Washougal elects a new mayor; school board race too close to call

Rochelle Ramos will be the next mayor of Washougal.

Ramos captured 86 percent of 2,004 votes for the city of Washougal’s No. 1 council position. Her opponent, Derik Ford, suspended his campaign in September and passed away on Oct. 15.

“I’m extremely excited to be your next mayor,” Ramos wrote in an Instagram post. “I have a big responsibility ahead of me, but I’m ready.”

Ramos works as a human resources director with PLEXSYS Interface Products, a Camas-based software company, and co-owns the Washougal-based nonprofit Lunchmoney Indoor Skatepark. She has served on the Washougal Parks Board of Commissioners since 2018.

Washougal’s current mayor, Molly Coston, will most likely remain on the council. Coston garnered 58 percent of 2,101 votes for the No. 5 council position to take a commanding lead over her opponent, defense instructor Chris de la Rocha. She served as a council member from 2005-11 before being elected as council chair in 2017.

David Stuebe, who was appointed to the council’s No. 1 position in March, ran unopposed for the No. 3 spot, currently filled by Paul Greenlee, who ran for mayor in August’s primary election but failed to advance. Julie Russell, also running unopposed, will retain her No. 6 council position.

Washougal School District

One of the tightest races in all of Clark County resides in the Washougal School District, where incumbent Donna Sinclair holds a seven-vote advantage over Sadie McKenzie for the No. 3 board director position.

Sinclair, a board member since 2017, is a history professor at Washington State University-Vancouver and Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. McKenzie is a stay-at-home mother, school volunteer and former dental assistant. 

Chuck Carpenter is in strong position to retain his No. 5 board director position after drawing 54 percent of 2,620 votes to take a lead over challenger Janice D’Aloia.

Washougal School Board members appointed Carpenter to the board in 2020. He is retired from his work as a school superintendent, principal, and human resources director, corporate executive, and attorney. D’Aloia owns and operates Health, Well Run, a health coaching practice, and serves as the executive director of Oracle Human Capital Management Users Group, a nonprofit organization that offers training sessions for Oracle products.

Port of Camas-Washougal

Larry Keister will most likely continue to serve as a Port of Camas-Washougal commissioner.