Washougal City Council selects replacement for outgoing councilman

Washougal City Council members have selected a replacement for outgoing citycouncilman Brent Boger.

At the council’s March 29 meeting, council members named David Stuebe, a retired military member and longtime pharmaceutical administrator, as Boger’s replacement.

Boger informed city officials earlier this year that he intended to vacate his council position in late March. Boger also said he plans to retire from his job as an assistant city attorney for the city of Vancouver and move to Ecuador later this year.

Stuebe will serve on the council until at least November 2021, when the position will be up for re-election. The person elected to the No. 1 position will be sworn in as the city’s mayor immediately upon certification of the results.

The councilors interviewed five applicants, including Stuebe; Stephen Baranowski, an associate principal at Liberty Middle School in Camas; and Washougal residents Derik Ford, Jeremy Clark Rescorla and Chris Kosmas as potential replacements for Boger’s council seat. The council brought Stuebe and Baranowski back for a second round of questioning, then cast their final votes on March 29. Stuebe won with a vote of 4-2.

“I’m very humbled and honored to be selected as a member of this esteemed panel,” Stuebe told the council members on March 29, after being sworn in by Mayor Molly Coston. “I hope I can live up to your expectations. I’ll do my best. I know I’m going to learn a lot.”

“You have been diligent in attending meetings, getting to know what’s on agendas, and educating yourself on topics and the problems we currently have and are working through,” Coston replied. “It’s a well-deserved selection. I appreciate all the hard work that you’ve done already, and believe me, it’s just the beginning.”

Stuebe served in the United States Marine Corps for 30 years, retiring as a colonel after conducting a variety of humanitarian, training and combat operations around the world. He has worked for more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, and currently serves as a regional manager for North Carolina-based Ironshore Pharmaceuticals.

He graduated from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California, with a degree in political science.

“I have served our nation around the world in command and operational billets, and would like to offer these skills and experiences to our community,” Stuebe wrote in his council application letter. “I have no specific agenda other than to move through these COVID times, take care of our neighbors and to ensure everyone is proud and respectful to be a citizen of our growing city.

“I am very excited about this opportunity and feel my experiences and successes have provided me with unique qualifications that I would bring to the leadership team. I lead by example accomplishing all missions and tasks. I inspire and motivate all with results and a winning attitude.”

Stuebe told the city council he would like to focus on helping the city improve its plans for growth management, resident safety and youth recreational activities.

“I have always served my whole life, from high school to college to military,” he said. “I really care about my neighbors, the kids and the community. I want to serve because I know this is a great city. I see how it’s growing. I’ve been listening to all of your meetings and hearing about your plans for future growth. It’s really exciting, and I want to be a part of that to represent my community.”