, ,

Camas School Board Narrows Superintendent Search to Four Candidates

Camas, WA — The Camas School Board has narrowed its Superintendent search down to four candidates following the July resignation of former superintendent, Dr. Jeff Snell. He left to lead Vancouver Schools. 

Seventeen candidates were submitted through the consultant firm McPherson & Jacboson following a nationwide search, and the school board met in workshop two weeks ago to winnow down the list. The new superintendent will assume duties in July 2022.

Those finalists are:

  • Michelle Kuss-Cybula, who is the superintendent of the 849-student Cle Elum-Roslyn School District in Cle Elum, Washington. Prior to this current role she served as Director of Teaching and Learning at the Bellingham, Washington School District.
  • John Anzalone, an assistant superintendent of education services for the massive Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. He became a principal at age 32 and he beat 42 other applicants to land the top spot at Eldorado High School, where the graduation rate jumped up by 24 percentage points during his tenure. He recently ran for U.S. Congress as a Democrat. Anzalone, 41, hails from a big Italian family in Buffalo, New York. 
  • Charlene Williams, who has served as CSD’s assistant superintendent since 2016; Prior to that she worked in Portland Public Schools for 14 years as Senior Director of School Performance (leading Roosevelt cluster schools), Principal, and Director of Education. She has been a leader in implementing district equity programs, which began in 2019.
  • Heidi Harris, an assistant superintendent of student learning at the Auburn School District in Auburn, Washington, which is a role she’s had since 2013. She manages a $48 million dollar budget including BEA funds, Federal and State Grants (EL, High Cap, CTE…). She applied to be Superintendent at Peninsula School District earlier this year. 

The finalists are interviewing with members of the Camas School Board, stakeholders (including teachers, students, and parents) on November 30 and December 1. Those interviews will be made public via video late on December 1 via the CSD website.

The school board hopes to select the new superintendent by December 13, but acknowledged it may take longer. 

“This is a very important decision,” said School Board President Tracey Malone. “If we need to take more time to make this decision, we will take that time.”

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Tim Hein Sworn in Monday as Camas City Council Member

Camas, WA — Tim Hein was sworn in today as Camas’ newest City Council Member following a special Camas City Council meeting. Hein took his oath of office following the meeting and was officially sworn in by Camas Assistant City Attorney David Schultz. Hein will represent Camas Ward 2, position 2, with his term expiring in December of 2025.

As mentioned, a special meeting was held November 29, during which Council waived the appointment process set by resolution, and then moved to appoint Hein. A short-term swearing in was used to fill the vacancy of Mayor Steve Hogan’s Council position, otherwise the position would remain vacant until January of 2022.

Hein was elected to the position by Camas voters in the November 2, 2021, general election, earning 60 percent of the vote. The election was certified by the Clark County Elections department November 23. This will not be Hein’s first foray into City business, as he has served on the Camas Planning Commission for the past 17 years.

About Tim Hein

Tim Hein has been an active citizen of Camas since 1999, including serving on the Camas Planning Commission, the Camas Education Foundation, and the Camas School District Superintendent’s budget committee. Hein’s professional experience includes six years as an active-duty Army Officer as well as 25 years of Executive Leadership in a variety of medical device companies. Hein believes in focusing on the core elements of success for our community, which includes a fulfillment on our vision as a city, economic and land use planning for the future, and strong fiscal accountability. Hein and his wife Cyndee have twin sons, Riley and Zach who graduated from Camas High School in 2014. Riley is a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Ft. Hood and Zach is a mechanical engineer with HP in Vancouver.

Hein
From left: Cyndee, Riley, Zach and Tim Hein.
/0 Comments/by
, ,

Rochelle Ramos Sworn in as Washougal Mayor, Assumes Duties Immediately

Washougal, WA — On Tuesday, November 23, Rochelle Ramos was sworn in as mayor at Washougal City Hall upon the certification of the general election. She received 82.52 percent of the votes. Ramos assumes her official duties immediately. The ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook and is now available on the city website at https://cityofwashougal.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=374.

“I am very honored to serve the citizens of Washougal,” said Ramos. “I look forward to engaging with the community and continuing to contribute to our bright future.”

Ramos’ first action was to administer the oath of office to former Mayor Molly Coston, who won the Council Position 5 seat in this month’s election.

“It has been my great honor to serve as Washougal’s mayor for the last four years,” said Coston. “It was my pleasure to administer the oath to Rochelle as my last official act as mayor. I am excited for our future and look forward to working with Mayor Ramos and the rest of the Council in my new role as a member of Council in Position 5.”

As a Washougal resident for 15 years, Ramos has an active history of community service. Most recently, she served on the Washougal Park Board of Commissioners and cofounded the nonprofit Lunchmoney Indoor Skatepark. She also is the webmaster for Camas Washougal Community Chest and previously was President and Marketing Chair of West Columbia Gorge Humane Society.

Professionally, Ramos works as a human resources director for a local aerospace & defense government contractor. She graduated from Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and has a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University. She is also completing a Graduate certificate in Aerospace & Defense from the University of Oklahoma.

Ramos plans to apply her HR skills to the mayor position by taking a teamwork approach to solve some of the city’s most pressing issues such as public safety, revitalizing the small business community and navigating the lingering effects of the pandemic.

“I know that solutions can only result from stepping up and bringing people together to reach our goals,” noted Ramos. “I am ready to take on that challenge.”

Certified results of the November 2 election are:

  • Rochelle Ramos – Council Position 1 & Mayor
  • David Stuebe – Council Position 3
  • Molly Coston – Council Position 5
  • Julie Russell – Council Position 6
Ramos
Washougal Mayor Rochelle Ramos
/0 Comments/by
, ,

Annual Stuff The Bus Campaign Raises Food, Donations For Local Non-Profits

Washougal, WA — Organized by the Camas-Washougal Business Alliance (CWBA), the annual Stuff The Bus campaign is under way through December 3, and has become our area’s largest local food drive.

“It’s always met annually with enthusiasm from both Camas and Washougal residents,” said Tabitha Shaffer, CWBA co-founder. “We utilize the Camas & Washougal school districts to help achieve our annual goals and encourage students to help support the event through community outreach and participation. We raise an average of 50,000 pounds of food and our beneficiaries are; The Children’s Home Society, The C.A.R.O.L Program and the American Legion.” 

This year, with kids back in school Stuff The Bus is hoping it allows for greater participation.

“All money and food donations go directly toward our program,” said Shaffer. “The Children’s Home Society is the main beneficiary and they serve over 600 local families per month with the food you can help provide. Our hope is that Stuff the Bus gives them the resources they need to distribute food for hungry families as well as support the Backpack Program, which sends food home with children throughout the school year. Any student who is in need receives a Backpack full of food on Fridays to help them through the weekend. Our other beneficiaries provide over 200 local families with food for the holidays including Christmas dinner and additional food to supplement the holiday season.” 

Students and businesses have been collecting non-perishable food items, including local grocery stores. On Wednesday, November 23, the Washougal Safeway and Camas QFC will have volunteers collecting food and place them into large bins.

The campaign runs through December 3, which is the last day the public can make donations. On December 3, each high school will have a parade to each of the schools and pick up all the canned food donations.

“It’s good to have community come together,” said Shaffer. “It’s great to feel that community spirit again. If anybody has time to donate or if they just want to donate cash or food they can do so at all the schools until December 3, and also any iQ Credit Union branch here. I want to thank our sponsors this year, which are Dan Jones Conveyor, The Asivido Team, and Angie Tauialo and Sativa Huddleston of Columbia River Realty, Jayson Obermiller, and Tabitha Shaffer and Angie Cherry of HomeTown Lenders.”

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Council Member Steve Hogan Sworn in Tuesday as Camas Mayor

Camas, WA — The City of Camas officially has a new Mayor.

Former Camas City Council Member Steve Hogan took the oath of office and was officially sworn in as Camas’ new mayor, Nov. 23, at Camas City Hall. Camas City Attorney Shawn MacPherson conducted the ceremony in front of a small group of friends, family and staff. Hogan’s term will run through Dec. 31, 2023.

Hogan was elected to the position by Camas voters in the Nov. 2, 2021, general election, earning 57 percent of the vote. The election was certified by the Clark County Elections department today, Nov. 23. Hogan’s term will be effective beginning today, as he works to fulfill the remainder of the term left vacant by former Mayor Barry McDonnell. Hogan will replace Mayor Ellen Burton, who was appointed to the role of Mayor on an interim basis in August.

Hogan served as a Camas City Council Member since 2006, during which he served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2014 and 2017. He’s the fifth Camas Mayor since 2018.

Here’s the video of his swearing in: https://youtu.be/vZ-_DL3ctf0

About Mayor Hogan

Steve Hogan has been a resident of Camas since 1994. He has been a senior manager and chief operating officer in the steel, paper and wood industries. He is a member of the Camas Washougal Rotary Club and was a member of the 2009 Class of Leadership Clark County. He has also served as a member of the Camas School District Facility committee. Hogan received the designation of Certified Municipal Leader from AWC in 2006 and received his Advanced Certified Municipal Leader designation in 2007. He has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Seattle University.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Leslie Lewallen Sworn in Today as Camas City Council Member

CAMAS, WA – Leslie Lewallen can add her name to the history books as Camas’ newest City Council Member. Lewallen took her oath of office and was officially sworn in as a City Council Member, Nov. 23, at Camas City Hall. Camas City Attorney Shawn MacPherson conducted the ceremony in front of a small group of friends, family and staff. Lewallen will represent Camas Ward 3, position 2, with her term expiring in December of 2025.

Lewallen was elected to the position by Camas voters in the Nov. 2, 2021, general election, earning 53 percent of the vote. The election was certified by the Clark County Elections department today, Nov. 23. Lewallen’s term will be effective beginning today, as she will fill the position left vacant by former Council Member Ellen Burton. Burton left her role on council to serve in the role of Mayor on an interim basis until a new Mayor was elected and certified.

About Leslie Lewallen

Leslie is a fifth generation Washingtonian, with a family history of public service. She graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and Seattle University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate.  She practiced as a judicial clerk for Chief Justice Gerry Alexander at the Washington State Supreme Court and worked as a prosecuting attorney prior to joining private practice. Leslie and her husband, Brian, have 4 children, ages 5-18.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

City of Camas Finalizes Purchase of Green Mountain Land

Camas, WA —  Officials with the City of Camas have announced that the purchase of the area around, and including Green Mountain, has been finalized and recorded by Clark County.

The announcement completes the Green Mountain acquisition which began in December of 2020 with a 60-acre donation valued at $15.5 million from the developers of the Green Mountain Subdivision and Master Plan. The City then followed through on the terms of the purchase and sale agreement with the recent purchase of an additional 55 acres for $3.8 million, which brings the total land acquisition to 115 acres.

“We always envisioned we’d purchase the remaining 55 acres, which includes Green Mountain,” said Camas Public Works Director, Steve Wall. “Add in that we were able to purchase the property for less than the $4.9 million appraisal, and it’s a win-win for everyone involved,” he said.

The land was always considered desirable by the City, and has been identified in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive plan (PROS) for many years due to the property being adjacent to hundreds of acres of Clark County- and DNR-owned lands. This key acquisition will allow for future trail connections, both locally and county-wide, new parks space for Camas’ citizens, and conservation of heavily forested natural areas.

The City has not identified any specific improvements yet, however, the City will follow the typical planning processes for new acquisitions to ensure the best future use of the property. Because of this, residents will have to wait a while before any real physical improvements will be seen.

/0 Comments/by
,

Analysis: What The 2019 Camas Pool Bond Votes Really Were

The 2019 $78 million Camas pool bond continues to be a topic of widespread discussion in our local body politic, and became a central issue in this Fall’s elections. It’s been used as a political tool, a wedge issue, and an example of government out of touch.

While the ill-fated Shannon Turk administration came down because of that bond, let’s look at what the 2019 council vote — and subsequent public vote — was really about.

Former Mayor Turk wanted to replace the Crown Park pool that was taken down by a 2018 council vote, and she wanted to go big or go home. She ended up going home. Her desire was to have a community center and pool that would be the envy of the region. She ignored the advice of city staff, which based on surveys and polls, said Camas would support a pool with a price tag of up to $35 million.

The bond itself was part pool, part community center, part new street improvements, and part parks and recreation improvements. Turk wanted it to be all things to all people. She ignored the advice of those around her, which said “do these things over time, in phases and the public will go with that.”

Turk wanted the new community center to be her legacy. So, in July 2019, she asked Camas City Council to put it to a vote. While the city council had the legal authority to unilaterally vote to build the community center, they didn’t.  Their vote on that fateful day was to present the $78 million community center/pool bond, known as Prop 2, to the voters, and let them decide.

The narrative got out of control immediately, which was predicted by former Camas City council member Ellen Burton (now Interim Mayor) who said “all everyone is going to hear is $78 million.”

She was very right. All everyone heard was $78 million. Even some of the city’s biggest supporters of having a new pool were weary of the price tag.

Known as Prop 2, the bond became a political weapon that ushered in political novice Barry McDonnell as Camas Mayor, who ran a 34-day write-in single issue campaign and defeated Turk. The bond was killed 89-11, with little more than 600 people voting for it. McDonnell lasted 18 months as Mayor. 

“The process worked,” said Burton, recently. “Council presented the bond to the people, and the people rejected it.”

Burton said it’s unfortunate that council’s vote to allow the people to decide has been politically weaponized.

Council member Steve Hogan, who is likely going to become the next Camas Mayor said this two years and repeats it today: “I was never in favor of spending public dollars to build a new pool. I voted to allow the people to decide.”

His pool bond vote was used against him in this Fall’s campaign.

Hogan agrees with Burton, and said the process did what it was supposed to do. 

“People rejected the bond, and I’m glad they did,” Hogan said. “I wasn’t in favor of spending that much money.”

As a literal observer of all these events, this journalist wrote all this down and reported the facts repeatedly.  

This is the record. This is what happened.

/1 Comment/by
, ,

2021 Ballot Returns Lower Than Predicted At This Point, Says Clark County Auditor

Vancouver, WA — Ballot returns countywide are at 16.74 percent, which is lower than expected at this stage in this off-off year election, says the Clark County Auditor’s Office. There are 324,401 eligible voters in Clark County.

Candidates countywide, which includes several mayoral and city council candidates, as well as school board, are urging voters to turn in ballots as soon as possible. The Clark County Auditor’s Office had planned for a 19 percent return nearly a week ago. The county has yet to hit that point.

By comparison, the 2019 election had a 36 percent voter turnout, with a massive surge coming in the day before, the day of the election, and the day after the November 5, 2019 election.

Voters have until 8 pm Tuesday to turn ballots in, and candidates highly recommend getting them in today. Camas and Washougal candidates can access ballots at two convenient locations:

  • Downtown Camas Post Office: 440 NE 5th Avenue, Camas (on street) 
  • Camas Washougal Municipal Courthouse: 89 C Street, Washougal 

Here are other locations countywide:

Vancouver Locations:

Other Locations: 

If you wish to return your voted ballot in person on or before Election Day take it to:

Clark County Elections Office (1408 Franklin Street, Vancouver), available from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday and 7 am to 8 pm on Election Day.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Clark County Elections Office Admits 2,120 Camas Ballots Have Major Errors

Vancouver, WA — Clark County Elections Auditor Greg Kimsey admitted today that 2,120 Camas ballots were sent out over the weekend that had major errors. 

The issue was bought up by Camas voter Heather Deringer, who lives on Livingston Mountain. Others in that area also have noted erroneous ballots.

“When I went to open my ballot, I was surprised to see my Camas School Board candidates were not on the ballot, and instead I had Evergreen School candidates on the ballot,” said Deringer. “I emailed them last night about the issue and they called me back this morning.”

Upon hearing of this error, Lacamas Magazine contacted Kimsey who began an internal investigation. He confirmed that Deringer and several others are indeed Camas School District voters who received ballots with Evergreen School Board candidates on them.

After his initial probe, Kimsey reported today that 2,120 ballots were mailed in error, most of which were mailed to Camas School District voters.

“Correct ballots will be mailed out this week,” said Kimsey. “Two thousand new ballots have to be reprinted, inserted into envelopes, and mailed out. This will happen tomorrow morning, and these voters will also receive a letter explaining the situation.”

The incorrect ballots mostly affect Camas School Board candidate races.

So what happened?

Kimsey said it was human error. 

“Proofreading that should have happened didn’t happen,” Kimsey said. “We had to adjust precinct boundaries to align with the correct jurisdictions and portions. This allows us to get the correct ballot to the correct voter.”

Kimsey said 13 incorrect ballots have already been returned. He said those incorrect ballots will be held apart from the general ballots, so they won’t be recorded.

“Correct ballots are essential to our democracy,” said Kimsey. “We are fixing this error, and voters will have their new ballots by Thursday.”

Perman
/0 Comments/by