Republican Clark County Councilor David Madore’s days in office appear numbered.
That was the message from first returns from Tuesday’s primary election, as newcomers Tanisha Harris, a Democrat, and John Blom, a Republican, led Madore in the race for Clark County Council District 3.
If results hold, Madore, whose term has been filled with controversy and drama, has entered his final months on the Clark County council. Madore acknowledged his loss in a Facebook post Tuesday night.
“Thank you to so many who worked so hard helping citizens to learn of my track record and willingness to continue working hard for the citizens of our community,” he wrote. “It appears that citizens have chosen different leadership.”
In the race for an open council seat in District 4, Democrat Roman Battan and Republican Eileen Quiring led the field of three.
Harris, a CASA program specialist for YWCA Clark County, embraced her family and friends at the Public Service Center on Tuesday, as results showed her in first place with 46.06 percent of the votes from the east Vancouver district. She had 5,500 of the 11,941 votes tallied in that district. Blom trailed her with 31.24 percent, or 3,730 votes.
Madore finished with 2,693 votes, or 22.55 percent.
Regardless of who wins in November, District 3 will welcome a newcomer to the council with the election of Harris or Blom. Neither have held elective office before.
Harris has listed supporting “healthy human services” among her chief issues, saying she would work to promote education and social services. She’s also called for improved C-Tran service and better access to mass transit.
“We’re very, very happy, and feeling very, very good about it,” Harris said, grinning. “I’m really grateful for the voters and their trust and confidence in me.”
Blom, a real estate agent who sits on the county planning commission, said the results indicated voters are ready to “close out” the years of Madore being in office.
“I think Clark County voters are ready for a new chapter,” he said.
Blom has called for better collaboration with other organizations and jurisdictions to move Clark County forward, and is an advocate for improving Interstate 5 in order to ease traffic.
When it comes to taking on Harris, Blom said, “I think it’s going to come down to experience.”
Madore did not return a Columbian request for comment. The wealthy owner of Vancouver motion control components manufacturer U.S. Digital entered county politics as an outsider in 2012. He made a name for himself in local politics as a vocal opponent to the Columbia River Crossing.
Battan leads Quiring
In District 4, which covers northeast Clark County and several of its small cities, Battan led the race for retiring Republican Councilor Tom Mielke’s seat with 37.35 percent of the votes.
“I’m excited and exhausted and tired at the same time,” said Battan, a Camas resident who owns a marketing firm. “We’re just trying to make sure we keep going, keep reaching out.”
Battan has been critical of the current county council, saying it needs to “get back to work” and focus on county business rather than the political bickering that has dominated recent years. He has said as a councilor that he would work to improve relationships with groups such as the Columbia River Economic Development Council and the Cowlitz Tribe.
Quiring, a real estate agent who sits on the county planning commission, is also poised to move on to the general election, with 35.99 percent of the vote.
“I just really feel like I’m going to get out and meet a lot more of the voters,” Quiring said. “That’s my plan, to get out and shake a lot of hands to bring it on home.”
Quiring served in the Oregon Senate from 1997 to 2001, and as an Oregon state representative from 1995 to 1997. Quiring has support from Madore and Mielke, and has said she agrees with many of Madore’s controversial policies like the nonresidential developer fee waiver program and Alternative 4 of the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan update.
The rest of the campaign is likely to be an uphill battle for Battan, as District 4 is Clark County’s most conservative district. Battan, however, said he’ll be working to connect directly with voters to convince them he’s the best option for the largely rural district.
“We’re breaking down those barriers of just voting down party lines,” Battan said.
Washougal City Councilor Jennifer McDaniel trailed, with 26.52 percent of the votes. With 3,643 votes, she seems unlikely to surpass Quiring’s 1,300-vote lead.
McDaniel had received bipartisan backing and support from independent political action committee Connecting Clark County, which as of Tuesday had spent more than $120,000 to oppose Madore and Quiring.
Speaking through tears, McDaniel thanked her friends and supporters who helped her through the primary campaign season.
“We ran a good, clean campaign,” she said. “A lot of people worked really hard.”
Updated results will come in over the next two weeks, and the election results will be officially certified on Aug. 16.
