Camas City Council selects its new member

A woman who was featured with her family in a national magazine that designated Camas as one of the 10 best towns for families, is now a member of the City Council.

Bonnie Carter was appointed to serve in the Ward 2 position by a 4-2 vote of the City Council. She succeeds Linda Dietzman who will retire Jan. 31 after serving for 11 years.

Voting in favor of Carter’s appointment were Greg Anderson, Shannon Turk, Tim Hazen and Steve Hogan. Candidate Randy Curtis, a current member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, received votes from Melissa Smith and Don Chaney. The other two candidates who went through the interview process during the special meeting on Monday were Patricia Jensen and Matthew McBride.

Carter, 45, and her husband, Steve, have lived in Camas since 2002. They have four sons whose school grade levels range from fourth grade to 12th.

She has been an active volunteer at local schools, serving as a past president of the Grass Valley Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and member of the PTO at Skyridge Middle School. She was also treasurer of the Camas Educational Foundation for four years and served on the Camas High School Futures Committee. Since August, she has worked as an administrative secretary at Skyridge Middle School.

In addition, Carter is a member of the Camas2035 steering committee, which has been involved in the city’s 20-year comprehensive plan update process that began in July 2014.

She said having been involved for several years in her neighborhood association and her children’s schools, serving on the City Council is another way she can be an active citizen.

“It just seems like this is a natural step for me to continue broadening my community, my circles, and serving my community in the best form I can,” she said.

Last summer, Carter and her family were interviewed for a story that appeared in the August 2014 Family Circle magazine. The article featured Camas on its annual list of “10 Best Towns for Families.”

Carter will serve the remainder of the Ward 2 term, from Feb. 1, 2015, through Dec. 7, 2015. The term for the Ward 2 position starting Dec. 7, 2015, and running through Dec. 31, 2019, will be determined in the Nov. 3, 2015, general election. Carter said she plans to run for election to the seat.

Three other Camas City Council positions, as well as the mayor’s seat, will also be up for re-election this November.