City seeks to fill vacant Camas mayor position

Today is Camas Mayor Paul Dennis' final day in office, and the city has issued a community-wide call to find his replacement. The deadline for applications to be considered for appointment to the seat is 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 21. On Monday, June 27, the City Council will hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. to conduct public interviews of the candidates, followed by discussion during an executive session closed to the public. The council will then vote on a replacement in open session, and that person will be sworn into office. Applicants must submit a completed application, as well as a cover letter, resume and answers to a list of three questions including "What is your vision for Camas five years from now?"; "Explain your views on how the city of Camas should address budgetary difficulties;" and "Should the city address the "transparency in government issues and if so, how?" Applicants must have been Camas city residents for at least one year, and be registered to vote. According to the announcement of the vacancy, the mayor is paid a $1,300 stipend each month, and "the duties of mayor will likely involve an average minimum commitment of 60 to 80 hours per month for preparation, participation and attendance at various meetings and community activities." The appointed person would fulfill the remainder of Dennis' term, which runs through Dec. 31. Candidates interested in running for the office during the upcoming August Primary election, for the term that runs from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2015, must submit information to the Clark County Elections Office during candidate filing week, which runs Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 11. Dennis, 42, announced earlier this month that he planned to resign from his elected seat as of May 31 to accept the position of director of the Camas-Washougal Economic Development Association. He has been the Mayor for seven years, and had previously served as a councilman for six years. Until a permanent replacement can be appointed by the council, Mayor Pro-tem Scott Higgins will step in to conduct the day-to-day duties of the mayor. Higgins also recently announced that he plans to be a candidate for the mayor's seat in the August Primary Election. Applications are available on the city's website at www.ci.camas.wa.us. For more information, contact city administrator Lloyd Halverson at 817-1541 or lhalverson@ci.camas.wa.us.

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