Washougal City Council will have an exciting election this year.
DavidShoemaker lead the Washougal City Council position  NO.6 position with 49% of the vote. He will face off Larry Wagoner, a long time resident.
Washougal voters will have a tough decision this year as both candidates are men of integrity and diverse experience who will serve the city council well.

When the candidate registration for public office was completed earlier this year, no one had registered as a candidate for the East County Fire and Rescue Commissioner, (ECFR). So the Elections officials allowed an extra three days to encourage someone to fun for the office. By the end of the three days, four candidates had registered. Heading into the General Election is Mike Berg with 28% of the vote and Sheldon Tyler with 22% This one will be closely watched over the next two months.

In a surprising return, the voters in District 1 have spoken loud and clear – it’s time for a change at the Port of Camas Washougal. Incumbent Jim Carroll will be OUT as he received only 19% of the vote.

The Port of CW has been mired in controversy over the last few years in a botched development plan that was hatched behind closed doors and under the table, brokered by the Ports attorney ill advising commissioners. The port has also had its challenges of transparent business practices. Being slapped on the hands by both the State Auditor and the Attorney Generals office. The Port has no apparent future direction, has created very little job and economic growth well before the recession began and doesn’t appear to have the local citizens best interest at heart.
The next commissioners will have a heck of a job ahead of them both in management, operations, and public goodwill.

Camas Washougal native Gary Perman ran a controversial campaign to encourage the port to help the local schools protect teachers jobs and even more controversial, to discuss the possible dissolution of the port district entirely.
Perman received 30% of the vote and will face off Mark Lampton in the general, who took 27% of the vote.

“30% of the district voters heard my message and share my concerns. Perman said, “I would like to thank all those who have supported me and my bid for CW Port Commissioner. Helping save teachers jobs, lower taxes, and sell port land to improve local and school revenues are key issues of this campaign and your support. During these past several months, I was amazed by how many citizens in this community weren’t aware of how much of a portion of their property taxes go to subsidize the Camas Washougal Port – $2.2 million per year in total. The voters need to be made aware of their return on investment.
Most aren’t aware how the Port hoodwinks our local schools by leasing buildings and land to businesses rather than selling the land and buildings, and makes it a policy to do so, contrary to the public good. When leased, 73% of those tax revenues leave our local economy. I plan to work hard to eliminate this bad practice of leasing. I encourage the current commissioners to reach into the ports $5 million in savings and donate/lend $1Million to Camas and Washougal schools NOW- to save teacher jobs and essential programs for our kids.

This election is producing several positive results for our community; the Port has had to look at its overall performance and look at its poor performance in job creation and realize that placing brochures on the lobby end table won’t bring in new business. Hopefully, it’s forced the port to examine its mission statement, and become more accountable to the public.
The debate will continue. Concerned citizens will continue to watch and hold the port staff and commissioners accountable to the taxpayers and conduct business transparently.
I look forward to continuing the community discussion.

The Port of Camas Washougal need to put the  interests of the local citizens, schools and our children above the self serving “port” interests of the past.”