Pridemore named Vice Chair of Ways & Means

In his third year in the Washington State Legislature, Sen. Craig Pridemore (D-49th) has been named vice chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Pridemore succeeds Cathlamet Democrat Mark Doumit, who resigned from the Senate to enter the private sector.

The Ways & Means Committee is responsible for developing the Senate’s input to the state budget process and for negotiating with the Governor’s Office and the House of Representatives to finalize the budget. It is regarded as the most influential of the Senate’s standing committees. Pridemore will work under Ways & Means chair Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-11th).

Pridemore has been a member of the committee since his election to the Senate in 2004. He also serves as chair of the Select Committee on Pension Policy. Pridemore was also renamed to serve on the Senate’s Water Energy & Environment Committee and on the Governmental Operations & Elections Committee. His work on the WEE Committee led to his selection as Environmental Legislator of the Year for 2006.

Prior to entering elected office in 1999, Pridemore served as finance manager for the Clark County Department of Public Works and had previously worked as administrator for a certified public accounting firm in Los Angeles. Though not an accountant himself, Pridemore attributed his selection as vice chair to his professional experience. Pridemore is a former Clark County commissioner.

The Democratic caucus made its committee assignments for the 2007-2008 legislative sessions during a caucus retreat in Olympia on Saturday.

Red Cross emergency services director
Scott Clemetson gets rare civilian award

Scott Clemetson, left, given one of only two U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion awards to civilians in the past six years by Lt. Col. Lester Moore last week, Clemetson was sighted for his work with families of service men and women.

In recognition of the training he provides Army families on how to use Red Cross services, Scott Clemetson, American Red Cross emergency services director, received the Company Coin from Lt. Col. Lester C. Moore, battalion commander, U.S. Army Portland Recruiting Battalion. Moore made the presentation at the Southwest Washington chapter of the American Red Cross last week.

The coin signifies the appreciation of the battalion for Clemetson’s work with the families of those serving in the armed forces. Clemetson has been active in training families on how to use Red Cross assistance and other community assistance available to service member families.

Clemetson, now acknowledged as being one of the battalion's own, is only one of two civilians whom Col. Moore has recognized with the Company Coin in the past half-dozen years. The Portland Recruiting Battalion represents the Army in Southern Washington, Northern California, Oregon, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Marshall Islands.

Armed Forces Emergency Services is a Red Cross program that provides help for military families. The Red Cross relays urgent messages to active duty military forces, including notifications of births, deaths and serious illnesses. This service is at no cost to military personnel or their families. Other assistance consists of financial aid and verifying information contained in requests for emergency leave.

Clemetson has been with the Red Cross Southwest Washington chapter for approximately 16 months. He previously worked with the YMCA as a youth sports coordinator.

Benton introduces legislation to preserve
one-percent cap on property tax increases

State Sen. Don Benton (R-17th) says that he will introduce new legislation today to preserve the Initiative 747 cap on property taxes. Today is the first day legislators may pre-file bills for the 2007 session.

According to Benton: “I-747 was thrown out by a judge on a technicality. This is an insult to Washington voters who approved the measure by 58 percent in 2001. My bill keeps the initiative’s 1 percent cap in place, even if the state loses its appeal to reinstate Initiative 747.”

I-747 prevents local governments from increasing property tax collections by more than 1 percent over the prior year without a vote of the people.

Vancouver Youth Theatre
presenting Christmas Madrigal

The Vancouver Youth Theatre presents Christmas Madrigal, an “old-fashioned Christmas musical complete with royalty, who say nay, knights, who say Ni, and many princesses,” according to director and impresario Jim Rourk.

The production is in the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1220 NE 68th Street. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the curtain rises at 7 p.m. Show dates are Thursday, Dec. 7, through Saturday, Dec. 9. Tickets are $6, or $15 for catered seating. Desserts and beverages will be available a la carte. Tickets can be obtained at Unraveled Yarns, 204 E. McLoughlin Boulevard, or by calling 993-5835.

News brief

Auditions for the Junior Symphony of Vancouver’s March concert are Thursday, Dec. 7,  reports junior symphony director Timoteus Racz. Auditions are by appointment only. For further information, call 696-4084, extension 5.

Calendar

The Vancouver City Council meets in a workshop session at 4 p.m. today. On the agenda is a report from Mark Brown regarding the city’s 2007 legislative priorities, and also a discussion of the city’s 2006 growth management plan. ■ During its regular session that convenes at 7 p.m. this evening the Vancouver City Council will consider a series of small annexations. ■ Clark County commissioners face a full agenda Tuesday, Dec. 5, beginning at 10 a.m. with hearings on the biennial budget. Budget hearings will also continue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and again at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6. ■ The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council meets in regular session at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the Public Service center.

 

Monday, Dec. 3 headlines

Historical Yule coming to Fort Vancouver--Columbian, Dean Baker

Vancouver Voice in its third edition as an alternative news choice--Oregonian

Tree Wisemans Christmas tree farm awaiting, Jose Paul Corona

Young professionals create network-Columbian, Courtney Sherwood

Community nonprofits get SWIFT grant boosts, Columbian, Tom Vogt

Rangers and geologists telling colossal story of Columbia River ice age past--Columbian, Katie Durbin

Benton and Carlson among those trying out for county lobbyist job--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

LED lights economical way to brighten holidays--Columbian, Bruce Carter

Ice Age Columbia River floods taking center state--Columbian Kathie Durbin

John Bolton resigns as U.N. Ambassador--Washington Post, Peter Baker and William Branigin

Katie Couric "adjusting" in role as CBS news anchor--Washington Post, Howard Kurtz

Early 'maybe' from Barack Obama jolts '08 field of Democrats

News Analysis: Will Bush change on Iraq--New York Times, David E. Sanger

Anti-U.S. Venezuelan Chavez wins presidential election by wide margin--USA TODAY, AP