Election season is well underway in Clark County and the residents of Battle Ground will have several different choices to make regarding who will make up the Battle Ground City Council during the next term.
One of those decisions in the Nov. 5 general election is between council incumbent Alex Reinhold and candidate Chris Regan, who are both running for Position No. 4.
Alex Reinhold
Reinhold, 49, has lived in the Battle Ground area for more than 20 years. He is married and has two adult sons. Currently, Reinhold works as a truck driver.
First elected to the Battle Ground City Council in 2001, Reinhold currently holds Position No. 5. Originally, Reinhold had filed to run for the same that he currently holds and he would have been opposed by candidate Mike Dalesandro. However, Reinhold chose to switch to run for Position No. 4 shortly before the filing deadline. Mayor Lisa Walters, who currently holds Position No. 4, switched at the same time as Reinhold, to instead run for Position No. 5 rather than her current position.
In an Aug. 27 email to The Reflector, Reinhold said he decided to switch positions he was running for because he “saw it as an opportunity to run a campaign based on the issues, which is the way it should be.” The last time Reinhold was up for re-election, he was challenged by Adrian Cortes, who is now a current council member.
“For the past 8 to 10 years or so there has been a group of politically-active folks working to get me out of office,” Reinhold said. “The main people involved are Mike Ciraulo, Adrian Cortes, Phil Haberthur and Mike Dalesandro, plus a few of their supporters who do a lot of their dirty work. I was talking with Lisa during the filing period lamenting that I once again was having to deal with this group and their way of campaigning, which I dislike. I was not looking forward to another election season of these shenanigans.”
Reinhold said the very first time he decided to run for city council was after one of the council members at that time said they must be doing great because no one runs against them. So, Reinhold decided to run.
As far as what he brings to the city council, Reinhold said he feels he brings the perspective of a working person and a non-government employee.
“I am pretty transparent, if I am feeling it everyone knows it,” he said. “I try not to leave people guessing. I try to be at all major community events and am engaged with my fellow citizens. I make decisions based on facts and if the facts change I am willing to change my mind. I always strive to do my best for the most people.”
Although Reinhold said he and his opponent, Regan, both love the City of Battle Ground, they do have many differences. One difference that Reinhold pointed out was that he feels he is more accurate and factual than Regan. As an example, Reinhold referred to Regan’s statement in the Clark County Voters’ Pamphlet, which states that Reinhold has “repeatedly voted for property tax and utility fee increases while approving pay raises.”
“I was a ‘no’ vote on the last two budgets because of the tax and fee increases,” Reinhold said. “His statement shows he doesn’t do his research and fact checking.”
In regards to why the citizens of Battle Ground should vote for him, Reinhold said, “I work on council, I do my homework, check my facts and do my best to serve this community.”
Chris Regan
Regan, 48, is married with a family and currently works in retail management. He previously served on the Battle Ground City Council from 2004-2011 until he lost his position to current Council Member Philip Johnson. Regan said he decided to run for council again because “Battle Ground is an amazing community that my family and I gratefully
call home.”
“With the improving economy and 502 improvements, Battle Ground is also poised to begin another growth cycle that will create fantastic opportunities and challenges that will require a clear plan and cohesive leadership,” Regan said. “Unfortunately, there is a clear lack of leadership and a deeply polarized council that has clearly forgotten for whom they serve. Self interest and petty squabbles have taken precedence over planning for the future and serving the public’s best interest. As a city council member, I will bring a common sense approach to build a coalition that together will be able to plan for the future and address the current needs of the citizens.”
With regards to differences between Reinhold and himself, Regan said Reinhold “has clearly shown that he has extreme views and has gone as far as to suggest that the council should receive a pay/stipend raise during these difficult economic times, while the city is laying off employees.
“Mr. Reinhold has also repeatedly made outlandish statements, including one recently towards the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce, and has clearly shown a pattern of making unsubstantiated and inflammatory statements without regard to the impact on the city,” Regan said.
Regan said Battle Ground residents should vote for him because he “will bring a common sense approach to build a coalition that together we will be able to plan for the future and address the current needs of the citizens.”
