La Center resident Reuben Kulla offers his support for Brad Benton’s candidacy for the Charter Review Commission
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Brad Benton is running for one of the seats on the Clark County Council Charter Review Committee for District 5. The County Charter is the governing document of the county and it’s up for review.
One of the things that caught my eye was Benton’s proposal to require a two-third majority vote of the Council before any new taxes are created, or existing ones increased.
I’ve watched our community grow, evolve, and face increasing financial pressures. What hasn’t changed is the burden placed on everyday citizens through rising taxes. From property taxes to sales taxes, fees, and levies, the cumulative impact is felt most by those with fixed incomes and modest means.
A supermajority requirement is not a partisan idea, it’s a safeguard. It protects citizens and forces our elected officials to build consensus before reaching deeper into our pockets.
Let’s strengthen our Charter and make sure Clark County’s future is built on fairness, not unchecked taxation. Brad is a sharp guy with a degree in Accounting from Whitworth University.
He’s been out volunteering in our community as a sports coach and at a summer camp for children with disabilities. I like that he shows up for the kids.
I hope you will join me in voting for Brad Benton in November for Charter Review Commissioner, Dist. 5, Pos.1.
Reuben Kulla
La Center
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Reuben Kulla praises candidate Brad Benton’s idea to require a two-thirds vote of the County Council before creating or increasing any tax. It sounds like “consensus building.” In practice, it is a minority veto on basic governing.
Charters are about structure and accountability, not permanent policy booby traps. A supermajority rule would let just two councilors block funding for essentials that most residents expect, including sheriff staffing, wildfire preparedness, road maintenance, public health, and parks. Costs rise with population, inflation, and mandates. When a small bloc can say no, services erode, repairs get deferred, and the bill gets bigger later.
If taxpayers want restraint, the Charter already provides tools. We elect councilors, we replace them when they fail, and we demand transparent budgeting, independent audits, and sunset clauses. Those mechanisms preserve majority rule and keep decision-makers accountable to voters every election. A supermajority rule does the opposite. It removes accountability by rewarding obstruction and shifting tough choices to fees, one-time gimmicks, or cuts that hit families with modest means first.
Consensus is healthy. A locked-in supermajority is not. The right standard for everyday fiscal decisions is a simple majority, paired with strong transparency, public hearings, clear performance metrics, and time-limited measures that must be renewed in the open.
The Charter Review Commission should focus on improving clarity, accountability, and access to the process, not on hard-coding minority rule. Clark County deserves a government that can govern, and voters who can judge results at the next election.
Jason Johnson
Felida
Who is on the Charter Review Commission? Sounds like a couple of people want their own little fiefdom. Let’s vote them out and get them off the Commission.