Voters approving Camas-Washougal area fire station bonds, levy lid lift

Voters in the Camas-Washougal area are overwhelmingly in favor of three fire-related propositions that will build two new fire stations in the cities of Camas and Washougal — including a Camas-Washougal Fire Department (CWFD) headquarters station in downtown Camas — and will lift the levy rate lid for the East County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) District north of Camas-Washougal to help that fire district keep its two stations fully staffed and operational. 

The city of Camas’ Proposition No. 4 asked voters to weigh in on a 26-year, $26.3 million bond  fund the replacement of the CWFD headquarters fire station in downtown Camas and replace one fire engine. The bond would cost property owners in Camas 13 cents per $1,000 assessed property value (APV). 

Unofficial results counted on election night, Tuesday, Aug. 6, show the Camas fire station bond is passing 67.71% to 32.29% with 3,020 “yes” votes approving the bond and 1,440 “no” votes.

The city of Washougal’s Proposition No. 12 asked voters in that city to approve or reject a $15.725 million, 29-year bond to finance and construction and equipping of a new fire station to replace the aging CWFD Fire Station 43. The new fire station also will share facilities with the Washougal Police Department. 

As of Tuesday, Aug. 6, the majority of voters were approving the Washougal fire station bond 67.73% (1,841 “yes” votes) to 32.27% (877 “no” votes). 

Likewise, early results show ECFR’s levy lid lift, which will increase the fire district’s levy rate from $1.08 per $1,000 APV to $1.50 per $1,000 for collection in 2025, is passing 64.89% (1,338 “yes” votes) to 35.11% (724 “no” votes). 

Camas candidates fall behind in 3rd Congressional District race

Election night results show two Camas candidates hoping to represent Washington’s 3rd District in Congress — including Camas City Councilmember Leslie Lewallen — falling behind Democratic Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican candidate Joe Kent. 

As of Tuesday night, Gluesenkamp Perez had garnered 56,634 votes (46.87%) statewide and Kent had 46,302 votes (38.32%) while Lewallen, who ran as a Republican, and Camas resident John Saulie-Rohman, who ran as an Independent candidate had received 12.43% and 2.29% of the votes, respectively. 

The top two vote-getters — likely Gluesenkamp Perez and Kent — will compete in the November general election. 

Washougal mayor has slight lead among Republican candidates in 17th Legislative District, Position 2 race

A race to determine who will run in the November general election for Washington’s 17th Legislative District, Position 2 is too close to call as of Tuesday night. 

Democratic candidate Terri Niles, of Vancouver, had garnered 48.38% of the votes as of Tuesday night and will be one of two candidates on the November ballot.

But Niles’ Republican competitors — Hannah Joy of Carson and Washougal Mayor David Stuebe — may have to wait until the next round of ballot counting to find out which candidate will join Niles on the November ballot. 

As of Tuesday night, Stuebe, who has said he intends to serve as a legislator and a mayor if elected, was ahead of Joy with 6,796 votes (26.94%) to Joy’s 6,197 votes (24.56%). 

The Clark County Elections Department said Tuesday that they had counted 76,470 ballots and estimated there were another 60,000 ballots left to count.
Voter turnout as of Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Clark County was 22.75%. 

The next round of ballots will be counted at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. 

The election will be certified Aug. 20. For more information, pick up a copy of this week’s Post-Record or visit us online at camaspostrecord.com.