The race for county council chair could get expensive
The election for Clark County council chair won’t take place for over a year, but state Rep. Liz Pike, a Camas Republican who announced for the countywide position, already has a significant fundraising advantage. That could mean another costly election for chair.
On Aug. 18, Pike held a hootenanny at her farm that was billed as a “Freedom Fundraiser” for her “next election.” The promotional flyer didn’t specify what office Pike was running for, but it turned out to be the county chair race. Her most recent campaign filings show she raised $18,635 in contributions for her campaign at the event.
The council chair position was created by the Clark County’s Home Rule Charter, which as passed by voters in 2014. The first election for the position occurred in 2015, and Marc Boldt, a former Republican state legislator and county commissioner, prevailed in the race as an independent with his campaign spending $46,916. His Democratic opponent in the race, Mike Dalesandro, spent $17,749 — an amount that’s already been surpassed by Pike.
But money didn’t completely determine the outcome of the race — at least money coming primarily from one polarizing political figure in Clark County.
Former Republican Clark County Councilor David Madore also ran for chair with his campaign shelling out $258,528, much of it coming from his own pocket. After he failed to advance to the primary election, Madore helped bankroll Pike’s unsuccessful write-in campaign, which was supported with $246,967 in independent expenditures.
Boldt has indicated he intends to seek reelection but has yet to report any campaign contributions and hasn’t filed with the PDC for re-election.
While we’re on the topic of Pike’s campaign money, I spent some quality time with her PDC filings and noticed during her last election that she spent $130 on the annual membership fee for Clark Rifles shooting range. She also spent another $122.98 on a concealed carry holster from Well Armed Woman, an Arizona-based maker of feminine gun accessories.
I’m sure there are reasonable explanation for these purchases, but Pike told me that she’s too busy to talk.
