Letters to Editor for July 9, 2020

Nonpartisanship, fresh views important for charter review
I refer now to the “10 Camas-Washougal candidates vie for charter review commission” article published in the July 2, 2020 Post-Record:
This is an important commission, by design non-partisan, that is going to be implemented soon. Out of the 10 candidates presented to us, only three will emerge to represent all of us via an election in Clark County District No. 4, the largest in Clark County and the most diverse in demographics and geography. Historically, these people and those areas in District 4 are not represented well in Clark County. So, it will be very important who these three candidates are and must be the very best of us to represent all of us.
I will not be voting for any previous or present city or state or county legislator as a candidate. I feel they all have had ample opportunity to make a change in their previous or present positions. Rather, I feel this commission should be made up of people who will be new to this kind of position and thus will represent well their own backgrounds and connections within this district and will not be encumbered by partisan political positions, right or left, and will bring fresh views to this board. This eliminates four of the 10 candidates.
I would never vote for any legislator who participates in social media but also blocks some constituents in social media merely because, “they do not wish to hear other sides of issues.” Add to this any legislator who does not wish to protect others by masking up in our current pandemic and calls the governor’s actions “bull crap.”
I also would never vote for any candidate who chooses not to publish a photo of themselves nor to answer questions put to them by the press. This is simply unacceptable.
This leaves me with only four candidates: Jeff Angelo, Parker Davidson, John Lotta and Rainy Rau. I must pick three.
I intend on voting for Angelo because of his extensive community outreach and his history of protecting human rights. I know (Angelo) to be a well-rounded individual not afraid to offer his opinion.
I intend on voting for Latta for his civil engagement in our community and desire to serve us all … and his experience “facilitating solutions to complicated problems in diverse team settings.”
Lastly, I intend on voting for Rau. She has long been involved in her community. “The point of public service should not be to further personal belief or possible gains but to see the community as it is heading and to serve as best you can to that end,” Rau said. Few candidates could make this statement honestly.
I believe this County Charter Review Board to be very important, and I do not think it wise to let other regional or national issues to take away from this election.

Mike Briggs,
Washougal