That Barry McDonnell ran for mayor of Camas was careless. That he is now mayor epitomizes the moral of “The Emperor Has New Clothes.” With no experience in city of Camas, he ran a 34-day campaign based on what appeared to be a strategy: Could the “angry” portion of folks against a bond (Prop 2) vote for him despite his resume? 3,635 of the 7,113 who voted in the mayor race (8,714 voted Prop 2; 16,000 total registered voters), did so despite having just arrived in Camas from Colorado in 2016.
At a debate, he said that in three years he has not volunteered to join city committees or commissions, nor has he been on the council. Absent are the ways of learning that past candidates have undertaken before running for mayor, including that which comes from living here long enough, some all their lives. Will city professionals have to teach him even the basics while he also works a multi-state, full-time retail job?
With a population of nearly 24,000 and facing many challenges, Camas is no longer an uncomplicated city. Can we afford an unqualified mayor at the helm of our strong-mayor model of government?
