Ley is currently facing charges of allegedly registering to vote and as a candidate in an incorrect voter district

Ken Vance, editor
Clark County Today

John Ley has officially declared his candidacy for the 18th Legislative District, Position 2, in the Washington State Legislature, aiming to succeed outgoing Rep.Greg Cheney. Cheney has declared his candidacy for the State Senate in the 18th District.

Ley was a candidate for the same 18th District representative position in the Aug. 2, 2022 primary election. However, a voter registration challenge was filed against Ley, who had listed a friend’s Battle Ground home as his address even though he was a long-time owner of a home in Camas. The Battle Ground address was within the 18th Legislative District. Due to redistricting, Ley’s Camas home was now within the 17th Legislative District.

Less than three weeks prior to the Aug. 2, 2022 primary, Clark County Superior Court Judge David Gregerson ordered that Ley was an ineligible candidate for the position. In his ruling, Gregerson directed the Clark County Canvassing board, in its certification of the 2022 primary election, to not include votes cast for Ley. The Clark County Auditor’s Office, guided by Auditor Greg Kimsey, did count the Aug. 2, 2022 primary election ballots that were returned with votes for Ley, who was one of three Republicans vying to advance from the top-two primary to the November 2022 general election. Democrat Duncan Camacho advanced as did Cheney, who finished with 315 more votes than Ley (9,003 to 8,688). Cheney then earned the position by defeating Camacho in the November general election.

In November (2023), Ley was charged with allegedly registering to vote and as a candidate in an incorrect voter district. He was arraigned on Nov. 28 (2023) and entered a plea of not guilty. That case is still pending.

“There are several motions that are pending a hearing,’’ said Vancouver Attorney Angus Lee, who represents Ley. “We still need to have a hearing on those.’’ Lee said the hearings have not been scheduled due to ‘’administrative reasons.’’ 

“They haven’t been scheduled but they will be in the near future,’’ said Lee, who offered that he anticipates the case will be dismissed before trial, but that “if it isn’t, we will go to trial and we will prevail.’’

Lee added, “as a citizen, I find John’s decision (to file his candidacy) both courageous and commendable. In order for our Democracy to survive, we should not have candidates chosen by the Executive Branch through the use of prosecution. We shouldn’t prosecute people for engaging in the political process. The people of a district decide who their elective representative will be and only the people, not other branches of government. That’s how a democracy works.’’

Lee has consistently stated that the current charges against Ley are a case of selective prosecution.

“These charges represent a clear case of political, selective, and unconstitutional retaliation against an individual participating in the political process,” Lee told Clark County Today in November (2023).

Historically, only three prosecutions have occurred in Washington state under the same statutes Ley is accused of violating (29A.84.130 and 311), with two of those prosecutions dating back over a century to 1912. Significantly, all three cases were later overturned by the courts.

“The absence of such prosecutions historically is no coincidence,” Lee explains. “County auditors and prosecutors traditionally let the public assess a candidate’s residency qualifications through the campaign process, preserving democracy by allowing voters to make the ultimate decision.”

After the original voter registration challenge was filed against Ley, he rented an apartment in the Hazel Dell neighborhood. He has maintained that rental for nearly two years. That address is located within the boundary of the 18th Legislative District. Ley told Clark County Today that he has voted four times from that address.

On Friday, Clark County Today asked Ley how much time he has actually spent residing at the Hazel Dell address?

“I have been a long-term resident of the 18th Legislative District, maintaining my residence here consistently over the years,’’ he said, avoiding the question. “My commitment to the district is rooted in my life and interactions within the community, affirming my dedication and accountability to the constituents I aim to serve.’’

Clark County Today asked Ley why voters should trust him after his voter registration issues?

“My dedication to the conservative cause in Southwest Washington is longstanding and unwavering,’’ he said Friday. “While my previous campaign was impacted by interference from external parties which skewed the primary results against me, my commitment has never wavered. I have been a resident of the 18th Legislative District for many years and deeply understand the community’s needs and aspirations. During the last election, my campaign was targeted by Greg Kimsey, who misused tens of thousands of taxpayer money to influence and interfere with the election outcome. Kimsey is currently under investigation by the Clark County Ethics Commission. I stand by my record and continue to advocate for true conservative values against a left-wing state government that does not serve our community’s best interests.’’

When reached by Clark County Today Friday, Kimsey said that “when someone files a declaration of candidacy we look at the information contained within the four corners of the document to determine that they are registered to vote in the jurisdiction that they are filing for office.’’

Kimsey added, “certainly any registered voter can file a registration challenge. They would have to provide personal knowledge and evidence to support that challenge. The county auditor has the ability to investigate election registration irregularities. I don’t have any evidence that would cause me to believe that Mr. Ley is not properly registered to vote at that Hazel Dell address.’’

Ley’s candidacy statement

In a statement provided to Clark County Today Friday announcing his candidacy, Ley said that he promises “to bring conservative values and more efficient government practices to the forefront of his representation.’’

The statement added that Ley “is dedicated to questioning the effectiveness of government spending and decisions that impact the people of the 18th Legislative District.’’

With a firm stance against ineffective infrastructure projects like the Columbia River Crossing and the Interstate Bridge Replacement, Ley argues, “replacing an over-congested 3-lane bridge with another 3-lane bridge is ridiculous.” 

Ley said his commitment extends to opposing tolling “which disproportionately affects low and middle-income families and small businesses, thereby clogging other crucial traffic arteries and diminishing the quality of life in local communities.’’

Ley said he “firmly believes in fiscal responsibility and direct action that benefits the community directly.’’ He points to the “excessive $2 billion earmarked for a 3-mile MAX light rail extension, which has been repeatedly rejected by Clark County voters.’’

Ley advocates for “a more cost-effective solution using C-TRAN buses that would save billions and better serve the community’s needs’’ and that he “supports restoring common-sense laws and regulations that protect and empower citizens, such as reasonable police pursuit laws and parental notification requirements for schools, which have been directly supported by voter initiatives.’’

If elected, Ley says he will:

1. Champion Tax Relief and Fiscal Responsibility: That he supports initiatives to repeal hidden gas taxes and the capital gains tax, and protect income by allowing opt-outs from the state’s long-term care program. He also proposes significant property tax relief by exempting the first $250,000 of a home’s value from taxation.
2. Restore Law and Order: With rising concerns over crime rates and drug trafficking, particularly the fentanyl crisis, he is committed to empowering law enforcement and revising the judicial system’s lenient policies to ensure community safety.
3. Enhance Infrastructure Without Wasteful Spending: He advocates for practical and necessary infrastructure improvements, like building additional Columbia River bridges to alleviate traffic congestion and support freight mobility, without resorting to costly tolls or unpopular light rail extensions.

The statement concluded with, “John Ley is poised to ensure that the voices of the 18th Legislative District are heard loud and clear in Olympia, pushing back against special interests and advocating for policies that genuinely benefit the citizens. It’s time for leadership that puts the community first, ensuring a brighter, more secure future for every resident of the district.’’

Editor’s note: John Ley is a former staff reporter for Clark County Today. He resigned in April 2022 prior to filing as a legislative candidate. He has been a regular, unpaid contributor of content, focusing primarily on transportation issues in the region.