Camas woman plans to run for 18th District seat

Liz Pike, a former Camas City Council member, announced yesterday that she has filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission as a candidate for 18th District State Representative, Position 2 seat.

The position is currently held by Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, who as a resident of Cowlitz County is now in the 20th District due to an effort that redrew lines for legislative and congressional districts.

The new plan was approved by the Washington State Redistricting Commission on Jan. 1, and becomes final unless it is amended by the Legislature within 30 days after the beginning of the next regular session, which started on Jan. 9.

By law, if the Legislature wants to change the plan approved by the Redistricting Commission, any new district boundary lines they propose can affect no more than 2 percent of a district’s population and must be approved by two-thirds of the members of each legislative chamber.

Camas and Washougal continue to be part of the 18th District.

Pike, a Republican and longtime 18th District resident, said she decided to run for the seat to change the path of state government.

“I am running for State Representative because I want to help restore the public’s faith in state government,” Pike said in a press release. “I am disappointed to lose Rep. Orcutt as our district’s State Legislator. I have decided to run for his seat to try to maintain the strong representation and courage he has provided.”

She has owned Pike Advertising Agency since 1995, and is currently contracted to serve as the political affairs director for the political action committee of the Building Industry Association of Clark County.

Pike served as the at-large member of the Camas City Council for four years before making an unsuccessful bid for Camas mayor in 2007.

Orcutt, first elected to the seat in 2002, will continue to represent the 18th District through the end of the year.

The official candidate filing period is May 14 through 18, and the Primary Election will be held on Aug. 7. The two candidates receiving the most votes will move on to the Nov. 6 General Election.

To date, Pike is the only candidate to officially announce an intent to run for the 18th District seat.

For more information about Pike’s campaign, visit LizPike.us, call (360) 281-8720 or email pikeadvertising@comcast.net.

For more information about the redistricting process, visit www.redistricting.wa.gov.