Being effective in public office first requires navigating a steep learning curve, she said, and her time with the council puts her ahead.
“I’m a long way up that curve,” she said.
Coursey, a computer systems engineer with a background in banking, said he’s been involved with local and county politics for some time, including campaigning for state Rep. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver.
With Freeman leaving at the end of her term on the Washougal council, people encouraged him to run, he said, so he threw his hat in the race.
“I’m a fiscally conservative, pro-business person, and I’m dedicated to a small form of government as opposed to big government, and I’m committed to being the taxpayers’ friend,” he said.
A council member needs collaboration skills, and she pointed to her work on community groups such as the Rotary Club, League of Women Voters, schools and youth advocacy programs and her work on the city’s Civil Service Commission as examples of that kind of experience.
Both talked about going door-to-door to meet voters and how most of the residents they talked to brought up their utility bills.
The city is paying for years of deferred maintenance on its water system, which is what ratepayers see in their bills.
“I accept there’s nothing we can immediately do that’s going to bring it down in a huge way, but I think it deserves some focus of the city going forward, any time there’s a possibility of lowering the water bills,” Coursey said.
Candidates for Washougal City Council Position 7
Molly Coston
Age: 67.
Occupation: Retired project manager for a telecom company.
Endorsements: H-RoC, a Southwest Washington political action committee geared toward advancing female leaders, and the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington.
Dan Coursey
Age: 62.
Occupation: Computer systems engineer with Daimler AG.
Endorsements: State Reps. Liz Pike, R-Camas; Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver; and Brandon Vick, R-Felida; state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center; Republican Clark County Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke; and the Clark County Republican Party.
Coston recalled the council’s difficulty wrangling with utility bills and said the city may be able to do more to explain the state of the water utility and publicize how the city offers payment plan assistance.
Coursey said he’d likely be more socially and fiscally conservative than his opponent.
“There are all kinds of good things, great things, the city could should maybe do, you know. But it all comes down to money,” he said.
Both don’t plan on raising more than $5,000 for their campaigns, meaning they don’t have to disclose detailed fundraising information to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission.
