Tom Mielke For Clark County Commissioner

[pdxlady]

I read this in The Daily Insider today and didn't see it posted anywhere yet...so here we go:

Former lawmaker Tom Mielke running for county commissioner

Tom Mielke, eight-year Republican state representative in the 18th District, where he was a member of the Local Government & Land Use and Transportation Committees, has announced that he is a Republican candidate for Clark County commissioner, District 1.

Democrat incumbent Betty Sue Morris earlier said she would not be a candidate for re-election.

Last week former Clark County Democratic leader Pam Brokaw announced she is a candidate for the same position. Her announcement was then followed by former Fire District 6 chief Brad Lothspeich, who announced he is a republican candidate for the position.

Mielke is an avowed opponent of light rail in Clark County.

SHNIPP.....(I think this is what I do to end the piece before my comment - Chief, correct me if I am wrong.)


My comment: And so it begins....we have at least one primary race indeed.

[karma]

All I'll say is another same old same old. He's running again????

[Waterbuffalo]

I think I do remember Tom running for the state legislative district.. Wonder how its going to look near primary time?

[Chief]

Sorry pdxlady, I missed this and dupe posted it....my bad.

I want to hear what his platform is, especially in relation to the Columbia Crossing Project.

[Waterbuffalo]

Tom ran against Steve stuart in 2005?

Source: http://www.thereflector.com/PAGES/STORIES/Old%20Stories/2005/09-28-05.html

[Waterbuffalo]

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2007/01/mielke-attacks-bridge-project.html

Have a look here Chief..

[Waterbuffalo]

Why do I feel there are going to be sparks during this election season for Clark County Commissioner?

(after googling Tom Mielke..)

[Chief]

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2007/01/mielke-attacks-bridge-project.html

January 1, 2007

As a former state representative, I won't sit quietly by and let the Columbia River Crossing cook the numbers with obviously misleading facts concerning an alleged 68 percent of Clark County supporting light rail.

The $50 million wasted by the CRC to convince us that light rail is "needed," could almost pay for two new freeway interchanges.

Now, with their preordained outcome achieved, we're left with tearing down a perfectly good I-5 bridge, replacing it with a $2 billion bridge with the same number of general-purpose through lanes, excepting that it will accommodate "light rail," be "more pedestrian friendly," have "bike lanes" and again have an "HOV lane."

Oh yes, I've heard they will be tolling both the I-5 and I-205 bridges to pay for the "light rail" bridge. Do you see what's happening yet? There are several toll-free options that were ignored to achieve CRC's goal.

We should stop wasting time and address the whole north/south corridor congestion problem. We need congestion relief, and that could be achieved by building a new corridor and an additional bridge over the Columbia.

Please don't give us seven possible years of construction on top of the I-5 congestion that we already have!

Tom Mielke
Battle Ground


Interesting....

[Waterbuffalo]

From some of my other searches, Tom has had a lot to say about the I-5 partnership and many other transportation angles here in Clark County. The list is TOOOO long to put here but if your interested, seek out your favorite search engine respectively.

Seems Tom liked to be a self promoter and has a lot to say. Would love to get him to come over here and tell us how he feels about the subject.

[karma]

If elected it would be putting a damper on Stuart with the two buddies in place???

[Waterbuffalo]

"If elected it would be putting a damper on Stuart with the two buddies in place???"

I am not sure how Tom is going to do.. I am going to try and wait until near the primary to make a decision on who and what deserves my vote.

[karma]

Buff, you mean you didn't follow that the two did in the State house?? This is a now brainer, we haven't seen anyone worth voting for yet!

[Chief]

Again, I'm going to wait until any one of these candidates puts forth a platform, before I make any judgements. It's still awfully early in the race boys and girls....

[Waterbuffalo]

I did follow Tom's comments from Bellingham Karma.. But I also feel that people can change or have differing opinions about subjects.

As Chief said it best, its early in the contest.. Lets see what the gentleman has to say before pass judgement.

Either way Karma, unless someone runs as a Republican against Tom, its going to be a three way race until after the Primary. And who ever wins the Democrat Primary side is going to be facing Tom in the general election. That's when the fireworks are going to start......

Am I wrong in the chronology of the Board of Clark County Commissioners races?

[Waterbuffalo]

Comments in the local paper and linked story at : http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12142007_Mielke-enters-race-for-commissioner-seat.cfm

"More room for industry, people

Mielke said he believes the county's recently updated growth plan doesn't plan for enough development and doesn't provide enough large parcels for heavy industry.

The plan envisions 2 percent annual population growth, but Mielke said the county should have planned for a higher growth rate to reflect recent history. In the past 10 years, Clark County's population growth has fluctuated between a low of 2.14 percent and a high of 3.54 percent.

The county's plan will foster traffic gridlock and encourage high-density housing, Mielke said. "I would never want to raise my children in an apartment building," he said.

The county needs to prioritize spending and provide more money for transportation improvements, Mielke said, but he failed to name a county program or service where spending should be cut.

"There is not a program out there that doesn't serve somebody well," he said. "But is it the role of government?"

[karma]

Buff, It would be in the standing as we type, Rep. offering of Tom and Brad with the Dem. offering of Pam. It's still to early to see if others will come out but my feeling is the good old boys/gals have made a statement and this makes others stop! Again it's going to be the same old same old and more neglect for Clark County's future.

[Waterbuffalo]

Then why don't you run Karma if all I see is the same comments from you over and over again? <steams off to the Columbia River..>

[karma]

Buff, I'm not the running type . . . . . . . . I walk!

[Waterbuffalo]

:-) You walk right up into becoming the next County Commissioner? Boy your more adventurous than I thought.. <tongue in cheek..>

[karma]

Look again dear Buff, I stated I don't run but I walk. I know my place as it was explained to me many moons ago by a wise man, it's on the outside as I can do more good there and keep being the vocal person I am, don't change. Someone needs to have some common sense out there.

[Chief]

I know exactly what you mean karma. I feel like I'm doing more as a Citizen at Large, than I could as a Councilman or Commissioner at Large....

[Waterbuffalo]

With all of your cooking and chef experience chief, you might be contributing to "Citizens-at-large?"

Aren't we not supposed to be talking about Tom Meilke instead of back and forth posturing? Any one find Tom's campaign website?