Capell will become the next Camas city administrator

A longtime Clark County employee will likely become the next Camas city administrator.

Camas Mayor Scott Higgins said Peter S. Capell, current Clark County public works director, has been given a conditional offer of employment, pending reference and background checks.

He is expected to start Monday, Jan. 6.

“Pete brings a great deal of experience to us and we are very fortunate to have him agree to work with us,” Higgins said. “Camas is a city that will continue to attract business and positive growth and Pete is uniquely prepared to help guide us through those changes.”

Capell has worked for Clark County since February 1997, when he was hired as county engineer. In May 2000, he was promoted to public works director, where he manages a staff of 250 employees who are responsible for roads, parks, storm water, wastewater and the county fleet. The department is responsible for construction, operations and maintenance of county infrastructure.

From 1978 to 1997, Capell worked for private consulting firm Century West Engineering, where he served in positions including vice president, project manager and engineer.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University.

As Camas city administrator, Capell will earn a monthly salary of $10,971 per month, plus benefits.

Higgins said Capell will be an asset to Camas when he steps in to lead the city’s 175 full time equivalent employees who serve 20,320 residents.

“I am thrilled. I feel like a weight has been lifted,” he said describing his relief about completing the selection process. “I feel like we got an excellent selection in Pete.”

The other finalists were Joe Hannan, current Mukilteo city administrator; and Peter M. Mayer, former Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation director and current deputy director and chief operations officer of the Snohomish Health District in Everett.

The expedited search process included consultants from Waldron, Inc., completing pre-interviews with all three finalists. Then on Thursday, the three men were interviewed by a panel that included Councilwoman Melissa Smith, financial consultant Paul Lewis, Human Resources Director and Acting City Administrator Jennifer Gorsuch, former Camas Mayor Nan Henriksen, Port of Camas-Washougal Executive Director David Ripp and Camas Police Chief Mitch Lackey.

Higgins conducted the final interviews.

Capell succeeds Nina Regor, who died on Oct. 6 as a result of ongoing health issues. She had served less than a year on the job.