Nan Henriksen’s dog, Lucky, doesn’t trust the motives of strangers. The fluffy white dog glowered at me from her lap for the entire hour I sat on Henriksen’s couch. This palpable distrust mirrors the sentiments of local voters in Clark County, who, over a decade ago, felt similarly skeptical about their government’s intentions.
In a pivotal moment for local governance, voters opted to abandon a century-old system where three elected commissioners served dual roles as both legislative and executive branches. This arrangement had allowed for cronyism and unchecked political decisions, prompting a call for reform. In November 2013, the electorate chose a group of 15 freeholders tasked with drafting a home-rule charter—a foundational document aimed at restructuring county governance.
Henriksen, a visionary former mayor of Camas, chaired this group. With the charter now due for its second scheduled five-year review, I visited her living room to discuss its effectiveness and potential changes that the new slate of charter review commissioners might consider. Henriksen had some strong ideas to share.
First and foremost, she emphasized that the charter serves as a framework for government operations rather than a detailed guide on taxes, departmental functions, or spending priorities. Its primary role is to delineate how the elected county council and the professional county manager should carry out their responsibilities.
In her view, the current charter has been effective. “You know, I think it’s pretty darn good,” she remarked. “I hope people who are elected won’t be looking for problems that aren’t there.”
Creating a robust charter in a politically charged environment began with establishing written rules of conduct. Henriksen was approached early on to lead the freeholders but made her participation contingent on implementing a strong code of civility among the group. This commitment paid off, as they largely adhered to these principles, even amidst disagreements over charter language and other contentious issues.
There was a collective understanding that the charter needed to be cost-effective, straightforward, and moderate to gain the support of a majority of voters countywide. Ultimately, the freeholders crafted a charter that diverged from the century-old county commissioner system in three significant ways:
- Separation of Powers: The charter established elected councilors as a distinct legislative branch responsible for setting policy and overseeing the hiring and firing of the county manager. This marked a shift from the previous system, where county commissioners could override the county administrator on daily operational decisions, such as hiring and contract approvals.
- Increased Representation: Transitioning from three full-time commissioners to five part-time councilors allowed for greater representation. Henriksen noted that this change reflects the county’s growing population and hinted that the number of councilors might eventually need to increase to seven.
- Local Initiative and Referendum Powers: For the first time at the county level, the charter granted residents the ability to initiate legislation and referendums, empowering citizens to have a direct say in local governance.
The freeholders worked diligently to finalize their charter by a May 2014 deadline. When presented to voters that November, it garnered 53.35 percent approval, despite facing opposition from entrenched interests.
Now at 83 years old, Henriksen will not be part of the next charter review group, but she has valuable advice for those who will be:
- Be Flexible: Effective committee work hinges on listening and building consensus among diverse viewpoints.
- Avoid Overreach: It’s crucial to recognize that many regulations, such as budgeting, land use, and taxation, fall under state control and cannot be overridden by a county charter.
- Stay Informed: “I hope these candidates also read the charter and applicable laws so they’ll know what can be in the charter. I don’t know how realistic that is,” she cautioned.
Like her dog, Henriksen will be watching closely for any signs of mischief in the governance of Clark County.
