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Clark County Council Chair, Marc Boldt, interviewed by Mike Dalesandro and Jeff Angelo, the first half addresses the recent unexpected letting go of County Manager Mark McCauley.
Unfiltered Podcast Episode #7: Marc Boldt
See also CVTV coverage May 12, 2017 Special Meeting
Logo of Clark County
Much to the delight of some and consternation of others, this past week saw the abrupt dissolution of the Clark County Department of Environmental Services.
What made it so pleasurable to some is of course, much hated Sen. Don Benton (R 17) was effectively fired from the position he was hired to lead the department and that caused so much controversy, fueled by a near lynch mob mentality led by the local newspaper, the Lazy C.
The firestorm lit off back then has simmered and burned ever since from the left as well as editors and writers employed by the Lazy C, even though none has ever supplied any actual evidence of managerial incompetence, just allegations of not being qualified and of course, the ongoing, decades long hate fest against Benton.
Clark County saw its first full five member council mandated by the home rule charter to replace the three member county commission last evening and as I suspected, it has nothing to do with “Good Governance” or making anything in the county better.
No, it is as I predicted, all about slapping down councilors Madore and Mielke, both of whom are up for reelection later this year.
Shortly before Christmas, they rushed through eight resolutions that even the Lazy C all but admitted were meaningless, carrying no actual weight and as one commenter said, “a complete waste of time” to pass.
No doubt pleased to once again get out from behind the wheel of dump trucks, former Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt succeeded in his bid to climb back on top on the now Clark County Council created in the 2014 voter approved Home Rule Charter that now sees a 5 member Council over the 3 member Commission that existed before.
As has been said many times now, the Charter was promoted and approved because certain elements in the county did not appreciate seeing the Democrat Rule defeated in the 2012 election as was outlined in the blog post Motive Matters followed by What Changed in Clark County? and Yes, motive for charter matters.
For whatever reason, charter opponents chose to ignore the motives and it passed by a 7 point margin, creating the 5 member Council Marc Boldt has been elected to chair, a new position created in the charter.
Leave it to the blight on our community, the local daily mouthpiece for the Democrat Party better known hereabouts as the “Lazy C” to always show us what true hypocrisy looks like. Under the leadership of Lefty Lou, they never fail to show complete and utter hypocrisy as they work towards implementing a one-party rule under the leftists.
The Monday, Dec 15, 2014 “In Our View” editorial gives us an excellent example of just that.
I’m not going to delve too much on the actual subject, County Commissioner Tom Mielke’s proposal to “prevent County Administrator Mark McCauley from consolidating or eliminating any of the departments as he assumes new power as county manager when the charter goes into effect Jan. 1” as that issue will be settled soon after a public hearing and open discussion between the County Commissioners.
In the November 10, 2014 Lazy C: CRC lingers in long-range plans
Ask yourself, why didn’t they admit any of this BEFORE the election where they pushed for a transformation in county government?
This blog was among the few that shined light on the Home Rule Charter effort being in part to resurrect the comatose CRC light rail project. While others focused on claims of diluting the Commissioners to councilors and gerrymandering of districts in hopes of benefiting the left, this blog focused on motives of the effort.
In part, that effort was to undo the 2012 election to oust two conservative Commissioners that stood in the way of the CRC light rail project at the behest of the citizens of Clark County. It grew out of an effort to recall them that was unwarranted.
I won’t be posting on results this evening as I will be away from my computer most of the evening. But, links below are being provided where you can read the results of local and state races as they are released. Results should be released after 8 pm.
For local results: http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/current/clark/
State and Congressional results: http://results.vote.wa.gov/results/current/
However the elections go this evening, we better begin remembering we are all Americans and ignore the efforts of bitter division separating us. We will never agree on everything nor should we. But the bitter battles and “my way or the highway” mentality seen far too long needs to come to a screeching halt, if we are to survive.
Good luck to all.
From the Lars Larson Oct. 30, 2014 show, Lars and Don Benton discuss the Clark County Home Rule Charter.
Lars Larson can be heard on 101.1 FM KXL Portland, Oregon Monday-Friday 12n-4pm and on Freedom 970 AM from 6pm to 9pm or by visiting http://larslarson.com/
A prime example of those that would radically transform the Government of Clark County Washington because they despise one Commissioner.
Over a personal facebook page? Seriously?
Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey is well known to be a staunch supporter of this Home Rule Charter nonsense born out of the effort to recall County Commissioners Mielke and Madore over the hiring of Don Benton.
I have respected Greg for many years, even when I disagreed with him. But his words left on Madore’s facebook page leave me questioning is he is even due that respect.
In a post on the 2014 Voters Pamphlet having an additional two pages promoting the charter, when there is not an equal 2 pages provided for those opposing the charter, Kimsey said;
Greg Jayne facetiously notes, in his Sunday Oct. 12, 2014 column, the Democrats Home Rule opposition from 2002 and mentions how things have changed since then.
Maybe he should have used some more recent quotes displaying opposition to the Home Rule Charter:
“When a wild goose chase clearly defines itself before it even begins, responsible travelers will decline to embark on the journey. Such is the case before Clark County commissioners as they ponder another expedition into the well-known futility of changing county government to a home rule charter.”
“But, as The Columbian wrote recently in an editorial, exploring the idea of a home rule charter would be a wild goose chase, seeking to solve problems that are nonexistent. This time, we’ll opt for a different animal analogy and reiterate that it would be a waste of time, money, and energy only to have voters beat this horse again.” Columbian Editorial, In Our View: Solutions … No Problems; March 19, 2013
I’m surprised that the Lazy C actually published my letter to the editor on the motive for this Home Rule Charter, Yes, motive for charter matters
Surprised because I am banned by Lefty Lou hisself over “name calling,” my labeling then the Lazy C over their woefully inadequate and biased coverage of political issues.
As is expected, the C3G2 crowd tells me to adjust my tin foil hat and reminds me that they were at the meeting I mention, indicating I wasn’t. While that is true, I do have video of the meeting to back up my allegations of the motive posted at Craig Pridemore: Forgetful or Just Dishonest?
Craig Pridemore says the Clark County Home Rule Charter had nothing to do with reaction to anything, but that is not what he and others said last year when it was none other than Craig that brought up the use of a Home Rule Charter as an alternative to a recall of Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke due to Democrats extreme dislike of losing the majority on the County Commission and the hiring of Sen. Don Benton to head the Dept of Environmental Services.
We read in the Oct. 2, 2014 Lazy C article Pridemore, Stewart differ on big issues;
“He [Craig Pridemore] called the charter an effort to make the county better. He said the county was a different place today than it was in 1889, when the president approved the state constitution, which spelled out the composition of county government.”
“[Jeanne] Stewart, a former Vancouver city councilwoman, disagreed, saying the home rule charter was an extreme reaction by some to the actions of Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke, both Republicans.”
I was recently asked by a Home Rule Charter supporter if I would list the difference between past efforts at a Home Rule Charter and the latest effort.
Perhaps I should have put the question back on him as it appears it is those that now support it are who have made a 180° Turn Around.
In the 2002 effort, Democrats fought against any Home Rule Charter with everything they had. Statements against from the 2002 Voters Pamphlet by Democrats below;
I usually shy away from predicting the outcome of elections, but decided I’d throw my two cents in concerning the Clark County, Washington elections in November. It’s a bit early, yes and predictions are subject to change as information comes available. But this initial post will indicate how I see the outcome of the elections.
A disclaimer of sorts, these predictions are solely based on how I see the current information and read the current political tea leaves and are by no means infallible. They also may not be how I would personally like to see a race come out, but are how I view the reality of it.
First, apologies to the people in the 14th and 20th Legislative Districts. Your districts cross county lines and I simply do not have access to other counties at this time, so I am unable to predict how those races will go.
That may sound like an odd question to ask, given the angst over the Clark County Board of Commissioners since the majority switched in 2012 to a more conservative one and that Democrats have a major effort underway now to completely revamp county government in hopes of regaining their power, but it is a question that all should be considering.
As we know, Commissioner Steve Stuart decided to leave the County Commission since he no longer pulled the strings at County and Ed Barnes was named to complete his term, which ends this year.
Democrats were livid that Barnes was named, even though they nominated him, as their real effort was to propose two people they did not want in order to entice the two remaining Commissioners to name former Commissioner, Craig Pridemore to complete the term and to be able campaign as an incumbent this year.
Now that a Home Rule Charter is popular with the left, after years of their opposing the same rule, there is an effort to make the Freeholders “non-partisan,” not declaring any Political Party.
Bad idea in my opinion.
County Commissioner Tom Mielke said it best before when he said the positions should be Partisan with, “it gives voters an idea regarding governing philosophy.”
I know it is becoming commonplace to claim “non-partisan” with our Top Two Primary system, but let’s face it, anybody elected brings with them a “Partisan” viewpoint. From City Council members to Freeholders, whoever holds the seat will govern from a “Partisan” viewpoint.
We also know that Democrats now favor Home Rule due solely to the election of Commissioner David Madore and the reelection of Commissioner Tom Mielke, giving the County Commission a true Conservative Republican majority.
