Mayoral leadership took shape across north Clark County last week as city councils in Battle Ground and Ridgefield made key appointments during their first weeks back on the dais. Battle Ground councilmembers narrowly selected Councilor Eric Overholser as mayor in a 4-3 vote, while Ridgefield’s council unanimously reappointed Mayor Matt Cole.
Battle Ground selects new mayor
The Battle Ground City Council appointed Eric Overholser as mayor during its Monday, Jan. 5 meeting in a 4-3 vote, selecting the first-term councilmember to serve a two-year mayoral term beginning in January 2026. Former mayor Troy McCoy received three votes from Councilors Shane Bowman, Jeanie Kuypers and Troy McCoy. The council later selected Aimee Vaile, serving her first term in the City Council, as mayor pro tem.
Overholser was elected to City Council Position No. 7 in November 2023 and has lived in Battle Ground since 2018. He was awarded the Certificate of Municipal Leadership by the Association of Washington Cities in 2025.
Before joining the council, Overholser owned and operated a small pest control business in the Battle Ground area, then sold it to focus on church ministry and community involvement. He is also serving his second term as a precinct committee officer.
Overholser said his interest in local government grew from a desire to understand how city decisions are made and how residents can shape them.
“I just wanted to get more involved in local politics, try to make a difference in my community in another way,” Overholser said. “I didn’t necessarily disagree with a lot of the way the city was being ran. I think we were running pretty well, and I just wanted to learn more about that, get more involved with that, and I was interested in local government and how the city ran, the nuts and bolts of it.”
He said he was surprised by how quickly the mayoral nomination and vote unfolded during the council meeting.
“It all happens very fast, as you might be able to tell from the meeting, but once the nominations happen, we go right to a vote,” Overholser said. “I guess I was a bit in shock, like, wow, that just really happened. I can’t believe that really happened, but I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to obtain the votes.”
As mayor, Overholser will preside over council meetings and help guide discussion among councilors. He said his role will be to maintain continuity while fostering unity.
“We’re seven different people, and we come from different backgrounds and have different ways of approaching things and looking at them,” Overholser said. “But at the end of the day, I think all seven council members really do have what’s the best interest for Battle Ground, and so my hope is that we’ll find unity in most ways for what’s best for Battle Ground.”
Overholser identified the city’s people and culture as its greatest strengths, even as Battle Ground continues to grow.
“We still have a small town feel, reminiscent of me growing up as a young boy in a small community,” Overholser said. “People still say hi to each other and wave to each other and have conversations in the checkout line at the grocery store, and that is still something that I value very much.”
Looking ahead, he identified roads, parks and managing growth as top challenges, alongside maintaining public safety and infrastructure, as the city plans for future development.
“Roads are definitely a big one,” Overholser said. “Our travel ways are very important for safety and happiness and being able to just get around town, and so we’ve definitely dedicated some funds towards that, but it’s definitely a top priority.”
“Parks are another big one,” Overholser added. “If we wanna continue the culture and the small town feel, we have to have a place for families and kids to gather and play and have fun and walk their dog, and I think it’s gonna be important to have recreational space to allow for that.”
Overholser also pointed to growth management as a major challenge as the city plans for future development.
“One of the biggest challenges is just managing that growth because it goes into everything,” Overholser said. “It goes into the roadways, it goes into the water supplies, it goes into the sewer, it goes into the police force and the public safety.”
He said Battle Ground’s police department has benefited from new leadership in recent years and praised the department's direction under its current chief.
“To be honest with you, I could not be happier with the way that I’ve witnessed Chief (Dennis) Flynn lead his department,” Overholser said. “The leadership style that he has, the foresight that he has, the care that he has for his guys and gals on the force, he is a great chief and he is an amazing asset to the city.”
Overholser also addressed ongoing concerns surrounding C-Tran governance and representation, an issue that has drawn pushback from several smaller cities in Clark County, including Battle Ground. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) argues the current board does not comply with state law and says C-Tran must adopt a “4-3-2” structure to remain eligible for certain state grants. The board currently runs in a “3-3-3” composition, sharing equal representation among Vancouver, Clark County and small cities, respectively.
“I feel like we might be slightly in a losing battle on that one,” Overholser said. “So we can come back and lick our wounds and look for other ways to creatively work together to get the services and the representation to our city to represent the funds that we’re paying.”
Overholser said residents are encouraged to contact him directly or participate in public comment during council meetings.
“I’ve always tried to be an open book and have an open door policy,” Overholser said. “I’m just looking forward to serving the people of Battle Ground in this capacity, hopefully, we can continue to grow together and just focus on what is best for Battle Ground in the next two years in my term as mayor.”
Ridgefield council reappoints mayor, mayor pro tem
The Ridgefield City Council unanimously reappointed Mayor Matt Cole during its Thursday, Jan. 8 meeting, continuing his leadership of the city following a year marked by rapid growth and major infrastructure planning. Councilmembers also unanimously reappointed Judy Chipman as mayor pro tem.
Cole was first selected as mayor by the council in January 2024 after former Mayor Ron Onslow retired. Last week’s appointment continues Cole’s tenure as mayor into the 2026-2027 term.
Cole, a city councilmember since 2022, has built a long track record of local service. Before joining the council, he served on the Ridgefield Planning Commission, represented the city on the Clark County Mosquito Control Board, and acted as a citizen adviser on the city’s Budget Advisory Committee. Raised in Hockinson, Cole moved to Ridgefield from east Vancouver in 2017, drawn by what he described as a close-knit community where he wanted to raise his family.
Cole said Ridgefield’s council has functioned as a collaborative body, even when disagreements arise.
“It really is a ‘we’ effort,” Cole said. “We’ll have some thoughtful or even spirited discussions sometimes, but we have really good collaboration, and I think we always land in the same spot of what’s best for the city.”
He said cohesion has enabled the city to move forward with large-scale projects and long-term planning.
“It really just clears the pathway to getting real work done,” Cole said. “It’s about all seven of us doing the work for the city, and we have a lot more to do, and I’m excited for the year ahead.”
Looking ahead, Cole pointed to a slate of major infrastructure investments planned for the coming year, including significant water system improvements. The city is investing about $19 million in key water projects, including a new reservoir, the Kennedy Well, and additional system connections to support Ridgefield’s continued growth.
“Water infrastructure is really critical to a growing city,” Cole said. “To have great clean access to water and a good water supply, that’ll be a big one.”
Other priorities include the South Railroad Avenue project, school safety improvements and continued pursuit of the 11th Street overpass, which city leaders say would improve east-west travel and relieve pressure on Pioneer Street. Cole also highlighted expanding commercial development on Ridgefield’s east side as a step toward building a more complete community.
Following the unanimous vote, Cole addressed the council and audience from the dais, emphasizing shared leadership and responsibility.
“Our council system works because it’s a shared leadership role, and we succeed when we do it together,” Cole said. “That’s how we’re successful.”
He reflected on Ridgefield’s recent growth and the weight of the decisions made by elected officials.
“The choices we make in this chamber shape how that growth feels to people who live here,” Cole said. “And that’s something that I don’t think any one of us here on the dais take lightly.”
Cole also thanked city staff and residents for their involvement, noting that public engagement has helped guide council decisions over the past year.
“This moment matters to me not because of the title with the placards on the dais,” Cole said. “It matters because of the responsibility that comes with it.”
Outside City Hall, Cole works full-time as vice president and creative director at Lockton, a global insurance brokerage.
“There’s a continuation of the work we’ve committed to doing together,” Cole said following his appointment. “So with that, let’s get to work.”
The City of Woodland appointed Jason Friend to the role of mayor pro tem on Monday, Jan. 5. Woodland Mayor Todd Dinehart, who began his term in January 2024, continues his four-year term.
