Thanks to the freeholders whom voters elected last November for putting together a solid and balanced county charter for voters to approve this November. Clark County had around 12,000 residents when the Washington Constitution was approved in 1889, which established our current form of county government. At more than 400,000 residents, our county is ready for a form of government that gives residents better representation, provides separation between policymakers and county managers, and gives residents a way to replace county laws they disagree with.
Expanding the county commission from three to five members will give us more voices on the council, smaller districts, and better representation of the needs of each district. Having five councilors will make it harder for one or two members to hijack county government for narrow ideological purposes and will assure more viewpoints making policy decisions. It’s time for a new charter that really serves the needs of the residents of Clark County. Make sure to vote for the charter and get your ballots in the mail by Nov. 4.
Paul Montague
Vancouver
