Election season heats up

With a mayor’s race that now has two write-in candidates; a hotly debated $78 million community-aquatics center bond proposal; and several contested city council, school board and port commission seats headed to voters in the Nov. 5 general election, there is no shortage of political information flowing through Camas and Washougal this election season.

Starting tomorrow and continuing through October, the Post-Record will cover all of the contested positions, offer an in-depth look at the community center bond proposition and give readers some background information on unopposed candidates.

Tomorrow’s coverage includes the four open Washougal City Council seats and features a story about Ray Kutch, the Washougal councilor hoping to keep his position 5 seat.

The Oct. 17 Post-Record will feature a race for the Camas City Council seat currently held by councilwoman Deanna Rusch and being challenged by Navy veteran Shannon Roberts.

The Post-Record also will cover the write-in challengers facing off with Camas Mayor Shannon Turk. The mayor was running unopposed until Oct. 2, when challenger Barry McDonnell filed a declaration of write-in candidacy with the county elections office. On Tuesday, Oct. 8, Camas City Councilwoman Melissa Smith filed a declaration of write-in candidacy and said she also will launch a bid to be Camas’ next mayor.

Look for more election coverage on the city of Camas’ community-aquatics center bond proposition, as well as local school board and Port races, in the Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 issues of the Post-Record.

The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, but Clark County voters can send their paper ballots in (or drop them in an official ballot drop box) early thanks to the state’s vote-by-mail system. Ballots are set to be mailed to voters on Oct. 18 and must be postmarked by Nov. 5 if being sent via mail, or returned to a drop box by 8 p.m. Nov. 5.

The Clark County League of Women Voters will host a nonpartisan candidate forum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., in Camas. The forum will feature candidates for the Clark County Council, Camas and Washougal city councils, the Port of Camas-Washougal, and the Washougal and Evergreen school boards.

The deadlines to register or update existing registration information are Oct. 28 (online) and Nov. 5 (in person). For more information, visit clark.wa.gov/elections.