2 seek Clark County Fire & Rescue seat

Clark County Fire & Rescue commissioner candidates

Michael Lambrecht

Age: 60.

Occupation: Quality assurance supervisor, Defense Logistics Agency.

Endorsements: The International Association of Firefighters local chapter No. 3674.

Larry Bartel

Age: 64.

Occupation: Retired deputy chief, Clark County Fire & Rescue.

Endorsements: None so far.

Clark County Fire & Rescue Commissioner Michael Lambrecht is facing off against Larry Bartel, the district’s former deputy chief, for Position 5 on the board, which runs the fire protection district that serves more than 120 square miles in Ridgefield, La Center, Battle Ground and Woodland.

Commissioners meet about twice a month, earning $114 for every meeting they attend, including additional committees, up to $10,944 annually during their six-year term. The primary duties of the commissioners consist of setting the budget, establishing policies and hiring the fire chief, who oversees the district’s day-to-day operations.

Michael Lambrecht

A lot has happened in Lambrecht’s most recent six-year term. Clark County Fire & Rescue merged with Fire Districts 11 and 12 in 2009, and entered into a contract this year with the city of Woodland for fire coverage. It also received two grants for a new boat house and a fire boat that can fight house fires from the Columbia River.

The district was able to nix an EMS levy due to increased property values in Ridgefield. Lambrecht said he wasn’t a fan of the levy anyway, and saw it as a short-term fix.

As the economy picks up, he believes the district will be able to maintain or increase service levels. Next year, residents of Battle Ground — a city that contracts with Clark County Fire & Rescue for fire and medical services — will pay the same tax rate as everyone else in the fire district: $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Although Battle Ground has incrementally paid more, the amount was always smaller than other areas in the district. In the next few years, Battle Ground residents will likely get to vote in fire commissioner races.

“I think we’re going in the right direction,” Lambrecht said. “We’re seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.”

In the next term, he hopes the district can hire one, perhaps two, additional firefighters.

Lambrecht has 19 years’ experience as a fire commissioner and spent a few years as a volunteer firefighter in 1988 with District 14. His platform calls for efficient spending while maintaining high-quality service.