Dietzman will resign from Camas City Council

One of the senior members of the Camas City Council on Monday announced her intention to resign.

Linda Dietzman’s last day on the City Council will be Jan. 31, 2015, and two days later she will take off for a cruise through the Panama Canal.

Her current term would have ended Dec. 31, 2015.

“I knew I wasn’t going to run for re-election, so I decided to resign now, to free up some of my time,” she said.

In addition to traveling with her husband, John, Dietzman, 65, said she plans to spend more time with her grandchildren.

Having served for 11 years on the City Council, she said she’s learned a lot, especially from current councilman Greg Anderson and former Councilwomen Helen Gerde and Mary Kufeldt-Antle.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the council,” she said. “I’ve learned so much.”

Dietzman describes herself as conservative, but level-headed.

“I try to be very open-minded about each issue,” she said. “I listen to both sides before I make up my mind.”

She said two changes that have occurred during her tenure that have positively impacted the work of the City Council are approving an ordinance creating the position of a hearing examiner to interpret, review and implement the city’s land use regulations and policies, and implementing a paperless system for meeting agendas and associated documents.

“Using the iPads and going paperless has been an improvement and, I think is saving us a lot of money,” she said.

Dietzman was elected to the Ward 2 seat in November 2003. She was then appointed to the City Council later that month to take the position early, succeeding C.R. “Woody” Woodruff who resigned.

Dietzman, who grew up in rural Clark County and has lived in Camas for 20 years, said being an active member of the community is something that has been important to her for most of her life.

Prior to being elected to the City Council, she was involved with groups including Camas-Washougal youth soccer, 4-H and Boy Scouts. Since 1997, she has served on the Camas-Washougal Community Chest board, which raises funds for and awards grants to non-profit organizations.

Dietzman said she will continue to serve on the Mosquito Control Board, where she is currently president. Down the road, she said she may find her way back to serving the city in a different capacity.

“Volunteering is in my blood.”