More Cheese With Commissioner Madore's "NO on Charter" Whine

THIS just arrived in my inbox, courtesy of Charter YES folks: 

 In the last few weeks the opposition has received nearly $75,000 from only three sources: Commissioner David Madore and two of his Tea Party followers, Clyde Holland and Kanati Falls (who joined lobbying forces with tea party activists Lynda and Tracy Wilson in 2013).
 

Why is one person spending so much money to stop the Charter? Maybe because he knows that this will put an end to the abuse and mismanagement that has allowed him to hire political cronies for key positions, misuse tax dollars without considering the future implications to the County budget and services, and twist the County government to be a bully pulpit for pet projects and narrow ideological interests outside of the County's jurisdiction instead of being focused on the needs of citizens. 

Don't let him get away with it. Please make a contribution to the Charter YES campaign right now.  

Our campaign is proud to have received donations from hundreds of people across the political spectrum and across the county. Your support today goes directly to helping us amplify our message to voters at this key moment as ballots are arriving this week. Now is the time for action. Make a contribution today and then share this message with your friends and family and encourage them to make a contribution, sign up to volunteer, and VOTE CHARTER YES.

Sincerely,

Charter YES Campaign

THE DEANNA PAULI-HAMMOND SOCK CHALLENGE!!!!

DEANNA PAULI-HAMMOND SOCK CHALLENGE!!!! WILL SCOTTY WEBER RISE TO THE OCCASION? 

Deanna Pauli-Hammond, our choice for elegant, knowledgeable, and peoples' rights-conscious Clark County Clerk, has issued something akin to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to ALL Clark County candidates (Scott Weber, GOP Incumbent County Clerk, had best pay heed here). 

O Vancouvria! finds it admirable that Deanna is committed to working with Share Vancouver (albeit we here at O Vancouvria! - this being ENTIRELY OUR OWN FINDINGS, AND NOT THOSE OF DEANNA OR HER CAMPAIGN -  find Share Vancouver's methods of "sharing", particularly when it comes to accepting donations, getting food to those in need, and distributing rent checks to poverty-level landlords, deplorable). 

I want to INCREASE the ante on this challenge by encouraging Deanna, and all candidates in County and State races, as well as our two candidates for the US House's 3rd District seat (Dingenthal and good ol' Herrera-Buetler), to go ahead and share not only SOCKS but also BLANKETS, long johns, tarps, and other COLD WEATHER gear. O Vancouvria! plans on bringing blankets and tarps, as best I can, to the event. Its important not only to keep WARM this cold, wet winter but also DRY. 

THANK YOU Deanna for giving this challenge to all Clark County candidates. Lets see who stands up to the plate for homeless folks this October 26 - not this Sunday, but the next, at Turtle Place, 700 Main Street in Vancouver, from 12-3 PM.

DETAILS OF SOCK CHALLENGE BELOW:

A race to keep socks on our homeless this year!

                                                                                                                              

Deana Pauli-Hammond, candidate for Clark County Clerk, is passionate about keeping homeless communities warm and dry this winter! She has extended a social media challenge to all candidates running this November; a wool sock drive to help homeless with needed wool socks for the upcoming winter months. All socks will be donated to Share Vancouver for distribution to those in need, for their Sole Mates sock drive! For details on those challenged please see #Deanna4Clerk on Facebook.

For more information about Share Vancouver please visit their website: Soul Mates

Challenge details:

The rules:

Support with socks!

Supporters bring wool socks down to Turtle Place 700 Main in downtown Vancouver, on October 26th from Noon - 3pm and place their donation in the corresponding bin to support for their chosen candidate.  

Announcement of the winner will be on October 30th.

Madore Hides Inside His Secret Livingston Mountain Lair?

Much hay was made in last Friday's Columbian (Oct 10, 2014) about Commissioner David Madore's new refusal to speak to the press (i.e., The Columbian). Instead, reporters are expected to visit Madore's Facebook page to view updates from the Great Whiz of US Digital and Clark County Board of Commissioners. 

O Vancouvria! fully expects future Madore communiques to be accompanied by loud booming voices, clouds of thick, billowy smoke, and fireworks. Lots of fireworks. Given Madore is in a snit because the County's budget director called him on LIES Madore is telling about how the new County Charter (we vote on this one November 4, people) will apparently ¨drastically increase¨ the County budget. 

Per the budget director himself, however - who is NO Cowardly Lion when it comes to standing up to the Whiz Madore - it appears that said new County Charter will instead, due to decreases in salaries and efficiencies in administration (like a separate County Administrator) will instead DECREASE County expenses as a whole. 

Given that Madore himself (with the help of his erstwhile ally, Commissioner Tom Mielke) drastically slashed the County budget through giveaways to his donor friends (developers, corporate hoo-has) to the point where, according to former Administrator Bill Barron, said budget is now 15% under where it needs to be to keep balanced, you'd think Madore would be all about a new Charter that gets County expenses back in line with our new slimmer income. 

However, it appears that, much like the bulimic dieter who is never satisfied with the amount of food available, Madore is fit to be tied that WE THE PEOPLE are going to change a form of government that used to give him the gravy train, on a plate, in terms of power, kickbacks, and patronage (such as the job held by our man in Olympia, Director of Environmental Services/Senator Don Benton, and his understudy, former Seattle gangland nightclub owner Chris Clifford). 

Its obvious that Commissioner Madore is TIRED, and is upset that none of us are willing to share our toys with him any longer (or play with his toys, such as the proposed East County bridge that now appears dead in the water). Even Commissioner Mielke, once Madore's bestie, is now taking a step back and seeing where the waters of public sentiment lie. 

If Madore is so TIRED of doing his job that he can't be bothered to talk to the press except through communiques from his Facebook cave (and mouthpiece, Anna Miller), then its clear to me and many others that perhaps its time he took his smoke, loud noise, and lies and headed on back up Livingston Mountain, or deep into his US Digital bunker out on NE 136th Avenue. 

This blogger, for one, has been BLOCKED by Madore from accessing his Facebook page (he believes I'm a 5th Element of Portland Communism - his words, not mine). Not that this makes me all that sad. Its clear that our days of either blindly following Madore like lemmings off a cliff or sticking our heads into the sand like ostriches are over, and Madore himself has perhaps had a little too much County Commissioner candy. 

Given Madore has threatened publicly to resign if the Charter passes, I say this to the Whiz Commissioner: RESIGN NOW and save us all the trouble and agony of your whining. 

Til Thursday...stay dry in our Wet n Wild City of Vancouvria. 

O Vancouvria Sits Down With Lauren Colas, GOP Candidate for County Treasurer; More Insights From Rotting Jail

AN INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN COLAS, GOP CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY TREASURER, AND THOUGHTS ON CURRENT COUNTY TREASURY WOES

 I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren Colas, GOP candidate for County Treasurer (the seat held for the last 25 years by Doug Lasher), outside the Kiggins Theater at Hello Vancouver!'s Sept 24 event. Lauren, an avid gardener from way back (and coordinator of the Crown Park Community Garden in Camas) and I had alot to share on the subject of gardening, and the need for sustainable living and new ways of doing so in our area. 

Lauren and I also had much to say on the current woeful state of affairs at the Treasurer's Office. She mentioned, perhaps most importantly, that the County would currently get a better return on its money by investing in savings accounts at a credit union than its current investments under the longtime tenure of Doug Lasher, current Treasurer. Lasher, who has had his own troubles with employee morale and attendance, isn't doing his best by Clark County taxpayers' money - as our current return indicates. In an age where County budgets are woefully underfunded (former County Administrator Bill Barron left over said financial policies that are currently leaving the County's annual budget 15% in the hole) its important to have someone on top of County finances, doing the best job they can by taxpayers to get us the services as a suburban and urban County of around 500K population that we now need. 

Here's what Lauren had to say to O Vancouvria!, read on:

1) What would you like us to know about yourself? 

From a personal perspective as a resident of the Pacific Northwest, I enjoy hiking, golfing, biking, and I’m also the coordinator of the Camas Community Garden.  After having hiked Mt. St. Helens two years ago, the next challenging outdoor quest on my list is the Cycle Oregon event with numerous friends.  Although I don’t currently have any pets, I do enjoy borrowing my friend’s dogs for an exercise weekend and giving them back tired.  In the many years I have lived here, I have met and made numerous genuine friends who, like me, care about their community, the environment, and the local economy.  I am also an elected Precinct Committee Officer. 

                                                                                          

2) What would you like us to know about your opponent? 

     I applaud my opponent’s 30 years of public service in the same job and hope that he’s planning his retirement party soon.

3) What experience do you bring to this office? 

From a professional prospective, my 25-year business and consulting career includes financial leadership with two public accounting firms, Fortune 100 and privately-held companies in Alaska, California and Washington.  My education includes a Bachelors of Business Administration from Cedarville University, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Washington. 

4) What strengths do you have for the position? 

In my private-sector career, I have worked with and for a variety of very successful companies.  My specialized skills and experience include business process improvement, billing and revenue management, customer service management, system implementation, budgets, contract compliance auditing and fraud detection.  All of this experience will benefit the county, the taxpayers, and current Treasurer customers.

5) What hopes do you have for this office if elected? 

My due diligence research, conversations with local taxpayers and current Treasurer customers, has enlightened me with several critical issues.  Examples include:

Dissatisfied customers.  The Treasurer has current customers that he hasn’t visited in years, some of whom he has yet to meet, plus two that were so dissatisfied that they took their money and ran (Port of Vancouver and Port of Ridgefield).  The Treasurer’s office should provide the best service and technology possible.  Currently it is not.

Poor investment performance.  The Treasurer is responsible for an abysmal average rate of return in 2013 of .383% on the $550 million dollar county investment pool, plus the ROI has decreased by 24% in the last three years.  Even the local banks and credit unions offer a higher rate of return on a basic savings account. Taxpayers want to be satisfied that their hard-earned money is being well spent and invested.  Currently it is not.

Not a taxpayer advocate.  This county does not need foreclosed homes.  Of the 5,000+ taxpayers who are delinquent on their property taxes, only 36 are on a payment plan.  The Treasurer’s office should be working for the citizens.   It should do everything possible to notify the taxpayers that they do have options, and help those with financial difficulties stay their homes without going into foreclosure.  Based on these dismal numbers, improvements are critically needed.

6) How will you bring that vision (for the office) into action? 

Well-known management consultant and author Peter Drucker said, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”  With a fresh business perspective, I will instigate accountability and transparency into a stale, local government office.  One example is implementation of strategic planning and performance management systems, i.e. Balanced Scorecard, Six Sigma, etc., that businesses, non-profits and governments around the world continue to use on a daily basis.

7) Why are you running for this job? 

Government can learn a lot from successful businesses.  As a business leader, I know that I will bring to this office extensive, real-world experience and qualifications necessary to benefit our county. 

Additionally, our founding fathers did not intend for political positions to become a lifetime career, and it’s time for a change.

8) Tell us something humorous that's happened on the campaign trail. 

My first fundraiser was an ice cream social.  That afternoon a flash storm caused power outages in most of the Camas area.  While traveling home from work to pick up the ice cream for the fundraiser, my garage door opener did not work.  I quickly devised Plan B, so fortunately I located a grocery store in Vancouver that was open.  Thank goodness I was only 20 minutes late to my own event.

                                           

9) What's your favorite color/s, and why? 

     Mint and spring green have been my two favorite colors for many years.

CONTINUED WOES AT ROTTING CLARK COUNTY JAIL

O Vancouvria! went to press two days ago on new and intriguing insights into conditions at our overcrowded County jail. The jail, owned privately by a consortium of Superior Court judges (and contracted out to the County by their holding company) currently holds, on average, 2.5 to 3x its capacity of around 275 inmates - giving it the "worst in the state" rating by state Dept of Corrections, and causing the ACLU to investigate its infringement on inmates' rights. 

Jail officials, including Press Sgt Fred Neiman and Sheriff Gary Lucas, had nothing to say to O Vancouvria! for this article. Neither did Shane Gardner, the "progressive" candidate for Clark County Sheriff in this November 4's elections. In fact, Neiman is "out of the office", per his automated email response. 

What's clear is that the jail, as is, no longer works properly for a County of 500K people. Below, point by point, is a list of why things are failing to work at said overcrowded jail. 

-Jail is at 2.5x - 3x capacity, every night: this means around 600 inmates, or over 40 to a "pod" (capable of holding, on average, 20 inmates), plus 4-5 inmates in one solitary cell (with either 2 beds or no beds), plus around 10 inmates, on average, in the holding cell (where one is processed for booking). 

-Overcrowding has resulted in a crisis in providing nutritious food to inmates, leaving inmates to enjoy American cheese and bologna sandwiches, plus an apple, a cookie, and milk, for both breakfast and lunch - at an average cost, wholesale, of 6 cents per meal. No telling what the consortium which owns the jail charges retail to the County. 

-Overcrowding, and improperly maintained jail facilities as a result, has led to automated toilets that DON'T flush automatically after each inmate uses the restroom, including "number two". This leads easily to unsanitary conditions. 

-Jail HVAC, struggling with dealing with the huge numbers of people inside, is breaking down, causing horrible humid conditions 24/7, along with cold, wet air (or warm, moist air) inside the building - leading to black mold in all the cells, as well as in the fingerprinting and medical processing areas. 

-Jail inmates use the staples (that hold jail paperwork together) to routinely tattoo eachother (per Deps. Ragan, Costello, and Bond), in said unsanitary conditions: leading to infections and worse. 

-Jail staff (Dep. Ragan) blame inmates for bringing black mold, fungus, and fleas into the building, but refuse to have "trustee" inmates do anything about it (like mop cell floors regularly with bleach water, or scrub toilets).

-Holding areas, and jail pods, routinely place sober and clean inmates together with inmates coming down off of crystal meth, IV cocaine, and other drunk and drink binges, leading to severely unsafe environments for those trying to stay clean and sober. Interestingly enough, jail staff, under Sheriff Lucas in the late 1980s, actually closed our Clark County detox center (where Clark College's "T" Building is now), choosing instead to place these dangerous folks in with other inmates. The Jail also does not stock Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous literature, nor allows meetings of AA/NA to take place inside - thus leaving inmates trying to stay clean on the verge of relapse when released. 

-Inmates in holding are routinely denied water for upwards of 8 hours at a time. Jail staff routinely ignore requests for water, even when its clear inmates are suffering from dehydration. 

-Inmates have regular Internet access at kiosks inside pod cells, where they're allowed to view, and download, salacious music videos, photos, and the like (minimal Internet filters). Inmates are also allowed to rent Ipads, for $50 on their account. Meanwhile, the Jail charges $5 for inmates who want a toothbrush/mini toothpaste, soap, and a drinking cup. Inmates share an electric shaver - a practice which spreads disease. The Jail contracts with an outside company, Getting Out, to provide these "services" - at taxpayer expense. 

Now I know Sheriff Lucas is tired, and wants to retire after 32 years of service to our County. I understand jail staff aren't pleased by their jobs, routinely having to deal with hostile, depressed, or otherwise upset inmates inside the jail, as well as with a bureaucratic maze of regulations imposed by their own holding company (that owns the jail services), County, State, and federal government. Jail staff routinely swill Red Bull on shift just to keep up with the craziness. I am not here to contribute to that craziness, nor point fingers. I'm here to constructively critique, and open dialogue, on a building and Sheriff department which NO LONGER WORK for we the people. Given the Sheriff's office consumes 76% of our County budget, you'd think we the people could demand, and insist, on fixing what's wrong with the Jail - particularly facilities conditions and lack of detox, access to nutritious food and water - and move forward more efficiently. Perhaps jail staff, including Sheriff Lucas, lack the will to see this done. I'm not sure. In the end, this is a sad state of affairs that needs fixing. 

More press about jail conditions, from O Vancouvria!

I want all three of you (Sheriff Lucas, Sargeant Neiman, press officer for the Jail, Sargeant Gardner, press liasion officer to the schools and candidate for Sheriff this fall, Prosecutor Tony Golik, and Jim Mains, Gardner campaign manager) to know that I will go to press tomorrow on continued horrific conditions at the Clark County Jail, including: 

-inmates using staples for tattooing in pods, per Deps. Costello and Ragan, and Bond

-inmates having access to Ipad rentals from inside the Jail (using our tax dollars)

-not allowing inmates in holding access to drinking water for upwards of 8 hours (per Dep Ragan)

-deputies (Ragan) blaming inmates for BRINGING black mold with them into the jail (black mold caused by humidity and air conditions, not inmate bacteria)

-lack of County detox, thus putting people sober and clean booked for shoplifting (as I was on Thursday evening) in same holding and pods as people sobering up off drinking binges, crystal meth, IV cocaine use - hence endangering mine, and other sober/clean inmates' safety. Not sure why Clark County Jail can't imitate Hooper Detox Center south of the river, which has been proven to see folks safely into rehab from drug/alcohol use and addiction for 40 years now. 

-lack of Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous meetings in Clark County Jail, thus endangering inmates' recovery from drugs/alcohol and letting out actively using inmates back on Clark County streets

Since NO ONE from the Jail has gotten back to me over my prior article on horrific jail conditions, and since I fully expect to be a guest of your jail for the next five weeks come Tuesday, Oct 14 (my arraignment, I violated one of my conditions of my DUI pre-trial release in shoplifting art pens from Craft Warehouse on Thursday evening), I will let prosecution and the District Court judge know that I fear for my safety in jail from both inmates and jail staff. 

Specifically for Prosecutor Golik's Office (he is cc'ed on this email): 

I do realize that my addiction, which is a disease (per medical science) has come out in the form of shoplifting (its a silly and stupid thing to do to steal art pens). I have already made financial amends to Craft Warehouse, in the form of a money order sent via certified mail, for which I have the receipt and copy of email I sent to their corporate offices. Craft Warehouse refuses to accept my financial offer of amends in this matter. 

I am clean and sober since my DUI booking 20 days ago (Sept 21), and I have AA/NA meeting slips, as well as a clean UA from my primary care physician, to prove it. I have complied with all of my conditions for pre-trial release, excepting my ridiculous thieving of art pens, valued at $40. I offer no excuses for my theft either from my disease of addiction or any other reasoning. I offer this statement ONLY as part of explanation. 

Since NO ONE from the Sheriff's Office has any comment (thank you, btw, for having trustees spray mattresses down with bleach water as part of attempts to prevent flea transmission at a minimum) I am assuming that my safety is now at risk in your overcrowded, badly leaking (and black molding) jail. 

I go to press tomorrow, Sunday, Oct 11, by 5 PM. You have until then to make a statement, both from Shane Gardner's campaign and from the Sheriff's Office itself. I pray you gentlemen will do the right thing and respond with alacrity to these crisis conditions in the Clark County Jail that I, and you all, as taxpayers, pay for. 

Please NOTE that the full text of this email is also being posted to my blog, O Vancouvria!, ovancouvria.blogspot.com. Your responses to my email will ALSO be posted in full at O Vancouvria!, thank you. 

Council on the Homeless/SHARE House NOT Sharing Services Well With Public

Welcome to Thursday's O Vancouvria!, many apologies for the delay - I had a bit of burnout what with working a full-time week, including gearing up with new clients for my gardening business, The Sacred Garden.

This is a difficult post to write, coming on the heels of my recent post about a lack of "tiny house" zoning in Vancouver, and an abundance of homeless folks sleeping in doorways on downtown Vancouver streets. This post also comes close on the heels of September 24's "24 Hours for Charity", which raised a large amount of dough online in 24 hours for needy non-profits and their services in Clark County - including services provided through our Council on the Homeless and their associated SHARE House, through their clearinghouse on NE Andresen at 25th, the Fromhold Center. 

However, what's clear from City Council and Council on the Homeless board members' feedback, as well as sources close to O Vancouvria!, and from my own legwork dealing with the Fromhold Center and Council on the Homeless staff (including repeated attempts to get a hold of an obivously overworked Andy Silver, Director of Council on the Homeless) is this: both Council on the Homeless and SHARE House are in a state of administrative chaos, unable to efficiently provide simple services to those they are SUPPOSED to serve, including those populations (homeless and poor folks) identified in their mission statements. 

Furthermore, its clear that Council on the Homeless board members, including Vancouver City Councilwoman Alishia Topper and Vancouver City staffer Peggy Sheehan, are clueless when it comes to focusing their Board's priorities on needful changes to the way the Council on the Homeless, and their associated services through SHARE and the Fromhold Center, works. Meanwhile, both Topper and Sheehan were eager to tell O Vancouvria! that their Board will be "taking up the topic of 'tiny house zoning' at their next meeting" - while refusing to tell me when or where that meeting was. 

It's not clear to me if Council on the Homeless Board meetings are supposed to be open to the public. Given they receive public monies, the "sunshine law" regarding open meetings would indicate that to be a "yes". I'm not sure why Topper and Sheehan haven't let me know when/where said meeting will take place. 

However, what's even more germane to this post is WHY ON EARTH the Council on the Homeless, rather than the Vancouver City Council, is taking up "tiny house" zoning (that is to say, city zoning allowing for much smaller than average-sized houses, around 100-200 sq feet total) in the first place. Councilmember Bill Turlay had indicated to O Vancouvria! that the CITY COUNCIL, rather than the Homeless Council, would in fact be taking up tiny house zoning in a Council workshop rather soon - a statement that Councilwoman Topper has denied, in an email statement to O Vancouvria!. 

I'm not sure when the Council on the Homeless Board became a part of City government, given we as citizens of Vancouver never got a say on their accession to the bureaucratic machinations going on down at City Hall on W 6th and Esther. Neither Eric Holmes, City Manager, nor his capable assistant Peggy Furno had any comments on the tiny house zoning matter, other than to refer me to Topper and Sheehan. Its not clear to me when or why Council on the Homeless had the need or wherewithal to hire planning experts or outside consultants on tiny house zoning, nor is it clear to me why a group of folks UNACCOUNTABLE to the public (the Council on the Homeless Board) are even discussing regulations that affect ALL citizens in Vancouver. 

Beyond that, Council on the Homeless/SHARE/Fromhold Center (all in same building) woes with a new computer and telephone system (installed at the expense of helping those they claim to serve) have NOT simplified matters. Upon making five calls to the Council on the Homeless, I finally reached a staffer there (couldn't get through to leave a voicemail direct for Director Silver) who was "unsure" whether she could take a message for their director. 

Sources private to O Vancouvria! who receive tenant rental checks from SHARE to cover the cost of renting to SHARE clients indicate similar trouble to me, including hold times on the phone of over 45 minutes, unresponsive case managers who don't show up to work or return phone calls, and frozen computer systems that can't be bothered to cut rent checks on the first of each month. As of today, said landlord STILL has NOT received SHARE's check, and is currently in hot water with their own landlord because of SHARE's inability to get services provided to those they claim to serve. 

My own experience with Fromhold Center, simply finding out where I could go to receive food and a bus pass, as well as a mailbox, in Vancouver, was equally difficult: nowhere on SHARE's site is there a LIST of places to get said items (food, bus passes, mailboxes, personal hygiene stuff, free voicemail, job services, childcare) in Clark County - yet Fromhold Center does in fact (after dithering with a temp receptionist for half an hour) have a SHEET listing where said services lie (NOT at Fromhold Center). Fromhold staff keep NO FOOD on site (I had to beg for a granola bar so as not to collapse from blood sugar lows), and I witnessed clients of SHARE waiting for OVER AN HOUR to receive a weekly or monthly bag of personal hygiene items, such as tampons. Finally, I offered what was a decent, clean boxspring and mattress to SHARE as a donation - the temp took my name, and I still (a month later) have YET TO HEAR FROM SHARE STAFF. 

What's clear from these experiences, and from Council on the Homeless Board comments to O Vancouvria!, is that things are VERY BROKEN when it comes to SHARE/Council on the Homeless/Fromhold Center's ability to provide effective services to those they claim to serve. Rather than taking on issues and functions of City government (tiny house zoning and planning), these folks need to get back to basics and remember FIRST THINGS FIRST when it comes to effectively providing services to those they need. As someone who was recently homeless, it frightens me that this inept Kafkaesque maze of unresponsive staff, overreaching Board members, and labyrinthine access to services is our FIRST AND LAST resort to help those in need in Clark County. 

I call on the Council on the Homeless Board to get their act together immediately and HOLD SHARE staff and their own staff accountable. I call on everyone involved in this mess to pull it together - start answering your phones, returning phone calls in a timely manner, cut checks by the dates required, and at least carry non-perishable food items at Fromhold Center, your clearinghouse for folks in need. Furthermore, clean up your website so folks can quickly find where they need to go without having to hoof it to NE 25th and Andresen. Its high time, even past time. 

FINALLY, a special message to Council on the Homeless Board members, especially Vancouver City Councilwoman Topper: please STAY OUT of business that isn't yours, particularly zoning issues and needs pertinent to all citizens of our city. That business needs to STAY down at City Hall, not hide in the dark at Board meetings that aren't open to public comment or witness. Given how eager Topper was to stand in the limelight dancing around at Hello Vancouver!, you would think she'd also be eager to stand with Councilman Turlay and get some action down at City Council on this very needful topic. 

Til Sunday, enjoy your week. We go in on Sunday with our sit-down with Lauren Colas, running against a very overripe Treasurer Doug Lasher and a very "do-nothing" apathetic staff down at County Treasury with problems of their own. 

Anson Service Speaks Intimately With O Vancouvria!, In the Kiggins!

Today at O Vancouvria!, we're sitting down with Dr. Anson Service, the moderate and libertarian-minded GOP candidate for the 49th District seat currently held by Sharon Wylie (Dem), who so far has kept "mum" with the press (including this blog). Sharon, who did NOT attend Hello Vancouver!'s open candidate cattle call at their September 24 Kiggins Theatre show, has been conspicuously quiet about 49th District (west Vancouver) issues. In fact, this blog pointedly did NOT endorse Sharon for the primary, choosing instead to look to Anson at the "get things done right" candidate. 

Anson, fiscally conservative and socially liberal (NOT progressive, liberal - as in, "live and let live") plays a nice counter-fiddle to Speaker Pro Tem Jim Moeller, the other 49th District House seat-holder. Plus, Anson, a political psychologist and father of six who lives west of I-5 (and enjoys Uptown Village's Vancouver Pizza for his large brood of small ones), is easy on the eyes, and a snappy dresser - always a PLUS when talking to me. 

I had approached Anson in the Kiggins Theatre mens' room (NO "foot tapping" here) and specifically moved the conversation into their upstairs lobby, so as to give privacy to other Hello Vancouver! guests doing their business. We had a nice rousing chat about all sorts of relevant west Van issues, and Anson strikes me as the kind of sensible non-politician guy who means business - a fact confirmed by Mike Briggs, the Dem candidate for Brandon Vick's seat in the 18th District (Camas/Battle Ground). In fact, as folks know, O Vancouvria! supports any and ALL candidates who can be sensible about the issues on the ground and reach OUT to the public - the very people they are responsible to. 

Below is what Anson had to say. Stay tuned Sunday for our follow-up on downtown homelessness, and "tiny house" zoning in Vancouver: an issue that Councilmember Topper is NOW bringing before City Council to get some action on, which we like to hear. 

1) What would you like us to know about yourself?  

The only thing my opponent has to hang over me is that she has been a legislator before. She likes to drill that one point over and over, as if there was no possible way to learn how to be a legislator or as if there was no way a new legislator could be successful. This, obviously is ridiculous. I see why she would want to really hammer that idea into people's heads. The fact of the matter is that I have more business experience than she does, I have also been a consultant, I have professional education experience that she does not, I am a far better communicator than she is, I donate more of my time to charitable organizations than she does, and I have never been a professional politician. In fact, I can't stand "politicians" because the typical politician will say anything to get elected, and that drives me nuts. Show people who you are and let them decide rather than pretending to be who you are not just for an election. I also am very savvy with keeping in touch with people on social media. Most legislators keep in touch with constituents in that manner, except for my opponent. She has gone many many months without posting anything. When I asked her questions, they were not answered. When my friend asked her questions, she ignored them. She is not doing a good job of being transparent and attentive to keeping the district up to date on what is going on. 

2) What would you like us to know about your opponent? She has worked hard to go against the voice of Vancouver. WHen Vancouver said they did not want light rail on three different occasions, she continued to petition the state to go ahead with it anyway. It made no sense to me. Then she petitioned Oregon to go ahead with lightrail without Washington's help.  Also, she is very proud of a bill she voted for that will triple the number of license plates we will be throwing in the garbage starting on Jan  1 2015. She calls it a success because it gets rid of the rule that says you have to throw your license plate away every seven years whether it needs it or not. Now we have to throw our license plates away each time we title our cars. So even if the plate is 2 months old and the tabs are still good, you will have to take it off and throw it in the garbage. She says this is a good thing. She TOTALLY missed the point on this one. She tried to pass a similar bill for 3 years and failed, so when this one went through she has referred to it as her license plate bill. It is not hers, but she voted for it. So there you go. She also is part of the group who wants a new state income tax and a raise in sales tax to $0.11. Then there is the gas tax she wants to increase. 

3) What experience do you bring to this office? I bring ten years of customer service experience, 15 years of business experience, experience as a business owner, consultant, and educator. I am now a scientist and I have so much school that I can easily empathize with any college student. I am also a professional communicator and listener. My opponent claims to be "the Leader That Listens" but I am still trying to figure out what she is listening to, because it is not to the residents of the 49th district or me or my friends. 

4) What strengths do you have for the position? If you have ever tried to find out what bill is being considered for a vote, or read a fiscal note, you know that the information is difficult to find and difficult to understand if you even find it. I hold strength in the fact that I see things like normal people see things. I do not see them through the lense of a politician or government employee or extremist. I already represent the people of the 49th district, and now I would like to Represent them in Olympia. 

5) What hopes do you have for this office if elected? I want to make the dealings of the legislature easier to find and understand. I would also hold a dozen town halls each year instead of 2 or 3 like my opponent does. I will answer questions and not ignore people like my opponent does. 

6) How will you bring that vision (for the office) into action? I believe there are few with the skills and background and natural talent to work with others no matter their positions or ideals. I am one of those who can do that. It takes the ability to work with others well, and I do that. 

7) Why are you running for this job? 

Because the Representatives of the 49th District have voted in ways that will decimate Vancouver's economy. Luckily they have failed in their attempts but they are getting closer to passing laws that will destroy Vancouver. I am one of tens of thousands who has pleaded with them to stop their madness, but they continue to vote against Vancouver. I believe I make better decisions than my opponent.  I also believe I have more energy, better ideas, and a proven track record of accomplishing what others say is unlikely.

8) Tell us something humorous that's happened on the campaign trail. I was set up at Esther Short Park with my booth there and I was giving away 100% Vancouver shirts to people, and an elderly woman came up to me and asked who I was and what I was doing. I introduced myself and I told her that I was running for Representative. She said, "I've never heard of you." She then looked around at my booth and asked who I was running against. I said I was running against Sharon Wylie. Her face lit up as she said she already voted for Sharon and that she was a long time democrat. She then said she would never vote for a Republican, but added, "But if more Republicans were as handsome as you are, I could be be persuaded to change my vote." She then turned and walked away. I had to laugh. I thought she was hilarious. 

9) What's your favorite color/s, and why? No favorite colors. I guess I have colors I prefer to see on certain things. I love metallic green on classic cars, and I love red hair. I think purple in the sky is amazing and aqua blue water is the coolest thing.