“When I put out calls for volunteers, I never see him,” Onslow said. “If he’s running for a position on council, you would think he would involve himself on some things in the city.”
He questioned how Wilson could know what the city needs if he doesn’t show up for meetings or volunteer events.
Part of Wilson’s prior reluctance to get involved in Ridgefield’s political scene was because of his position as a sergeant for the Battle Ground Police Department, he said.
That changed last month.
The catalyst for Wilson’s campaign was a vote Onslow cast at the Sept. 26 C-Tran Board of Directors meeting, allowing TriMet to use C-Tran’s eminent domain authority to acquire land for a light-rail extension over the Columbia River Crossing, if the bridge is ever built. Onslow is an alternate on the 10-member board behind La Center Mayor Jim Irish, meaning he rarely votes. Irish did not attend the Sept. 26 meeting, so Onslow took his place.
The C-Tran board approved the controversial agreement with TriMet by one vote. Onslow said he and Irish discussed the vote before the meeting.
The party hasn’t formally voted to endorse a candidate, Berrigan said, and he’s supporting Wilson independent of his role with the county GOP.
Meanwhile, Chuck Green, an Onslow ally, accused Wilson’s campaign of being fronted by political operatives from outside Ridgefield who are opposed to the Columbia River Crossing.
“I think (Wilson’s campaign) revolves around one issue, and I think it’s retaliatory,” he said. “I know (Onslow’s) a mayor with more than one issue.”
Among his accomplishments during his time serving as mayor, Onslow cites how the city has built trails and parks, cleaned up the cemetery and approved a joint sewer agreement with Battle Ground and Clark Regional Wastewater District. That agreement is intended to allow the city to grow its current sewer capacity beyond its current cap of 750,000 gallons a day.
Wilson disputed he’s a one-issue candidate, or that he was formally courted by county Republicans to run.
He’s said he, too, would focus on issues related to the city’s sewer rates and business growth, if elected.
And while he has promised a coordinated effort on the campaign trail, Onslow’s supporters have vowed to match it.
On Oct. 17, Wilson’s campaign held a sign-waving event at a gas station off the Interstate 5 offramp. Onslow supporters countered Oct. 25, waving signs at intersections between the I-5 junction interchange and the Main Avenue and Pioneer Street intersection, covering roughly three miles.
Tyler Graf: 360-735-4517; http://twitter.com/col_smallcities; tyler.graf@columbian.com.
