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Councilors then agreed to send the matter to the governor. But under state law, council members have 60 days to choose a replacement; the governor cannot consider the matter until May 2.

Quiring OBriens replacement will represent District 5, which was created by voters in November. Medvigy told The Columbian: This newly created district, the north county, needs representation. We need a full council with diversity of opinion and thought. We agree, but unless councilors can reach an agreement, District 5 will not be represented until May at the earliest.

Messy, right? And there is another issue adding to the confusion partisan considerations.

Quiring OBrien was elected as a Republican, before voters in November opted to make council seats nonpartisan. Despite that decision, which passed with 64 percent of the vote, it makes sense that all three candidates to replace Quiring OBrien are Republican in order to best follow the will of the voters. Rylander is the state committeeman on the executive board of the Clark County Republican Party.

Prior to Quiring OBriens resignation, the council had a 4-1 Republican majority. That presumably will be the ratio after a replacement is selected.

When Rylanders name was placed in nomination, Lentz the only Democrat on the council said: Its our responsibility to vote according to how we feel we can best represent our constituency. At this moment, Im not able to support this motion. Olson, a Republican, said: I also had some issues with a few questions, really important questions for me with regard to the Board of Health. I dont believe I will be able to support the motion, either.

The rest is here:
In Our View: County's bind shows that democracy can be messy - The Columbian