CAMAS — Camas Metropolis Council members appointed semiconductor government Martin Elzingre to fill the Ward 2 council seat left vacant in early February after the surprising resignation of Councilor Bonnie Carter.
The council and Mayor Steve Hogan interviewed six council candidates throughout a particular assembly Monday night. After deliberating privately for about 20 minutes, the council voted unanimously in favor of Elzingre, a vp and normal supervisor at Edwards Vacuum, a semiconductor know-how firm.
Elzingre, who joined the council interviews through Zoom, assured council members that, though he has a demanding job and he sits on quite a few boards, together with the Semiconductor Tools and Supplies Worldwide board, he would make time to serve his constituents if appointed to the council.
“If you want something done, give it to a busy person,” Elzingre stated.
Elzingre stated he believes his enterprise administration background will assist information his time on the council.
“I have a very strong background in building teams,” Elzingre instructed the council. “I’ve been successful in building bridges among team members and finding common ground, finding balanced viewpoints that advance goals.”
Elzingre, who moved to Camas about 9 years in the past and ran unsuccessfully in 2021 for the council seat now held by Councilman Tim Hein, stated he isn’t afraid to alter his thoughts when introduced with a compelling set of details.
“I’m open to change, open to new data and open to changing my opinion,” Elzingre stated. “I respect others’ opinions and seek to understand and listen.”
In his software to be appointed to the Ward 2 council seat, Elzingre stated that, though his political expertise is “virtually nonexistent,” his expertise “building teams, managing complex interactions between disparate individuals is vast.”
He added that there isn’t any political agenda behind his determination to use for the vacant council seat.
“Some may apply for this position because they see some imminent looming crisis or perhaps have a specific agenda,” Elzingre stated in his software. “Of course, I recognize and am familiar with the issues facing the city around education, taxes and demographics, but I do not think we are deep in crisis, nor do I have a specific agenda except to do my best to work with existing council members to achieve the best possible results for the city of Camas.”
Requested about a few of the challenges dealing with Camas, Elzingre stated he believes metropolis officers should work out tips on how to develop the town in a sustainable means.
“How do we grow the city in a way that ensures younger families find it attractive to live here and provide the infrastructure necessary to support our way of life across all parts of the city?” Elzingre requested. “I think we need to attract more business to provide a broader tax base. We have to be transparent with our constituents to understand their priorities and fund them appropriately.”
The council additionally heard from retired regulation enforcement government Colene Domenech; retired businessman Gary Gaskill; Alison Livett, a former math and physics educator with faculty board expertise; Jim Roy, the senior vp of Complete Laptop Options, Inc.; and Jill Walters, the previous director of enterprise retention and growth for the Columbia River Financial Improvement Council.
Elzingre will start his council time period April 21 and serve by way of Nov. 5. To retain the council seat, Elzingre might want to win voters’ approval throughout the Aug. 5 main election and Nov. 4 normal election.
