This site is maintained by David Madore, candidate for Clark County Commissioner.

Thank you! As your new Clark County Commissioner elect, you have my promise that I will listen and faithfully serve to protect, defend, and move our county forward, to do government smarter so our community will prosper at home.

For the latest local election results, see ClarkVotes.com

For the latest state election results, see State Results

Several people have asked me to share how I am voting. Everyone should do their own homework and I respect the differences that people have. For what it’s worth, here are my votes:

Initiative 1185 – YES (election results=YES), this measure was already passed by the voters by large margin in this state multiple times. The majority party in the legislature keeps nullifying it. So the people must pass it again. A YES vote would make it harder to raise taxes. This initiative requires bipartisan support in order for the legislature to raise taxes by requiring a 2/3 majority vote of the house and senate.

Initiative 1240 – YES (election results=YES), a YES vote would provide more choices in public schools by allowing public charter schools. Forty-one states currently allow charter schools. This measure would, for the first time, allow up to 40 charter schools in Washington State as a pilot program. There over 100 charter schools in Oregon that work very well. Public charter schools provide some competition to conventional public schools.

Referendum 74 – Rejected (election results=Approved), a Rejected vote will keep the traditional definition of marriage as one man, one woman. Voting yes on this measure would redefine marriage to include same-sex marriage, so men can marry men and women can marry women. If approved, Washington would be the first state in the nation to redefine marriage to delete the terms “male” “female” and redefine “husband” and “wife” as gender neutral. In Washington, domestic partnerships, which can include same-sex or opposite-sex couples, already have precisely the same legal protections as married couples.

Initiative 502 – NO (election results=YES), a NO vote would leave existing state laws as they are in compliance with federal marijuana substance abuse laws. This measure does not change federal laws which will still apply in Washington State that make it a crime to grow, distributer, or possess marijuana, except for limited medical purposes. Voting yes would legalize marijuana in Washington State for recreational use in clear conflict with federal marijuana substance abuse laws.

Resolution 8221 – YES (election results=YES), a YES vote would make us more fiscally responsible and help our state maintain its current excellent bond rating, which keeps borrowing costs low. It would do this by gradually decreasing the amount of debt that our state can take on from 9% to 8% based on the last 6 years.

Resolution 8223 – Reject (election results=Rejected), a Reject vote ensures that public university funds remain free from private sector investments and influence. A yes vote would allow our state universities to invest public funds into the private sector. Those opposed, argue that opens the door for cronyism (like a Solyndra scandal), increase risks, and also opens the door for conflicts of interests as universities could decide winners and losers from private companies. Those supporting that argue that it would increase flexibility for financial resources. Years ago, in California, billions were lost by public agencies after investing their funds in the private sector.

Advisory votes 1 and 2 on Senate Bill 6635 and House Bill 2590 – I am leaving these two blank. The state house and senate already passed these bills and our advisory vote simply shares an opinion with those that passed them. A previous Tim Eyman initiative that was passed by the people required such advisory votes if the house or senate passed any bills that raised taxes. These two measures fulfill that obligation for two tax increases.

Senate Bill 6635 is a nonbinding advisory vote that simply gives voter feedback to the state Senate on a bill that passed to eliminate a B&O tax deduction for interest earnings on first mortgages of residential properties only for big banks doing business in more than ten states. Voting yes would favor taxing big banks more on mortgage interest income. A no vote would send a message to your state senators that you disagree with how the majority voted on this issue.

House Bill 2590 is a nonbinding advisory vote that simply gives voter feedback to the state House on a bill that passed to increase the taxes on Wholesale Petroleum Products. Voting yes would favor taxing the wholesale petroleum products industry high taxes. A no vote would send a message to your state representative that you disagree with how the majority voted on this issue.

President – Mitt Romney / Paul Ryan – Barack Obama promised a new era of unity, hope and change from partisan division. Obama has abandoned that vision and become one of the most partisan and divisive presidents in history as the PBS FRONTLINE documentary reveals in the video “The Choice 2012”

US Senator: Michael Baumgartner (R), (Results=Lost) see: video debate
US Congress: Jaime Herrera Beutler (R), (Results=Won) see 09:00 at: local forum
Governor: Rob McKenna (R), see: (Results=lost) local debate
Lieutenant Governor: Bill Finkbeiner (R), (Results=Lost) see: COUV.com interview

Secretary of State: Kim Wyman (R) (Results=Won) – supported by both major parties
State Treasurer: Sharon Hanek (R), (Results=Lost) see: COUV.com interview
State Auditor: James Watkins (R), (Results=Won) see: COUV.com interview

Attorney General: Reagan Dunn (R) (Results=Lost)
Commissioner of Public Lands: Clint Didier (R) (Results=Lost)
Insurance Commissioner: John R. Adams (R) (Results=Lost)

State Rep – 14th, Pos 1: Norm Johnson (R) (Results=Won)
State Rep – 14th, Pos 2: Charles Ross (R) (Results=Won)

State Senate – 17th: Don Benton (R) (Results=pending), see: COUV.com interview
State Rep – 17th, Pos 1: Julie Olson (R), (Results=Won) see: primary COUV.com interview
State Rep – 17th, Pos 2: Paul Harris (R), (Results=Won) see: primary COUV.com interview

State Senate – 18th: Ann Rivers (R), (Results=Won) see 30:00 at: local forum
State Rep – 18th, Pos 1: Brandon Vick (R) (Results=Won)
State Rep – 18th, Pos 2: Liz Pike (R), (Results=Won) see: primary COUV.com interview

State Senate – 20th: John E. Braun (R) (Results=Won)
State Rep – 20th, Pos 2: Ed Orcutt (R) (Results=Won)

State Senate – 49th: Eileen Qutub (R), (Results=Lost) see: COUV.com interview
State Rep – 49th, Pos 1: Debbie Peterson (R), (Results=Lost) see: COUV.com interview
State Rep – 49th, Pos 2: Carolyn Crain (R), (Results=Lost) see: COUV.com interview

County Commissioner, Dist. 1: Tom Mielke (R), (Results=Won) see: COUV.com interview
County Commissioner, Dist. 2: David Madore (R), (Results=Won) see: Camas debate

State Supreme Court, Pos. 9: Richard Sanders (Results=Lost)
PUD Commissioner: Jim Malinoski, (Results=Won) see: COUV.com interview

Prop One – C-TRAN Light Rail and Tolls – Reject (election results=Rejected) – Light Rail and tolls would hurt Clark County. For more info, see: Prop1Facts.com
The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Identity Clark County, and even the Columbian urge us to reject this proposition. See: Columbian opposed.

Prop One – Vancouver Parks – Against (election results=Against). I am a strong supporter of parks. But this is really just a general fund tax hike that does not provide better care of our parks and leaves police and fire essential services unaddressed. Even the Columbian says to reject this HERE., see: COUV.com interview

For more info, see:
COUV.com
Clark County Elections Site
To see if your ballot has been received and counted, see MyVote
Here is the list of locations where you can drop off your ballot ON ELECTION DAY ONLY, Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 7 AM until 8 PM. Locations on Nov 6

If you would like a ride to a ballot drop off site or if you would like your ballot delivered to a drop off site, please call 360-601-3056 for help. Every vote counts. Please be sure your vote gets counted.

To see how many ballots have been returned, see: Ballot Returns

The elections office should post the results somewhere between 8:05 and 8:20 Tuesday evening. After that, the totals should be updated each day after 5 pm as ballots continue to arrive in the mail.