Clark County resident Dick Rylander addresses candidates’ unwillingness to reveal positions with voters

Dick Rylander 
for Clark County Today

I have been a resident of Clark County for a total of 32-plus years. I’ve been a candidate for several offices so I understand the challenges candidates face. They want to appeal to everyone and irritate as few as possible.

In early September I reached out to residents of Clark County and asked what they (as a voter) would like to know about positions of candidates they could vote for. From that feedback I consolidated the suggestions and set up a simple Yes/No position format with room for some notes. Those questions can be seen below:

I sent an email to each of the candidates for Washington House and Senate seats in the 17th; 18th; 20th and 49th Legislative District’s on Sept. 23 using the contact email on their website(s). I asked them to respond no later than Oct. 4 explaining that responses would be shared with the public.

I received an email from one candidate asking for some clarifications.

As of Oct. 5 I received exactly ZERO (0) responses.

Why no responses? Given the level of vitriol in the political world today the candidates may be concerned about how their comments could be turned into negative attack ads. They may find some issues to be multifaceted and not easy to address simply. They might not want to be pigeon holed because of an answer. They may be concerned that the downside is greater than the upside if they respond.

A few years ago I spent several hours over coffee talking with a candidate for one of the House seats in Southwest Washington. I asked them why they avoided certain topics or were vague on others. This candidate said the consultants suggested that being vague reduced negatives and increased the chance of getting elected.

Maybe it’s best if people don’t have a lot of clarity about a candidate? I’m sure there are other reasons why none of them chose to respond.

In the end you can read what you can find AND you can contact each candidate and ask one of these questions or your own. When you learn something please share with others so we can all be better informed.

---

Also read:

• 
  Signatures filed for initiatives on parental rights, blocking trans athletes from girls’ sports
  Supporters of two initiatives on parental rights and transgender participation in girls’ sports filed signatures Friday, moving the measures closer to consideration by Washington lawmakers.
• 
  These new laws and taxes take effect in Washington state on Jan. 1
  Several new laws and tax increases passed in 2025 take effect Jan. 1 in Washington, impacting unemployment benefits, business taxes, transportation fees, consumer costs and regulatory requirements.
• 
  Opinion: Justice for none – Court hands down a mandate without a dime to fund it
  Nancy Churchill argues that a Washington Supreme Court ruling on public defense imposes costly mandates on local governments without providing funding to implement them.
• 
  Deportations, tariffs, court clashes, record shutdown mark a historic year in Washington, D.C.
  A year marked by deportations, tariffs, court battles, and a record federal shutdown reshaped Washington, D.C., during President Donald Trump’s return to office.
• 
  Opinion: The progressive attack on Washington’s sheriffs
  Nancy Churchill argues that proposed legislation would shift power over county sheriffs away from voters and concentrate control within state government.