Ande to challenge Baker for Vancouver port commissioner seat

Vancouver resident Nick Ande has filed as a candidate for the District Two seat on the nonpartisan Port of Vancouver Commission that is now held by Nancy Baker.

Ande, 30, is managing director of The Couve Group, Inc., a marketing firm specializing in work for Clark County nonprofits and small businesses.

He has managed local political races for candidates including Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik and State Rep. Sharon Wylie. He also worked on Joe Tanner’s unsuccessful bid for Clark County Commissioner and Bob Dingethal’s unsuccessful run for Congress. All of the candidates are Democrats. Ande lives in Vancouver’s Rose Village neighborhood with his wife, Meaghann, and their two sons.

Ande said he will focus his race for the six-year term on issues including the proposed Tesoro-Savage oil transfer terminal at the port and what he called a “lack of transparency” by the port.

“There’s a lack of respect for the public right now,” he said of the port.

District 2 encompasses west Vancouver and a large portion of central Clark County, including Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek.

Baker told The Columbian in January that she intends to run for a third term on the three-member commission.