County Council candidate touts affordable living, smart growth and local leadership

Longtime Clark County resident, small business owner, and community leader Bryan Shull announced Monday his candidacy for Clark County Council, District 1, citing the urgent need for reliable, common-sense leadership to address rising costs and bring smarter solutions to growth, critical services, and energy policy.

“As someone born and raised here, who has built several small businesses and created hundreds of jobs in the region, I’m engaged in the challenges and successes of our community every day,” said Shull. “Clark County is a great place to live, but continuous tax increases and overbearing bureaucracies are making it harder for families and small businesses to thrive. I’m running to bring reliable, common-sense solutions to local government and help unleash innovation and prosperity in our community.”

Shull, a graduate of Hudson’s Bay High School, was born and raised in Clark County and has deep roots in the community. From swimming in the Lewis River and delivering The Columbian as a kid to running multiple local businesses and spending time with his grandchildren, Shull has remained closely connected to the people and places that make Southwest Washington home.

Shull brings a diverse professional background to the race. He is the owner of Trap Door Brewing, Cruise the Couve, and Prairie View Station Food Cart Park. He has also worked as a project manager in solar energy development with more than 12 megawatts of installed capacity, served as a utility energy program engineer, and worked in research and development for the California Energy Commission. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Renewable Energy Engineering with a minor in Economics and is passionate about solving complex problems.

Shull currently serves as president of the Uptown Village Association, is actively involved in the community through his nonprofit, Cruise the Couve, and is committed to mentoring the next generation of small business leaders.

His campaign will focus on several key priorities:

Real affordability

Shull emphasizes that affordability requires action, not rhetoric. He supports reducing or eliminating unnecessary fees, streamlining permitting processes, reprioritizing funding to core county services, and addressing the rising costs of housing and business operations that are ultimately passed on to residents.

Support for small business

“Small business is the backbone of our economy and the pulse of our culture,” said Shull. “They deserve leadership that understands the real-world impact of taxes, regulations, and government decisions. Treating them like ATM machines must end.”

Shull emphasized that Clark County should chart its own course. “We should not follow misguided policies that drive businesses out, empty storefronts, and weaken our tax base,” he said. “Clark County can lead with practical, effective solutions that reflect our community’s values.”

A tax-last approach

Shull believes the government must prioritize responsible spending before asking taxpayers to pay more. He advocates for a “tax-last” philosophy that protects seniors, working families, and those on fixed incomes from unnecessary financial burdens.

Smart growth and renewable energy

With a background in renewable engineering, Shull supports responsible, cost-effective energy solutions paired with smart growth policies that support economic opportunity while protecting rural lands. “Nothing is more damaging to the environment than the apathy of poverty,” said Shull. “Affordable, clean energy is essential to caring for both our community and our environment.”

Let Vancouver stand up and apart

Shull supports strengthening public safety and addressing homelessness through approaches that emphasize addiction treatment, accountability, and long-term solutions, while ensuring neighborhoods have a stronger voice in local decision-making.

Transportation solutions that make sense

Shull supports infrastructure investments that reduce congestion and improve mobility, including multiple bridge solutions that are both effective and financially responsible.

Shull remains deeply committed to ensuring the next generation can afford to live, work, and succeed in the community he has called home for decades.

For more information, visit www.electbryanshull.com.