Leah Perkel kicks off Vancouver City Council campaign
Wednesday afternoon, nearly 30 Vancouver residents gathered in the backroom of Loowit Brewing Company for Leah Perkel’s election campaign kickoff.
Perkel, who has lived almost all her life in Vancouver, is running for Seat 6 on the Vancouver City Council against incumbent Sarah Fox, who has held the position since 2019.
“I really wasn’t planning to run for city council, but as I’ve been going to city council meetings, there really needs to be a voice for the community,” Perkel said. “I feel like when we go to the city council, we’re not really being heard.”
Some of Perkel’s highest priorities include addressing the city’s housing challenges and adhering to the city’s Climate Action Plan.
Perkel also said she wants the city to further invest in social services and find ways to bring family wage jobs to Vancouver amid a rising cost of living.
“I am dedicated to making Vancouver an affordable, safe, and vibrant city where families can thrive and proudly call home,” her campaign website states. “To address the rising cost of living, family wage jobs are crucial, providing stable incomes to support families and maintain a decent standard of living.
At the kickoff, Perkel said she supported the council’s recent vote to extend the warehouse moratorium, saying that it will have a positive impact on the area’s economy.
In terms of housing, she said the Safe Stay Communities are a good start and the city is making progress, but she would like to see more outreach to community organizations.
Perkel works as a customer service representative for a moving company. She has spent most of her career in similar roles, she said. Her community involvement includes volunteering with the Northwest Neighborhood Association, the Clark County Food Bank and nonprofit Stone Soup.
She and her husband have also volunteered for several campaigns, including the campaigns of Vancouver City Councilor Kim Harless and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania.
Some of Perkel’s endorsements include Port of Vancouver Commissioner Don Orange, who is running for reelection this year, and Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver.
— Carlos Fuentes
