La Center's Myrna Leija-Frantz makes the case for Judge Dave Larson in the Washington State Supreme Court Position 5 race, citing his 41 years of legal experience — 23 as a civil trial lawyer and 18 as a trial judge — and his commitment to fairness over partisan politics. Ballots arrive for the August 4 primary. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-judge-larson-is-the-real-deal/ #WashingtonSupremeCourt #JudgeLarson #Opinion #Politics #ClarkCounty #August4Primary #JudicialRace #WashingtonState #LetterToTheEditor #LaCenter

Randal O'Toole of Cascade Policy Institute argues the 21st Century Road to Housing Act is political theater — and that urban growth boundaries in Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii are the true drivers of unaffordable housing. He points to Portland's subsidized housing costs nearing $800 per livable square foot as evidence the problem is getting worse, not better. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-the-21st-century-road-to-no-affordable-housing/ #HousingAffordability #UrbanGrowthBoundaries #HousingPolicy #Congress #Oregon #Washington #CascadePolicy #SingleFamilyHomes #HousingCrisis #Opinion

Vancouver resident Wynn Grcich calls out Battle Ground council members Troy McCoy and Glen Yung for supporting water fluoridation, arguing the public was not given informed consent and that politicians have no authority to make medical decisions for residents. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-our-rights-are-being-taken-away-by-council-members-locally/ #Opinion #BattleGround #Fluoride #ClarkCounty #LocalGovernment #PublicHealth #WaterFluoridation #VancouverWA #WashingtonState #Voters

Clark County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 33-year-old Samuel Swan following a reported sexual assault at Pacific Park Extreme Skate Park in Vancouver. The 12-year-old victim was contacted at the scene. Swan faces First-Degree Kidnapping, First-Degree Rape, Second-Degree Rape of a Child, and outstanding felony warrants. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/ccso-arrests-33-year-old-in-juvenile-sexual-assault-investigation/ #ClarkCounty #Vancouver #PublicSafety #CCSO #CrimeNews #SexualAssault #ClarkCountyToday

Nancy Churchill examines the four candidates vying for Washington Supreme Court Position 7 — a seat that will almost certainly decide the constitutional fate of the state's new income tax. Churchill weighs Chief Justice Debra Stephens' record against three challengers who each emphasize applying the Constitution as written. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/opinion-supreme-court-position-7-will-they-guard-the-dam-or-let-the-tax-flood-through/ #WashingtonState #SupremeCourt #IncomeTax #JudicialElection #Opinion #Columns #Politics #ClarkCounty #DangerousRhetoric #InfluencingOlympia

Amendment 26-20, sponsored by Charter Review Commission chair Brandon Erickson and passed 9-6, would limit Clark County Council members to three consecutive terms. A one-term waiting period would apply before a former councilor could run again. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-20-limitation-on-consecutive-terms-for-county-council-members/ #ClarkCounty #CharterReview #TermLimits #ClarkCountyCouncil #WashingtonState #LocalGovernment #Amendment2620 #CountyPolitics

Charter amendment 26-14, sponsored by Peter Silliman of District 5, would give the Clark County Council authority to conduct independent performance audits of county finances and programs. The measure passed the Charter Review Commission 13-2 and is headed for the November 2026 ballot. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-14-performance-audits/ #ClarkCounty #CharterReview #PerformanceAudits #ClarkCountyWA #LocalGovernment

Clark County voters rejected light rail in 2012 and passed a 68% advisory vote against it in 2013 — yet Councilors Yung, Fuentes, and Marshall have continued pushing the project. The IBR I-5 Bridge cost estimate has doubled from $7.5 billion to $15.2 billion since 2023, and a C-TRAN board restructuring now gives Vancouver effective control of six of nine seats. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-local-politicians-have-ignored-repeated-votes-against-light-rail-and-a-county-resolution-opposing-light-rail/ #LightRail #IBR #ClarkCounty #CTRAN #Vancouver #Transportation #Opinion #Politics #WashingtonState

US Army veteran Tiffany Plous Ferschweiler makes the case that Clark County's HUD-VASH support is concentrated in Vancouver, leaving veterans with housing vouchers few options countywide. She points to Multi-Family Tax Exemption programs and the state's Landlord Mitigation Program as tools local leaders should deploy. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-our-local-leaders-should-be-advocating-and-making-those-opportunities-countywide-to-translate-into-housing-opportunities-for-our-veterans/ #VeteranHousing #HUDVASH #ClarkCounty #VeteranServices #AffordableHousing #WashingtonState #Opinion

The Clark County Charter Review Commission passed Amendment 26-10 with a 12-3 vote, requiring the county's budget process to begin in September instead of November — giving residents more time to weigh in on an $880 million annual budget most never knew existed. Sponsor Peter Silliman says public participation under the current timeline is minimal. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/charter-review-commission-26-10-revised-budget-transparency-process/ #ClarkCounty #BudgetTransparency #CharterReview #ClarkCountyWA #WashingtonState #LocalGovernment #PublicPolicy #CountyBudget