A look back at November, 10 years ago
• Following the Nov. 5, 2014, general election, Clark County voters approved the Home Rule Charter, transitioning the three-member Board of Commissioners to a County Council effective Jan. 1, 2015. The council was set to hold elections for two additional seats, including a county-wide chairperson, in 2016. Former commissioner Betty Sue Morris, an influential supporter of the charter, celebrated its passage. County Commissioner David Madore and others expressed surprise at the result but accepted the outcome. Under the charter, executive authority shifted to a county manager, a role expected to be filled by Mark McCauley.
• In November 2014, the Woodland City Council considered extending its moratorium on recreational marijuana for a third time, with the current moratorium set to expire on Dec. 2. During their Nov. 3 meeting, council members rejected a proposed ordinance, drafted by an ad hoc committee, that would have allowed marijuana production and sales in specific zoning districts. The vote was 4-2, with Mayor Grover Laseke expressing frustration over the council’s delay in making a final decision, calling it “kicking the can down the road.” The issue sparked heated debate, with area residents voicing opposition and disrupting the meeting. Woodland’s initial moratorium on recreational marijuana was enacted in November 2013 and extended in May 2014. Today, zoning ordinances prevent the sale of recreational cannabis in Woodland city limits.
• In November 2014, Battle Ground Police Sgt. Jason Perdue received the department’s Distinguished Service Medal for his actions during a high-risk regional SWAT operation in Ridgefield earlier that year. In March 2014, the SWAT team responded to an armed fugitive with a violent history who refused to surrender after hours of negotiation. The suspect confronted officers with a weapon, forcing them to act, resulting in the suspect’s death. No officers or civilians were injured during the incident. Perdue, a member of the Battle Ground Police Department since 2002 and the SWAT team since 2008, was honored for his bravery and commitment to protecting the community and his colleagues. Perdue continues to serve the Battle Ground Police Department as a lieutenant and handles Rafferty, the department’s comfort dog.
A look back at November, 20 years ago
• In the Nov. 5, 2004, general election, Clark County voters rejected a proposed tax increase to fund C-TRAN transit operations. The measure aimed to raise sales tax revenue from $12 million to $26 million, preserving the agency’s 26 fixed routes, Portland-bound services and seven-day-a-week operations. The tax would have also extended evening service and expanded weekend runs, with potential routes to Ridgefield, La Center and Yacolt/Amboy under consideration. Following the defeat, C-TRAN announced significant financial cuts beginning in January 2005, with final reductions set for January 2006, and projected employment dropping from 388 to 224 staff members.
• In November 2004, the newly constructed Clark County Exhibition Hall at the Clark County Fairgrounds secured its first event booking, America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show, scheduled for Jan. 14 through Jan. 15, 2006. Construction of the 100,000-square-foot exhibit space began in December 2003. Fairgrounds Executive Director Tom Musser noted that the hall was designed to transform the fairgrounds into a year-round event venue.
A look back at November, 30 years ago
• In November 1994, The Reflector reported that Battle Ground City Attorney Brian Wolfe resigned for the second time that year. Wolfe first submitted his first resignation in May, citing his firm’s intent to dissolve its contract with the city amid rumors that newly elected Mayor Marvin Brothers planned to fire him. Convinced by the City Council to remain to navigate growth management challenges, Wolfe ultimately resigned on Oct. 31. Councilmember Jim Correy opposed the decision, stating there was no need to change legal services, while Brothers expressed unease over Wolfe’s past representation of former Mayor Frank DeShirlia as a personal attorney.
• In November 1994, the Woodland City Council rejected a resolution to create a city administrator position after a contentious debate. A motion to table the resolution was defeated 3-2. Councilmember Charles Blum, who supported tabling the resolution, expressed concerns about the legality of the ordinance, though he did not oppose the city administrator position itself. City Attorney Patrick Brock, who drafted the ordinance, believed the document to be legally sound. Councilmember Patrick Rychel, who opposed tabling the resolution, argued that the position would be irrevocable during the mayor’s term if appointed by the council. Then-Mayor Robin Jones urged the council to reconsider and potentially refine the ordinance.
