the purchase of the new City Hall building at 410 W. Sixth St. and PeaceHealth’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Vancouver. Smith spoke about how each was part of planning for the community’s future.
“We have a lot of naysayers out there … and some of that is healthy,” Smith said. “But sometimes, people want to do the popular thing, but what you need to do is the leadership thing.”
Before his time on the city council, Smith worked almost 12 years for the city of Vancouver, first as assistant to the city manager and then as parks and recreation director. He also was senior adviser to the Army Reserve’s 104th Institutional Training Division at Vancouver Barracks.
Smith lives in Cascade Park with his wife, Patty. His grown daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live in Clark County.
His campaign website is http://www.vancouvertiger.org.
