McDaniel to run for county commissioner
Friday, January 4, 2008 6:42 AM PST
By Amy M.E. Fischer / The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleKelso City Councilman Todd McDaniel announced Thursday his plans to run for Cowlitz County Commissioner Kathleen Johnson's seat in November's election.
McDaniel, 38, has been a Cowlitz County sheriff's deputy for 14 years and holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Washington State University. A 1987 Kelso High School graduate, McDaniel was elected to the Kelso council in 2001, sharing the dais with Johnson until she won her county commissioner's post in late 2004.
"It's not anything personally with her --- it's just something I want to do. I think I can do a better job," he said.
McDaniel, a Democrat, said his main issue is updating the county's comprehensive plan, which hasn't been revised since 1976.
"My big thing is to always have a plan, and we don't have a plan," he said. "With the growth that is inevitably coming north from Portland, it is imperative that the county be ahead of the game."
If elected, he would have to resign from the sheriff's department and the Kelso council. Although it would be a "big step" to leave the jobs he enjoys, he doesn't want to pass up this opportunity, he said.
"This is kind of a natural progression as far as my political career," said McDaniel, who has held various volunteer leadership positions in the community, including sports and social service organizations. In 2006, he took a three-week trip to Russia with the American Council of Young Political Leaders to learn about that country's political system.
"I enjoy being around people, discussing ideas," he said. "I look forward to running a good campaign, and I'm excited about the process of getting out and meeting the people and listening to the issues."
McDaniel isn't the only one interested in the First District Commissioner seat. Ariel resident Steve Madsen, the government affairs director for the Clark County Building Industry Association and also a Democrat, declared his candidacy in November.
Thursday, Johnson said she didn't think either man was ready for an administrative job like county commissioner. She's toying with the idea of stepping down when her term ends, but she'd like to see a more experienced pool of candidates waiting in the wings first, Johnson said.
"There's other good candidates out there. I wonder, if I got out of the way, would they reveal themselves?" she asked.
McDaniel, she said, doesn't have the background in accounting she sees as critical to properly do her job.
"He's schooled in law enforcement only," Johnson said. "You really need a broader base than that. ... I want a wider background of anyone who's gonna run my county --- but that's me."
Last month, when Kelso Mayor Don Gregory resigned from the council, he hinted at seeking Johnson's seat if she were to step down.
Johnson mentioned Gregory on Thursday, saying he was probably the "most experienced and would do an excellent job because he's not (still) learning. He's done administrative work."
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