At the March 2 council time, two county councilors, Councilor Temple Lentz and Councilor Julie Olson, didn’t have time on their schedules to consider interviews of three candidates for the new District 5 council seat. That district stretches from Yacolt to La Center and south to Battle Ground. Their schedules were so full, they had no time to consider interviews until the end of March. Taxpayers living in District 5 have absolutely no representation in county government policy making until then. Citizens are now locked out of having a say in laws and policies that will affect their and their children’s lives for a month and much can happen during that time. With the new changes to the county charter, voted by the people, the new District 5 was supposed to allow for more representation from those living in that district. In reality, it is just the opposite. Rural people in those areas have been left out of county housing options, prior to the new District 5 adoption, and continue to be left out of county councilor decisions today. The Clark County councilors are elected to do the business of the people. Perhaps citizens living in those two councilor districts should remind them as to what they were elected to do as Clark County councilors.
Carol Levanen,
Yacolt
