City of Vancouver

Temple Lentz is running unopposed for Port of Vancouver, Commissioner, District 3. We are confident Lentz is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Anne McEnerny-Ogle was elected to the Vancouver City Council in 2013 and subsequently elected mayor in 2018, making her the first woman to hold the position in the city's history.

She has a long record of service to community causes, including Daybreak Youth Services and the Assistance League. While serving on the council, McEnerny-Ogle advocated for improving transportation options through development grants and enhancing green spaces, such as the Shumway Neighborhood Park. As mayor, she helped coordinate the city's COVID-19 response, including organizing a food bank and vaccination clinic at Tower Mall. She has also supported the inclusive Heights District housing project.

McEnery-Ogle's re-election campaign focuses on continuing improvements to public resources, including housing and public safety. She highlights her support for affordable housing and partnering with nonprofits to provide shelters. Her approach to public safety is primarily centered on hiring new emergency responders and utilizing advanced technology, such as drones. We would like to see her public safety platform expand to include more resources, such as mental health professionals and non-emergency responders, that support our most vulnerable residents.

We recommend McEnerny-Ogle for another term as Mayor of Vancouver.

Kim Harless is running for re-election to Vancouver City Council, Position 1. Professionally, Harless works in community development at the non-profit NAYA Family Center, which sustains traditions and provides mutual support for Native Americans in the Portland metro area. 

Harless has spent the last four years helping to provide solutions for homeownership, supporting policies and funding to move people out of homelessness, and elevating the voices of community members who are often left out of decision-making processes. Harless is running again to ensure Vancouver’s climate policy is implemented effectively and with urgency, and includes Indigenous knowledge and wisdom. She wants every policy to be fair, every process transparent, and every neighborhood to be heard. She seeks to provide more homeownership opportunities, strengthen tenant protections, and move from crisis to solutions.

Kim Harless has earned your vote for re-election to the Vancouver City Council, Position 1.

Incumbent Erik Paulsen was unanimously appointed to the Vancouver City Council in 2019. He served for several years on the Vancouver Planning Commission, including five years as its chair, prior to his appointment. He also served as a member of the Vancouver Affordable Housing Task Force and Southwest Clean Air Agency.

Noting that housing affordability is a critical issue as demand outpaces supply, Paulsen believes the city should assist with strategies to provide housing at all income levels. He also supports investing in infrastructure to make Vancouver safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Paulsen is the best choice for Vancouver City Council, Position 2.

Diana Perez is running to serve a second term in Position 3 on the Vancouver City Council. Perez is a first-generation college graduate and moved to the Pacific Northwest to start her career as a wildlife biologist.

Perez is running a progressive re-election campaign focused on combating homelessness. She takes a compassionate approach to the issue, prioritizing prevention through supportive housing and stability through mixed-income communities. Stable housing benefits the community at large when our neighbors feel safe and secure and have access to affordable housing options. Perez is also a proponent of encouraging small and micro businesses to operate in Vancouver, while making sure they have the resources to pay employees a living wage.

If re-elected, Diana Perez will continue to be a champion for progressive values on the Vancouver City Council. She has earned your vote to serve another term in Position 3.

Lorri Sibley is running against Jennifer Heine-Withee for Battle Ground School District, Director District No. 1. We are confident Sibley is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.

Wendy Smith is running for re-election for Vancouver School Board Director, Position 3. Smith is a teacher and holds a Master's Degree in Education. She is also a product of the Vancouver schools and has children in the district.

In 2020, Smith expressed support for retiring the controversial Columbia River High School mascot after students called it offensive and racist. Her re-election campaign continues to focus on equity and civic engagement, championing student action and district programs aimed at inclusivity. In her time on the board, Smith has supported family resource centers, dual language programs, career and technical education programs, and more.

We recommend Wendy Smith for Vancouver School Board Director, Position 3, so she can continue to be an advocate for all students.

Sandra Zavala-Ortega is running unopposed for Vancouver District, Director Position No. 2. We are confident Zavala-Ortega is the best choice in this race based on endorsements from our partners and trusted community leaders. While we have not been able to conduct our standard independent research on this race, we encourage you to visit their website, social media, or voters’ pamphlet statement to learn more.