> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.stonewallnews.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Clark County - Political Candidate Responses - URL: https://www.stonewallnews.net/clark-county-political-candidate-responses/ - Published: 2026-09-01T17:52:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-23T20:59:09.000Z - Author: Stonewall News Northwest - Tags: #table-of-content, Vancouver, South Washington, Politics *Stonewall News Northwest* reached out to **68** candidates in **30** state legislative district races in **5** Washington State counties. We posed six questions gauging their positions on equality, inclusivity, instilling civility in discourse and bridging community divides. Many candidates shied away from these questions, but others stepped up. In Clark County, four candidates responded out of 22 contacted. Their full questionnaire responses are below. See other counties [here](https://www.stonewallnews.net/political-candidate-survey-overview/). --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/Clark.png) **Clark County, WA** | Population (2020): 503,311 | Area: 656 square miles **Website**: [https://clark.wa.gov/](https://clark.wa.gov/?ref=stonewallnews.net) **Income**: The median income for a household in the county was $58,262 and the median income for a family was $67,352\. Males had a median income of $52,160 versus $38,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,828\. About 7.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over. **Racial Makeup**: The racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) of the county was 75.5% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.8% Asian, 5.0% from some other race, and 10.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.7% of the population. **Age Distribution**: Of the residents, 23.3% were under the age of 18, 5.6% were under 5, and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males. 86.5% of residents lived in urban areas and 13.5% lived in rural areas. **Politics**: In presidential elections, Clark County leans Democratic having voted for the party in every presidential election since 2008\. This is in contrast to the rest of Southwest Washington, which leans Republican. In 2024, the county swung leftward by 2%, despite Washington and the country swinging rightward. In Congress, the county lies in Washington's 3rd congressional district. Before 2008, Clark County was a swing county having voted for the winner in every single election between 1900 and 2004 with the exception of 1916, 1956, 1968, and 1988. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/Clark-County-1.png) --- ### **Randi Knott -** Candidate for Clark County Legislative District 18, State Representative Position 1 Website: [https://www.electrandi.com/](https://www.electrandi.com/?ref=stonewallnews.net) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/Ranid-Knott-2-1.jpg) **1\. In one paragraph, please share your professional qualifications for the position you are seeking.** > First, thank you, Mike, and Stonewall News for the opportunity to introduce myself to your readers and share a little about the incredible momentum behind our campaign. I have spent more than 25 years working in and around government, helping communities turn public policy into real results for everyday people. My career has taken me across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, working on issues including housing, land use, public safety, disaster response, budgets, and community services. I retired as Government Affairs Director for the City of Sacramento and have my Masters in public policy and public administration. I have also owned small businesses, served for more than a decade on the CA State Council Developmental Disabilities, and currently serve on the Clark County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board. I know how government works, but more importantly, I understand who it is supposed to work for. I am running to bring that experience to Olympia and make sure the decisions we make actually improve people's lives here at home. **2\. Please provide your previous experience, if any, in working with LGBTQIA+ people, LGBTQIA+ youth, LGBTQIA+ families and LGBTQIA+ communities.** > Being an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community is personal for me. I am the proud mother of a transgender daughter who is an activist in the queer community. Through her, I have had the privilege of getting to know and love LGBTQIA+ young people and families and seeing the joy that comes when someone has the freedom and support to simply be themselves. I have also seen how painful it is when someone you love is treated as a political issue instead of a whole person. Through my public policy and campaign work, I have built relationships with LGBTQIA+ advocates and organizations, and I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the Washington Stonewall Democrats and proud to endorse the No Hate in Washington State campaign. Loving a transgender child does not give me the lived experience of being an LGBTQIA+ person, and I would never pretend that it does. What it has taught me is the importance of listening to people about their own lives and believing them when they tell us how the systems we create affect them. That is something I will carry with me to Olympia. **3\. How would you bridge divides to bring people together for important common causes under the larger umbrella of good governance.** > This is especially important in a district like the 18th, where our neighbors hold a wide range of political beliefs. I have spent my career bringing people with very different priorities to the same table, and I have learned that most of us have far more in common than our national politics would have us believe. We want our families to be safe, our kids to have opportunities, our communities to thrive, and our government to use our money responsibly and actually work. Finding those shared values is where bridge-building begins. It requires listening to understand, not simply waiting for your turn to speak. It also means being intentional about who is at the table. Policies can look perfectly reasonable on paper and still fail to serve people as intended when legislators don't take the time to understand the perspectives of people from different backgrounds. LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, immigrants, low-income families, and other communities are still navigating systems that were not designed with them in mind. Part of the solution is ensuring they are part of the conversation when those systems are being created and implemented. I will work with Republicans, Democrats, independents, businesses, labor, advocates, and community organizations wherever there is a good-faith opportunity to solve a problem. We can disagree about budgets, taxes, land use, or how best to deliver a service and still find a way to bring people together without negotiating anyone's dignity or rights. As State Representative, I promise to listen broadly, bring the people most affected to the table, and measure success by the real impact on people's lives. **4\. How would you address the rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence?** > Violence is not permissible for anyone, anytime. Full stop. We are all human beings, and even when we disagree, every person has the right to live safely and free from threats, harassment, and violence. > Elected leaders have a particular responsibility to model that. Words matter, and we cannot pretend rhetoric and violence exist in completely separate worlds. When people with power repeatedly portray LGBTQIA+ people, and particularly transgender people, as something to fear, it makes it easier for others to treat them as less deserving of dignity and safety. I will always speak out against that kind of rhetoric while supporting strong protections against discrimination, harassment, threats, and violence. > At the same time, public safety has not always felt equally safe or accessible to every community. LGBTQIA+ people and other marginalized communities have experienced very real historical harm and distrust involving institutions, including law enforcement. Washington has made great strides, and there is still much restorative work to be done so that every person can build the trust needed to ask for help. That means listening to the communities most affected, understanding where systems are failing them, and building public safety policies that protect everyone. I also support protections for patients, providers, and staff at reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare facilities from threats, harassment, intimidation, and violence. **5\. What specific policies or protections would you advocate for to ensure LGBTQIA+ people in your community have equal access to healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities? If you would not support protections, please state which ones and why, and detail what concrete alternatives you would implement to guarantee fair and equal treatment for all residents in these areas.** > The State is responsible for building and maintaining systems that allow all people to live healthy, stable, and safe lives. Legislators have a responsibility to pay attention when those systems are not working equally for everyone. LGBTQIA+ people are one of many marginalized communities that face additional barriers in healthcare, housing, and employment, and other areas and their experiences need to be part of how we design and evaluate policy. > I am grateful to live here in Washington where, compared to other states, protections are strong. The strength of those protections has also made Washington a destination for people moving from less supportive states. We need to plan ahead for that growth and ensure our systems are scalable, adequately resourced, and prepared to meet the needs of people who come here seeking safety and stability. In the current political climate, where queer and transgender people are being used as political bargaining chips, we must also hold the line and protect what we have already fought for. This November, voters have the opportunity to do exactly that by voting NO on Initiatives 001 and 638. > I will defend Washington's civil rights protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. In healthcare, I support safe, confidential, affordable care without discrimination, including access to age-appropriate, evidence-based gender-affirming healthcare. Healthcare decisions belong with patients, families when appropriate, and qualified medical providers, not politicians. In housing, I will defend fair housing protections while addressing the affordability and supply crisis that is hurting families throughout the 18th District and can be particularly destabilizing for people already vulnerable to discrimination. In employment, I support strong protections against discrimination and retaliation alongside fair wages, safe workplaces, collective bargaining rights, and meaningful enforcement. > Ultimately, these are connected issues. Healthcare should be accessible. Housing should be attainable. Work should provide dignity and opportunity. And nobody should have to hide who they are to get a job, rent a home, see a doctor, or participate fully in their community. I have taken the Patients over Profits Pledge and support Whole Washington to move towards universal healthcare. **6\. What would you say directly to your own LGBTQA+ community?** > I see you. I value you. And I will fight alongside you. > I know what it feels like to hear someone you love discussed as a political "issue" when you know them as the whole, incredible human being that they are. But this is not my story to center. One of the most important lessons I have learned throughout my career is that good policy starts by listening to the people who actually have to live with it. LGBTQIA+ people do not need elected officials speaking for them. You need elected officials who will listen to you, invite you into the rooms where decisions are being made, take your experiences seriously, and act. > That is the kind of representative I intend to be. If a system isn't working for you, I want to understand why. If a policy will affect your family, I want your voice at the table before the decision is made, not afterward. I will stand against efforts to scapegoat transgender people, queer youth, or LGBTQIA+ families, and I will defend your ability to access healthcare, find housing, work, learn, love, raise a family, and participate fully in your community. --- ### **John Zingdale -** Candidate for Clark County Councilor District 2, Position 2 Website: [https://www.zingaleforclarkcounty.com/](https://www.zingaleforclarkcounty.com/?ref=stonewallnews.net) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/John-Zingale-2-1.jpg) John Zingdale **1\. In one paragraph, please share your professional qualifications for the position you are seeking.** > I’ve been a middle school History teacher for over 13 years. Over the years, I have won state & national awards for my innovation and dedication to teaching, including being the current 2026 Southwest Washington Teacher of the year, the Washington State History TOY (Teacher of the Year), the SAR National Middle School History TOY, and the Vancouver PTSA TOY. I've presented at local and national educational conferences, led student civics field trips, and served on several educational boards. I am also currently serving on the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. I have a Master’s in Teaching from the University of Portland and a Bachelor’s in History from Northern Illinois University. Before teaching, I began my work, and union career, in the grocery retail business. I started a 16+ year career at age 15 bagging groceries in Illinois for Jewel-Osco. During that time, I worked my way up the company ladder from bagger, to cashier, to grocery manager, etc., to become one of the youngest Assistant Store Directors in the chain before transferring and moving to the Pacific Northwest. I grew up working class and believe that these experiences will help make me a better county councelor. **2\. Please provide your previous experience, if any, in working with LGBTQIA+ people, LGBTQIA+ youth, LGBTQIA+ families and LGBTQIA+ communities.** > As a teacher, I've been that trusted adult for many young people without support from their families, I have supported many students as a staunch LGBTQ+ ally and advocate. Many times I have been the first person that a young person has come out to because they feel safe in my classroom. I help instill a sense of pride in and acceptance of themselves as they are, without shame. I help them navigate systems of support and always safeguard their trust in me. It’s been my career mission to increase civic engagement in our youth, and I will continue to amplify their concerns, especially when it comes to LGBTQIA dignity and rights, bodily autonomy. **3\. How would you bridge divides to bring people together for important common causes under the larger umbrella of good governance.** > In my many years of working in the grocery retail business and as a teacher I had to work with every single person that walked through my door. That means making sure everyone feels heard and that they have a place to voice their concerns. I strive to teach civil civic engagement everyday in my classroom and I will bring that same work ethic, passion, and commitment to my work on the council. Making sure that our essential services are taken care of, that our parks are care for, and that our infrastructure is maintained and built out shouldn’t be partisan and I will work to bring our community together on those issues. **4\. How would you address the rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence?** > Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric can not be tolerated. Hate has no place in our community and society, unfortunately many people have been emboldened by the rhetoric that they see and hear on TV and social media. We must be steadfast in standing up for our LGBTQ community. I will make sure that I am doing that on the record and out in our community. **5\. What specific policies or protections would you advocate for to ensure LGBTQIA+ people in your community have equal access to healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities? If you would not support protections, please state which ones and why, and detail what concrete alternatives you would implement to guarantee fair and equal treatment for all residents in these areas.** > I want to help advocate for the policies and protections people in the LGBTQA+ community need. I need to hear what the needs are from organizations like yours. I don’t want to make a assumptions on the needs of a community without hearing directly from that community and what policies you need and support. I look to you to help me learn and be a better councelor. **6\. What would you say directly to your own LGBTQA+ community?** > I see you and you matter. My door is always open and my phone is on to take your call. I want you make sure you have a seat at the table on matters of our county. You must have your voice heard, and I want to ensure that the council is being proactive in our engagement with you. --- ### **Troy McCoy -** Candidate for Clark County Councilor District 5 Website: [https://www.votetroymccoy.com/](https://www.votetroymccoy.com/?ref=stonewallnews.net) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/Troy-McCoy-3-1.jpg) Troy McCoy **1\. In one paragraph, please share your professional qualifications for the position you are seeking.** > I have 9 years of public service, starting with the Battle Ground School Board and the last 5 years on the Battle Ground city council. I served as mayor 2023-2025\. I have run my small businesses in Battle Ground for over 20 years and have strong connections to my local community **2\. Please provide your previous experience, if any, in working with LGBTQIA+ people, LGBTQIA+ youth, LGBTQIA+ families and LGBTQIA+ communities.** > As a school board member, I unsuccessfully fought the removal of the sex ed curriculum from Battle Ground schools. During that community discussion I learned a lot about the struggles of our LGBTQIA+ youth in schools and I continue to support them however I can. **3\. How would you bridge divides to bring people together for important common causes under the larger umbrella of good governance.** > My track record, especially as mayor speaks to this. Staying away from partisan politics and simply serving the people generally breaks through the noise that infests current politics. Treating everyone with the respect they deserve, especially those you disagree with is key to building the trust and respect needed to be an effective leader. **4\. How would you address the rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence?** > We cannot be shy about this worrying trend. Call out injustice when we see it. We cannot allow citizens to dehumanize or trample the rights afforded to all citizens. **5\. What specific policies or protections would you advocate for to ensure LGBTQIA+ people in your community have equal access to healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities? If you would not support protections, please state which ones and why, and detail what concrete alternatives you would implement to guarantee fair and equal treatment for all residents in these areas.** > As a protected class, this is mandated by state law. I take my oaths seriously and do not endorse any weakening of the laws protecting our marginalized communities. **6\. What would you say directly to your own LGBTQA+ community?** > To my fellow Battle Ground citizens especially considering current events I would simply say: I see you, I love you and you are welcome here. --- ### **Ben Christly -** Candidate for Clark County Legislative District 17, State Representative Position 1 Email: electbenchristly@gmail.com ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/Ben-Christly-2-1.JPG) Ben Christly **1\. In one paragraph, please share your professional qualifications for the position you are seeking.** > I bring 24 years of experience working in healthcare, including my career as a registered nurse in emergency and critical care settings, VA care management, and currently as a flight nurse providing critical-care transport. My professional experience has taught me how to make sound decisions under pressure, work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds, and advocate for individuals and families navigating complex systems. I am also a U.S. Navy veteran, former small-business owner, endurance coach, youth football coach, and Clark County Charter Review Commissioner. Together, these experiences have given me a practical understanding of leadership, public service, organizational accountability, and the challenges facing working families and our communities. I believe this combination of healthcare, leadership, military, business, and community experience prepares me to serve effectively. **2\. Please provide your previous experience, if any, in working with LGBTQIA+ people, LGBTQIA+ youth, LGBTQIA+ families and LGBTQIA+ communities.** > My experience working with LGBTQIA+ people and families has primarily come through my 24 years in healthcare, community involvement, and working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. As a registered nurse and flight nurse, I have cared for patients and families from diverse communities, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, with an emphasis on providing respectful, compassionate, and nonjudgmental care. I have also worked with youth and families through coaching and community service, including youth athletics and Meals on Wheels. These experiences have reinforced for me the importance of creating environments where young people and families feel safe, respected, and included. I do not claim to have a specialized professional background specifically focused on LGBTQIA+ services. However, I believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity, have their identity respected, and have equitable access to healthcare, education, and community resources. As a healthcare professional, veteran, coach, and community leader, I have seen firsthand how important it is to meet people where they are and ensure that they are treated fairly and with respect. **3\. How would you bridge divides to bring people together for important common causes under the larger umbrella of good governance.** > I believe good governance starts with recognizing that people can disagree strongly on policy while still sharing many of the same goals: safe communities, good schools, a strong economy, affordable healthcare, and a government that is accountable and works for the people it serves. My approach would be to focus on those shared priorities, listen to people who disagree with me, and work to separate political differences from areas where practical solutions are possible. My experience in healthcare, the military, small business, coaching, and local government has taught me that effective teams do not require everyone to think alike; they require people to listen, communicate honestly, and remain focused on the mission. I would bring that same approach to public office by building relationships across political and community lines, relying on evidence rather than ideology. I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable, and that restoring trust in government requires demonstrating that progress is possible when we put good governance and the public interest ahead of partisan politics. **4\. How would you address the rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence?** > I would address the rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence by being clear that disagreement over policy or personal beliefs never justifies harassment, intimidation, or violence. As a public servant, I would speak out against dehumanizing rhetoric, support strong enforcement of laws against threats and violence, and work to ensure that LGBTQIA+ people can live, work, attend school, and participate in their communities safely and without discrimination. I also believe leadership matters in setting the tone of public discourse. We can have legitimate disagreements about policy while still treating one another with dignity and respect. Strong communities are built when people look out for one another rather than target those who are different. I would work to build inclusive communities, support resources for those experiencing harassment or violence, and use the office I hold to lower the temperature of public discourse rather than contribute to division. **5\. What specific policies or protections would you advocate for to ensure LGBTQIA+ people in your community have equal access to healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities? If you would not support protections, please state which ones and why, and detail what concrete alternatives you would implement to guarantee fair and equal treatment for all residents in these areas.** > Washington already has strong nondiscrimination protections in employment, housing, and healthcare, and I support those protections fully and would defend them against any effort to weaken them. I would also support continuing to ensure that healthcare coverage, including gender-affirming care when medically appropriate, is not unfairly denied or treated differently from other medically necessary care. Equal access is not special treatment; it is simply ensuring that the law applies to everyone equally. My goal would be to protect those existing rights, ensure they are consistently enforced, and make sure every Washington resident has the same opportunity to work, find housing, access healthcare, and participate fully in their community. **6\. What would you say directly to your own LGBTQA+ community?** > You deserve a representative who sees you, values you, and will fight for your equal place in this community, not just during election season, but always. I'm running because I believe in a Washington where everyone, regardless of who they are or who they love, can build a stable life, raise a family, and be treated with dignity and respect. I'm grateful for this community, and I'm committed to earning your trust and standing with you. --- ### **Kim Harless -** Candidate for Clark County Legislative District 49, State Representative Position 1 Website: [https://votekimharless.com/](https://votekimharless.com/?ref=stonewallnews.net) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d5/95/d595da8d-ecfc-467e-9765-406e3e9a8989/content/images/2026/09/Vancouver---Kim-Harless-1.JPG) Kim Harless Kim Harless did not respond to this questionnaire, but she did respond to the 2025 questionnaire that can be found here (starting on page 46): [https://issuu.com/stratusmedia/docs/stonewall\_october\_2025](https://issuu.com/stratusmedia/docs/stonewall%5Foctober%5F2025?ref=stonewallnews.net) She also provided a May 2026 interview with Stonewall News Northwest that can be found here: --- ### Candidates who did not respond: Glen Yung, Bryan Shull, Michelle Belkot, Peter Silliman, Kevin Waters, Diana H. Perez, David Stuebe, Stephanie McClintock, Deken Letinich, John Ley, Peter Abbarno, Andy Zahn, Ed Orcutt, Evan Jones, Sarah Mittelman, Monica Jurado Stonier, Derek Thompson ---