The current term for District 5 ends Dec. 31, 2022, and the seat will be open for election later this year
Battle Ground resident Dick Rylander was sworn in to the District 5 seat on the Clark County Council Tuesday morning. County Clerk Scott Weber presided over the swearing-in ceremony, after which Rylander took his seat on the council for its scheduled meeting.
“I look forward to serving the citizens of Clark County in total and certainly in District 5,’’ Rylander said in a brief comment after taking the oath of office. “I want you to know my door is always open. I’m up late and up early and I will work as hard as possible to do everything I can to make Clark county a great place for families to raise and for jobs to be and for people to live.’’
Rylander was appointed to the council on April 28 by Gov. Jay Inslee. He was one of three area residents nominated by County Chair Karen Dill Bowerman to replace former Councilor Eileen Quiring-O’Brien, who resigned March 1.
After the three candidates, which included Peter Silliman and Thomas Schenk, were interviewed on March 29, Councilor Gary Medvigy and Bowerman voted to appoint Rylander but Councilors Temple Lentz and Julie Olson abstained. Because of the deadlock, the decision was then forwarded to the governor to choose between the three nominated candidates.
“The public sets high professional and ethical standards for those in public office, and if we want to maintain its trust and support, we must always meet or exceed those standards,” Gov. Inslee wrote in the appointment letter. “We must serve to the highest of ethical principles, place the public’s interest above any personal or private interests, and always ensure state resources are efficiently used for public purposes only.”
“Thank you for your willingness to serve the people of Washington,” Inslee added.
Rylander, since January 2014, has served as president of BioPharmaceutical Strategies LLC, and since September 2016, has volunteered as executive in residence at Oregon Health and Science University to assist researchers, physicians and faculty in assessing the commercialization potential for technologies including diagnostics, devices, drugs and digital products. Rylander earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from California State University Sacramento and a Master of Business Administration from City University of Seattle.
Rylander has served on the Clark County Clean Water Commission and as a board member on the Meadow Glade Neighborhood Association.
The current term for District 5 ends Dec. 31, 2022, and the seat will be open for election later this year.
Clark Co. WA Communications provided information for this report.
