Change even *I* can believe in: County Clerk candidate seeks to abolish office.

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Speaks for itself.

County clerk hopeful seeks to abolish office

He feels position should be appointed, not elected

By Stephanie Rice
Columbian staff writer

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Scott Weber

Republican candidate for Clark County clerk

A Republican challenger to Clark County Clerk Sherry Parker said Wednesday
that he wants to run to abolish the office.

Scott Weber, 38, said the position should be appointed, not elected.

The county clerk oversees a staff of 47 people and has a 2009-10 budget of
$5.9 million. The office is responsible for the records of all Superior Court
matters, including felony criminal cases and certain civil lawsuits, as well as
divorce, juvenile and probate cases. The clerk currently earns $92,364
annually.

To change the position from elected to appointed, the county charter would
have to be changed. Clark County commissioners have already pledged to start
that process next year. First, between 15 to 25 (the number has not been set)
“freeholders” would be elected. Then they would draft a charter and it would
have to be approved by a majority of voters. Six of Washington’s 39 counties are
so-called “home-rule” counties, which mean they have a charter unique to the
basic state template other counties use.

Every currently elected position except the prosecuting attorney and the
judges could be appointed with a change to the county charter, said Chief Deputy
Prosecutor Curt Wyrick.

Weber said Wednesday that, for now, he’s focused on the clerk’s office. He
said he would push for the adoption of a home-rule charter.