Washougal Prop 8
Washougal voters are supporting a measure to change the form of government from mayor-council, or “strong mayor,” to council-manager or “strong council.”
With 4,617 votes counted so far, 2,532 voters (54.84 percent) have approved the change in the form of government, while 2,085 voters want the city to continue with the mayor-council.
A similar effort, then-known as Proposition 1, to change the form of government from mayor-council to council-manager, received 34.38 percent of the vote in November 2013.
Mayor Molly Coston said Tuesday night she was kind of surprised by the results so far, but she would be fine with however they turn out.
“I figured people would say, ‘why should we change, things are going well,’” Coston said. “I did initiate a committee (to examine both forms of government). Without any influence they decided the council manager form was a great form of government, and it was time to put it on the ballot. Certainly that is valid, to put it on the ballot.”