Royceosaurus

Yesterday was The Columbian’s editorial board meeting interviewing the three candidates for August’s primary for Vancouver City Council Position No. 6: Councilor Pat Campbell, Anne McEnerny-Ogle and Bill Turlay.

The conversation is held between the editorial board and the candidates. Reporters are allowed to sit in the back, but don’t ask questions. All of it is however, on the record.

The board asked the candidates to rank the effectiveness of the city council on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being “Animal House” and one being “the smoothest run business ever.”

Campbell started, saying the council used to be a four, but is now a three. He praised Mayor Tim Leavitt’s more collaborative style vs. former Mayor Royce Pollard’s leadership as the reason he improved the ranking.

“Royce was somewhat of a dinosaur,” he told The Columbian. “I don’t think that’s a good position to be in as mayor.”

McEnerny-Ogle gave the council’s functionality a six, saying there’s a lack of respect on the seven-member board.

“I think it’s gone downhill,” she said.

Turley said he’d give the politician’s answer of five. He noted there are many different personalities and they should sit down, have coffee and work things out.

“You don’t hang out your dirty laundry right there,” he said.

(We pondered what would fuel the blog if politicians didn’t air their grievances for us to hear).