The fate of one of the most important and open seats in Southwest Washington politics won’t be decided locally, but instead by Gov. Jay Inslee.
The Clark County Council deadlocked Tuesday over which of three candidates should fill the council’s only open seat, created by the departure of Eileen Quiring O’Brien on March 1. After two hours of interviews, they voted to send the decision to Inslee.
Eileen Quiring O'Brien stands outside her home, where she has hung a "Thin Blue Line" flag, in late August 2020. Quiring O'Brien retired from the Clark County council on March 1, creating the open seat the council wants to temporarily fill but can't agree upon.
Troy Brynelson / OPB
Whomever is eventually appointed will help set countywide policies, direct the county’s health officials in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, and tweak financing for everything from property taxes to sheriff’s office budgets.
Councilors’ deliberations on the candidates mostly occurred in executive session, a behind-closed-doors discussion, and councilors declined to reveal details.
The vote to send the decision to Inslee’s office, however, was unanimous.
Councilor Temple Lentz, the only Democrat on the council, said in an interview that she couldn’t support any of the three finalists picked by Council Chair Karen Bowerman.
“My constituents elected me to make the best decisions on their behalf,” Lentz said. “If I don’t think I can confidently vote for one of those candidates, that’s the job I was elected to do. Settling isn’t what I was elected to do.”
Councilor Julie Olson, who could not be reached for comment, also did not support any of the three candidates. Councilor Gary Medvigy lamented the four remaining councilors couldn’t agree. He pointed out the county charter’s only backstop in this situation is to send the choice to the governor.
“It’s unfortunate the charter doesn’t provide other avenues,” Medvigy said. “It’s not a lifetime appointment. It’s not even for a full term.”
The governor will have 30 days to pick the next councilor, selecting one of the three finalists chosen by Bowerman. The choices will be Dick Rylander, a frequent political player in Clark County; Thomas Schenk, a retired officer with the U.S. Customs; and Peter Silliman, a former county staffer rounding out the list.
A governor’s office spokesperson did not answer a question asking how the governor will approach the selection.
“Here, it looks like the retiring council member is a Republican, so Clark County will probably forward to the Gov’s Office their list of three R nominees, from which the Gov will select the appointee,” spokesman Mike Faulk said in an email.
The chosen candidate will serve on the council for the remainder of the year, but a permanent replacement to the seat will be chosen by voters in November.
