Kristin Sokoloff offers her views on the District 5 race for the Clark County Council

Recent charter amendments changed the County Council positions from partisan to nonpartisan offices. This created a lack of transparency and can easily lead voters to cast their ballots for candidates who do not align with their value system. 

County Council District 5’s ticket features Don Benton, an open Conservative, who is strictly against tax increases and feels the government should stay within their allotted budget. “If everyone else is required to set a budget and live within it or face negative consequences, why is the government immune?” 

Don’s opponent, Sue Marshall, was a long-time registered Democrat in Oregon. Sue recently served on the Board of Directors for Friends of Clark County, the only organization in Clark County that defends the Growth Management Act (GMA). 

The GMA strictly regulates what people can and cannot do with their land in the name of controlling urban development. This law takes development rights from landowners and gives local government the ultimate decision. Home prices in growth-managed regions are typically two to five times higher than unmanaged areas. 

Don’t let her overalls, John Deere hat and claims to be a farming advocate fool you. Sue Marshall fully supports overreaching government tactics that negatively impact farmers, land owners, and future generations of home buyers. Don Benton believes in the basic right to own property without government interface.

Kristin Sokoloff
Clackamas, Ore.

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