Weber motivated by Parker's signs
When political newcomers are asked what prompted them to run for office, they typically say something along the lines of, “I want to serve my community.” Or “I just think it’s time for a change.”
If you want an interesting answer, ask Scott Weber.
Weber first said he wanted to run for Clark County clerk to abolish the office, because he thinks the position should be appointed and not elected. But that would have to be changed through adoption of a county charter. Clark County voters have turned down “home rule” three times.
Before he came up with the idea of having one fewer elected county official, however, he didn’t even know what the county clerk did. (The person manages more than three dozen deputy clerks and is responsible for the records of all Superior Court matters, among other duties.)
Then in 2006, he caught sight of one of Sherry Parker’s signs.
Weber said at an Oct. 13 candidates’ forum that he decided to challenge Parker after seeing her campaign signs when she first ran for office.
The diamond-shaped, yellow-and-black signs are eye-catching for a reason, as they resemble traffic warning signs.
Weber said he was so upset with the signs that he decided to figure out what a county clerk actually does. Once he read the job description, he figured he could do it.
Weber hasn’t been the only person bothered by the signs.
Bryce Brown, chief counsel to the Washington State Department of Transportation, wrote in an Aug. 30 letter to Parker that he disagrees with city and county rulings that Parker’s signs are OK.
Brown ordered Parker to remove any signs visible from state and interstate highways.
Parker wrote in a Sept. 13 letter to Brown that her campaign staff members have removed signs from 26 locations visible from Interstate 5 and 205, as well as state Highways 14, 500, 502 and 503.
Parker, who was also at the Oct. 13 candidates’ forum, didn’t mention her signs.
She talked about her qualifications for leading the office, and said Weber doesn’t have the qualifications to work at the office, much less supervise it.
— Stephanie Rice
