Hey Camas. It’s Leslie Lewallen here and I’m running to be your next Camas City Councilor.
Did you know that our beloved Lacamas Lake has become so poisonous that it can’t be used right now? It contains so much bacteria and toxins that it has been classified as “DANGEROUS” by the Clark County Public Health Department. No more swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding. No more canoeing, boating, water skiing, or fishing. Not right now.
At the same time, the City of Camas is paying expensive lawyers in Seattle with local taxpayer money, to figure out how to defend itself against a potential lawsuit under the Federal Clean Water Act. If the pollution is real, the City could be forced to pay millions of dollars in fines. That will come from local taxpayers too. And the effort organized by a Citizens Advisory Board known as the Lacamas Watershed Council has been shut down indefinitely. By the same City of Camas.
They can’t talk about it with us, of course, because it’s “pending litigation.” They can’t tell you what potential risk as a taxpayer you face. Or why they have prevented the Lacamas Shores Bio-filter from being repaired to working condition. They can’t tell you what they’re going to do to clean up Lacamas Lake. Honestly, they won’t tell you anything.
Meanwhile, up on the top of Prune Hill, construction crews are full speed ahead on the finishing touches of a new in-patient drug detox center. Right next door to Dorothy Fox Elementary School. Despite the pleas of 1500 plus residents near the facility to reconsider, Camas City Council allowed an out-of-town, un-elected Hearing Examiner to make the final decision.
But they can’t tell you why. Because they claim they can’t talk about that important issue either. They are currently being sued by another group of citizens for that one. Defending themselves again, with your money. And 2 of the major players in the Detox Debacle, the Senior Planner and Community Development Manager, have also decided to leave their long-time high paying jobs with the City of Camas.
Will we ever know the truth about what goes on behind closed doors at City Hall?
The answer is: Yes We Will
When I become your next City Councilor, I’ll make sure that our Council operates in such a way that we can avoid lawsuits and resignations. A place where we don’t find ourselves being advised by counsel to remain silent.
My promise to you is to help the City make the RIGHT decision, at the RIGHT time, and in the RIGHT way. To avoid any need from holding back the truth from our citizens.
Transparent, Accountable, and Effective Leadership eliminates the need for citizen lawsuits and surprise resignations. This type of leadership RESTORES our government to what it was intended to be- a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Join me at leslieforcamas.com. Together, let’s make Camas the very best it can be.
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