Sen. Pridemore’s run for state auditor backed by Southwest Washington Democrats
Democratic leaders in Clark County and three nearby legislative districts announced this week that they endorse State Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, who will run for state auditor this fall.
Democrats from the 17th, 18th and 49th districts, as well as the Clark County Democrats, expressed their support for the current lawmaker. Pridemore announced his candidacy in November. He served six years as Clark County commissioner before running for the Senate in 2004.
Two other Democratic lawmakers, Rep. Mark Miloscia of Federal Way and Rep. Chris Reykdal of Olympia, also have announced their intent to run for auditor.
Pridemore also has been endorsed by state representatives Jim Moeller, Tim Probst and Sharon Wylie, all Democrats from Vancouver. Other endorsements include: Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart, Vancouver mayor Tim Leavitt, Battle Ground Councilman Mike Ciraulo, former state representative Joe King, and former Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard.
“I am so honored to have the support of the people I have been serving for years,” Pridemore said in a statement on Monday.
Before seeking public office, Pridemore served as chief financial officer for the Clark County Department Public Works. In the early 1990s he oversaw day-to-day operations for a Los Angeles County accounting firm that specialized in audits of local government.
As a legislator, he chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee, which oversees state agency performance audits. He also chairs the Senate Government Operations Committee, which considers legislation dealing with the accountability and efficiency of state and local governments. He is the former vice chairman of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee and the past chairman of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council and the Select Committee on Pension Policy.
Pridemore, 50, is a native of Clark County and the son of a millworker and a teacher. He graduated from Fort Vancouver High School and served four years in the Army before attending the University of Washington, where he graduated with a degree in political science.
In early 2010, he launched a short-lived campaign for the 3rd Congressional District seat, but he soon withdrew from the race, citing a failure to raise enough money to run a competitive campaign.
The auditor’s job pays $116,950 a year.
