EDITORIAL: Yung good for Clark County Council Dist. 1; challengers impressUpdated 2 days ago

Voters in Clark County Council District 1 face a difficult choice in next month's primary election. Four candidates have entered the race, and all four have strong knowledge of the issues while focusing on different priorities.

After meeting with the candidates and studying their platforms, members of The Columbian's Editorial Board agree on recommending incumbent Glen Yung in the Aug. 4 primary. But they disagree on who else to recommend for the nonpartisan position, recognizing that Dusti Arab, Lukas Bardue and Bryan Shull all are strong candidates and would make effective councilors.

Typically, the Editorial Board recommends two candidates in primary elections, because the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election. Yet while the difficulty of making a choice in this race is unusual, our suggestion that voters examine the candidates remains staunch.

Yung has been an effective councilor during his first term. He works to listen and fully understand the issues, and he generally stakes out a centrist position on difficult issues.

In one example, he led the council in passing and then extending a moratorium on development applications for mobile and manufactured home parks. "This is the battle of housing affordability at the very front line," he said.

Regarding Clark County's comprehensive plan for future growth, Yung acknowledges that the adopted blueprint is imperfect. But he also notes that the issue is "more checking off the boxes of state requirement needs than planning," explaining to the Editorial Board the limits that are placed on county councilors.

While Yung deserves a spot in the general election, choosing his challenger is difficult.

Arab is an urban farmer who describes herself as a "working-class progressive." She told the Editorial Board that she was motivated to run because of her opposition to the comprehensive plan, specifically that it calls for the development of some farmland over the next 20 years.

Arab mentions a need to ease regulations on accessory dwelling units as a way to address a housing shortage. She also demonstrates a strong awareness of policy by mentioning that a legislative proposal would allow taxes on short-term rentals as a potential revenue source for the county.

Bardue, who owns a supply chain business, mentions the county's zoning and permitting process among his top priorities. He also takes issue with the approved comprehensive plan, stressing Clark County's need to "grow up, not grow out."

Bardue notes that the state is not using the Larch Corrections Center or the Clark County Residential Treatment Facility, although "we have paid for these." And he stresses the need to "measure what is working" when it comes to reducing homelessness.

Shull, who owns Trap Door Brewing and has broad business experience, also criticizes the county's permitting process and notes that it inhibits economic growth. He emphasizes a "tax last" approach but says he would not vote to trim law enforcement funding.

Shull disagrees with a "housing first" approach to homelessness, telling the Editorial Board, "We do have, I think, an addiction problem that is larger than the housing problem."

There is much more to each candidate than can be explained in a single editorial, and the Editorial Board strongly recommends that voters study the candidates for Clark County councilor from District 1. We expect they will find it difficult to make a decision - and that is a good problem for the county to have.

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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 7:06 AM.