All Politics is Local
Downtown drag racing draws ire
Bothered by car noise downtown? You’re not alone, if recent email correspondence between the Vancouver City Council is any indication. The Columbian maintains an ongoing records request, and recieves the emails and text messages among city councilors in biweekly installments. Over the last two weeks, councilors have been fielding emails from residents frustrated by pollution […]
Blom, Bowerman talk roads, not past
The Republican candidate for a Clark County Council seat began her campaign in earnest Friday by focusing on her small business background and roads. The announcement signaled a desire, at least initially, to not touch a local GOP elephant in the room. Karen Bowerman, who filed for the District 3 seat earlier this month, introduced […]
County passes 2010’s census self-response rate
Well, at least we’re doing something useful with all this time at home. Clark County residents have surpassed a noteworthy milestone in their response to the United States Census. On Thursday, the county surpassed its 2010 self-response rate — 70 percent of Clark County’s households have responded, and we still have a few more weeks […]
No, Eileen Quiring is not moving to North Carolina
The Clark County Council chair is marrying someone from North Carolina. But unlike singer James Taylor, Carolina is not in her mind. Earlier this month, Council Chair Eileen Quiring filed a marriage license with Timothy J. O’Brien of Cornelius, N.C. She confirmed Thursday, however, that she will remain in Clark County. There had been no […]
County concerned about state’s CARES Act deadline
A state-imposed CARES Act funding deadline is causing some raised eyebrows from local governments like Clark County. The county has been scheduled to receive $26,867,500 in the federal aid approved by Congress in late March. The state of Washington will disperse money from the program to local governments. Under state guidelines, COVID-19-related expenses incurred by […]
3 Democrats, 1 independent gain IGV endorsement
The local progressive organization Indivisible Greater Vancouver announced endorsements for candidates seeking county and state offices this week. The group will support four candidates challenging incumbents on the Aug. 4 primary election ballot, three Democrats and one independent. In Washington’s 18th Legislative District, Indivisible Greater Vancouver is endorsing Democrat Donna Sinclair, who’s challenging Republican Rep. […]
Battle Ground seeks more control on reopening
Battle Ground officials are asking the state for more of a say in how the city reopens. Mayor Adrian Cortes penned a letter to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee as state and local governments grapple with the economic fallout of COVID-19. The city Council unanimously approved the letter in a special meeting Thursday night. “We ask […]
Finn nudges Cowlitz County to file reopening petition
Woodland’s top elected official is prodding Cowlitz County to begin the reopening process outlined last week by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, albeit reluctantly. Mayor Will Finn wrote an email Sunday to Cowlitz County commissioners with the subject line, “Reopen Cowlitz County.” It referred to Inslee’s announcement Friday that he was extending the statewide stay-at-home order […]
Diversity delayed for Vancouver City Council
Vancouver’s push toward creating a more diverse city council has fizzled, at least for now. Like so many other long-term projects, the suspension of the city’s Community Task Force on Council Representation is a casualty of COVID-19. The group, tasked with making the (all white, all home-owning) city council more reflective of the people they […]
Clark County Council meets for nothing (sort of)
The Clark County Council met this week for nothing, at least publicly. But councilors didn’t just call into the teleconference for the calming hold music. Each Wednesday, councilors typically meet for council time. These conferences don’t include public hearings or comment and are less formal than the regular Tuesday meetings. This week’s agenda was bare, […]