Clark County Council pauses idea to make clerk an appointed post; refers review to Charter Review process

Councilors on Wednesday discussed a proposal to change the Clark County clerk from an elected to an appointed position but did not move to place the measure on the ballot. Superior Court’s presiding judge and multiple members of the public addressed the council during the item listed as “Clark County Clerk.”

Judge Michael Vanderwood (Presiding Judge, Clark County Superior Court) told the council the proposal under consideration would make the clerk an appointed position and that the change is in place in other Washington counties. He said the court supports the change to improve operational alignment between the clerk’s office and the courts, and argued a single administrative structure could reduce duplicated costs and improve document-management efficiency. “The clerk’s office may be…