Boerke, Lewallen strive for reelection

Two Camas city councilors are facing challengers in the Nov. 4 election.

Marilyn Boerke, a city councilor since 2021, is seeking another term in the Ward 1, Position 2 seat, contested by Geoerl Niles, a pastor and member of the city’s planning commission. Leslie Lewallen, who also joined the council in 2021, is running for reelection to her Ward 3, Position 2 seat, which is also being sought by Mahsa Eshghi, a civil engineer and member of the city’s planning commission.

Candidates say the biggest issues the city is currently facing are the future of the Camas-Washougal Fire Department and the creation of a regional fire authority, which voters rejected in April and will vote on again on Nov. 4; public safety; housing shortages; affordability and excessive taxation; and infrastructure growth.

Boerke vs. Niles

Boerke recently retired after a 37-year career in public education, most recently with the Camas School District, for which she served as a building principal, human resources director and director of secondary education. She said that she’s running for reelection because she believes she “still has much to offer to the residents of Camas.”

“I have years of experience with difficult conversations and holding people — including myself — accountable for what we say and do,” she said. “I have the skills of listening critically and carefully, asking measured and informed questions, and moving towards positive solutions. … I do not consider myself a politician, but I am a strong servant leader.”

During her first term, Boerke was a member of the planning team for the city’s efforts to create a regional fire authority; a key figure in the development and adoption of the city’s new strategic and downtown subarea plans; and a co-author of the city’s recently adopted Council Policies and Procedures Handbook and Council Code of Conduct.

“Serving on the council has revealed much of which I was unaware of, including the structural deficit our city is facing,” she said. “I promise to keep listening, to keep asking questions and poking the status quo, and keep all of our residents in mind when making decisions.”

Niles has served as a pastor for more than 15 years, currently for Dwelling Place Church in Vancouver. He previously worked for Portland Spirit Cruises as a human resources manager and event/restaurant manager. He unsuccessfully ran for the city’s Ward 1, Position 2 seat in 2021.

“I have lived in Camas for 25 years, and I have always been the kind of person who desires to be part of the solution instead of just a passive observer,” he said. “I see an opportunity to improve the level of openness, trust and integrity on the Camas City Council. For many of us, we have seen these attributes lacking, and I believe we can rekindle that trust with our leadership.”

Niles said that he considers himself to be a leader, “but more importantly, a listener.”

“I have managed many teams, and while this is a great honor, I find value in building teams that lead together,” he said. “The ability to come together when differing opinions happen is essential in great leadership, and I believe I have worked diligently to understand many points of views. (I am) a humble leader who is genuine and honest and can bring people together to achieve a great Camas.”

Lewallen vs. Eshghi

Lewallen is a former deputy prosecuting attorney and land-use lawyer who served as a judicial clerk for chief justices of the Washington and Wisconsin supreme courts. She ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives’ 3rd Congressional District position in 2021. Earlier this year, she was tapped to lead the Clark County chapter of Project 42, a statewide nonprofit that bills itself as “an organization created to change the course of Washington state to prioritize free markets, personal liberty and an individual’s right to prosper.”

“I want to continue being the voice of the people,” Lewallen said. “I will never forget that I work for and answer to the citizens of Camas. I believe in fiscal responsibility and I want to make sure the city is a good steward of the people’s tax dollars. My record proves I’m not a rubber stamp. I take time to ask important questions to ensure we use every tax dollar wisely.”

Lewallen said her top priorities are public safety, lowering taxes, and “preserving the magic of Camas.”

“I already have a proven track record of success as a Camas city councilor and will continue to deliver during the next four years,” she said. “No other candidate has personally reached out to as many citizens in the last four years as I have. I have been a part of the solution while others only identify problems. I will continue to be a voice for commonsense solutions at city hall.”

Eshghi has worked as an engineer for more than 20 years for the Port of Portland, MacKay Sposito, and the city of Vancouver. She has lived in Camas since 2007, when she emigrated from Iran “looking for a better life and peace outside of that corrupt government.”

“My journey as a female engineer and as an immigrant has been full of challenges, but those challenges made me stronger, more resilient and more determined to serve,” she said. “I am running to make sure we protect what matters most: public safety, strong schools, our natural beauty, Lacamas Lake, our neighborhoods and the small-town feeling we all cherish.”

Eshghi said that during her tenure on the city’s planning commission, she has worked to draft solutions to address Washington’s housing mandate as a tool to provide housing choices and support economic development; include incentives for developers to build housing that meets the needs of young families, seniors, and single-income households; and advocate for zoning to support diverse housing options, such as urban villages, to make Camas affordable for people of all life stages.

“Serving on the city council will allow me to apply my civil engineering experience so that Camas can intelligently and cost-effectively meet the state’s growth mandate,” she said. “With careful planning, we can keep Camas livable while we protect natural spaces and preserve the small-town character we all cherish.”

Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; [email protected]