Camas resident Anna Miller offers a tutorial on the Clark County Charter

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

Good question. No doubt you’ll be seeing campaign signs popping up around the County asking for your vote for Clark County Charter Review Commissioner. Hopefully you will be fully informed before the voting ballots start arriving for the November 2025 General Election.  Let’s break it down. 

1. In November 2014 voters of Clark County voted to adopt the “home rule charter” form of government.  What the HECK is that?  Read all about it here! Don’t worry, it’s an easy short read.   MRSC – County Forms of Government 

2. Ok, now you know what a home rule Charter is. It is the County’s Constitution.  But let’s back up a minute.  Who the HECK wrote the Charter that was voted in?  Another good question.  Freeholders, that’s who.  

3. What the HECK are Freeholders? The Freeholder election involved a bunch of people who ran for the positions called Freeholders. Those elected Freeholders were responsible for drafting the county’s Home Rule Charter, which shaped everything from government structure to citizen rights like initiative and referendum. It’s a powerful civic role!  The Charter they drafted was then submitted to the voters for approval. A majority of voters said yes, so we had to live with it. Or, did we? 

4. How the HECK do we change it if we don’t like it?  I’m glad you asked.  That brings us full circle.  The Charter allows for a “review and amend” process every 5 years.  A bunch of people (again) file to run for the positions of Charter Review Committee. The winners are called Charter Review Commissioners. They are tasked with reviewing and possibly amending the Charter. Their completed work goes (again) to the people to vote on. 

5. What the HECK?  I like some of the amendments but not others!  No worries.  You can vote “yes” for those you like and “no” for those you don’t like.   

6. In five years, we will do it all over, (again)! What the heck? 

Study the current  Charter Overview | Clark County with a yellow hi-lighter. Talk to the candidates about what you would like to see amended.  And don’t skip the vote.  You might regret it.   

Anna Miller 
Clark County voter 

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: The upside-down world of Washington Democrats
  Nancy Churchill criticizes Washington Democrats over HB 2034, LEOFF 1 pension funds, and a proposed income tax, urging residents to oppose the bill ahead of a Feb. 26 hearing.
• 
  Letter: ‘Only madmen and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun!’
  Vancouver resident Debra Kalz uses a historical analogy involving King Henry VIII to question decisions surrounding a bridge with light rail.
• 
  Opinion: Eight years of stormwater pollution at King St & West 12th St. in men’s ShareHouse Neighborhood
  Vancouver resident Peter Bracchi questions whether chronic contamination near King Street and West 12th Street meets federal and state stormwater permit standards.
• 
  Opinion: Internal emails reveal the real plan for a statewide income tax
  Ryan Frost argues internal emails show a multi-step strategy toward a statewide progressive income tax in Washington.
• 
  Opinion: ‘More than fire’
  Clark County Fire District 3 Chief Chris Drone explains how “More than fire” reflects medical response, prevention and community engagement.