03-28 BOLDT GOP FOLO

Republican Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt met with the county Republican Party executive board Tuesday night and asked members to remove sanctions aimed at convincing Boldt to vote more in line with the board’s thinking.

“It was a good discussion,” Boldt, a resident of Hockinson, said later Tuesday night. “Everyone got their points out, and I’m just hoping for the best.”

Several calls to county Republican chairman Brandon Vick were not returned by The Columbian’s press time Tuesday night.

So far, the GOP sanctions have included removing Boldt from the Clark County GOP’s website and not allowing him to use party resources such as financial support and mailing lists.

When Boldt left the meeting, the board had taken no action, but members told him they would continue the discussion.Whatever the board’s decision, Boldt said, “In this whole scheme of things, I won’t change. I’ll still remain a Republican and still have my same principles that I vote on.”

Asked how powerful the sanctions have proved to be, Boldt said, “I’m not too sure how it affects me.”

Vick said earlier that the executive board wasn’t happy with Boldt’s endorsing Democratic Commissioner Steve Stuart in 2010, and Boldt’s supporting several fee increases.

In 2011, Boldt was chairman of the C-Tran Board of Directors when the public approved Proposition 1. That raised the local sales tax rate by 0.2 of a percentage point, which C-Tran said was needed to maintain basic bus service. Also last year, Boldt and Stuart voted to increase the county 911 monthly excise tax from 50 cents to 70 cents to fix Clark Regional Emergency Service Agency’s unsustainable budget.

Because commissioners decided in 2010 not to follow the state’s suggestion of increasing the monthly tax to the maximum rate of 70 cents, the state responded by withholding $500,000 from the state 911 fund; the law says only counties that are taxing at the maximum rate can benefit from the state fund.

CRESA Director Tom Griffith said if commissioners didn’t approve the increase, he would have to lay off 10 dispatchers.

Businessman David Madore earlier this month said he will run for Boldt’s seat as a Republican.

Tuesday, Camas resident Roman Battan announced plans to run as a Democrat.

Boldt confirmed he would run for his third four-year term.

Stephanie Rice contributed to this story.