Battle Ground voters favored new and returning voices in this year’s city council races, giving clear margins in two contests and leaving a third separated by just 46 votes as of Wednesday’s Nov. 12 ballot count. Jeanie Kuypers led former mayor Philip Johnson in Position 4 with 56.34 percent. Newcomer Aimee Vaile held a decisive 62.14 percent in Position 5 against former councilor John Idsinga. The closest race was for Position 6, where challenger Brian Munson had 50.35% to incumbent Cherish DesRochers’ 49.4%.
Jeanie Kuypers retains Position 4
Kuypers, appointed earlier this year to fill a vacancy left when Adrian Cortes joined the state Senate, will likely continue in her seat after holding a strong lead through the latest count. She said the early results left her with two immediate reactions.
“My first reaction was grateful, and then my second reaction was excited,” she said.
Kuypers said the election gives her a chance to deepen her work on the issues residents consistently raise, including road improvements, recreation planning, and long-term public safety needs.
“We have many ways that we can continue to dig deep and find out where we can continue to make improvements,” she said.
She said her top priority remains public safety. She noted the department’s staffing, technology and modernization needs as the city continues to change. As of press time, the city council was set to decide whether to approve a 0.1% sales tax increase to fund two additional police officers on Monday, Nov. 17.
“It requires dollars to move the needle so that our underfunding in the past can get caught up and bring us to where we need to be today,” she said.
Reflecting on the race, Kuypers said facing a former mayor made the outcome hard to predict.
“I did feel like I had a good chance, and yet I also had a realization that he has been in the community a long time.”
She said the results suggest many voters were looking for a different voice and approach.
“I just feel like maybe there are citizens who wanted a fresh approach and an opportunity for someone new to maybe bring something new to the table,” she said.
Kuypers said she exchanged messages with her opponent, both wishing each other the best.
“I’m grateful for the work previous councilors have put in. It’s a big job, he did it for many years, he did what he thought was right at that point in time,” she said.
As an elected member of the council, Kuypers hopes to be placed on more committee seats. She was recently picked as the city’s representative for a newly formed task force to find collaborative ways to fund parks. Looking ahead, she said she hopes residents will stay engaged while extending patience and respect as the council works on long-term priorities.
“If we have a good strategic plan in place and if we’re managing our budget in a fiscally responsible way for the citizens, that’s the best I can do.”
Aimee Vaile wins Position 5
Aimee Vaile secured a decisive lead in the race against John Idsinga for Position 5, replacing councilor Tricia Davis, who did not seek reelection. Vaile said her long ties to Battle Ground shaped both her campaign and her sense of responsibility after election night.
“I’m feeling profoundly grateful and humbled by the results of the election, with a deep sense of responsibility rather than celebration,” she wrote in an email to The Reflector. “I also extend sincere appreciation to my opponent, John Idsinga, for his decades of service to our beloved city.”
Vaile has been involved in local youth sports, schools and several civic organizations for more than a decade. She said her decision to run came from a desire to address daily challenges residents speak about, including traffic, outdated infrastructure and pressure on small businesses.
“My deepest inspiration to run for City Council comes from my faith in Jesus Christ. I firmly believe He has called me to love and serve my neighbors in a tangible way,” she wrote.
Her campaign centered on maintaining Battle Ground’s character while improving infrastructure and supporting first responders and small businesses. She said she heard consistent concerns from residents about growth outpacing services.
“This outcome reflects a strong desire for change, particularly around responsible growth that respects our infrastructure’s limits,” she wrote.
Vaile said she plans to oppose new tax increases while focusing on practical upgrades.
Early priorities include improving traffic signals, supporting local businesses, repairing roads and creating more opportunities for residents to speak directly with city leadership.
Vaile said she looks forward to working with the rest of the council and is entering the role with collaboration in mind. Her message to residents after the election was one of thanks and commitment.
“My promise is simple: I will listen more than I speak, act with integrity and care, and keep your family’s needs at the heart of every decision,” she wrote.
Brian Munson pulls ahead in tight Position 6 race
Former councilor Brian Munson holds a narrow lead in the race for Position 6 ahead of incumbent Cherish DesRochers.
Munson, a lifelong Clark County resident who moved to Battle Ground in 2002, works for BNSF Railway, where he oversees the company’s movable bridge assets. He raised four children in the city and said years of volunteer activities and advisory positions gave him an early window into how city decisions affect daily life. He served on the Planning Commission before being appointed to the council to finish a departing member’s term. He was later elected and served for about five and a half years.
During that time, he said he focused heavily on parks and access to facilities. He also worked with city leadership to secure longer-term field access for Battle Ground Little League.
“When I got wind of this, I worked with the then city manager to come up with a solution to get them a more permanent set of extensions,” he said.
Munson said his final years on council grew more contentious as the city navigated COVID-19 mandates and emergency declarations. He opposed the city’s emergency declaration in 2020, arguing the council did not yet have enough information. Later, he introduced a “medical freedom ordinance” that would have directed the city not to enforce state vaccine mandates on employees.
“I understood that introducing something like this wasn’t for everybody, and I just would have rather stood for the people than to sit back and just allow things to happen,” he said.
He said he believes the move likely cost him political support, though he said he would not change his vote.
“No… I’m a true believer that as an elected official, you are a servant of the people,” he said.
Munson said his current run is shaped by concerns about how the city manages long-term planning, budgeting and growth. He pointed to the annexation of Fire District 3 as an example of where he felt earlier councils should have reassessed how revenue was handled.
“Maybe if we had taken that money from the fire annexation and been thought-provoking and forward thinkers, we wouldn’t be in the situation today,” he said, referring to the Battle Ground City Council’s potential 0.1% sales tax increase.
He also said he hears from residents who worry about rising taxes and limited economic development.
“At some point, when are we gonna stop taxing people out of our community?” he asked.
If elected, Munson said his first step would be to sit with department heads to understand current infrastructure capacity, zoning strategies and development goals.
He said the council should look for ways to bring more jobs into the city so fewer residents have to commute elsewhere.
“We can see that there's still a lot of people leaving the city every morning to go to a job somewhere else and then they're coming home, and we're not seeing a whole lot of jobs here.”
Despite past disagreements, Munson said he expects to work constructively with a council that now includes several newer members.
“I look forward to having those conversations with them and seeing what the opportunities are.”
With the race still close, he said he is preparing for either outcome.
“If I don't get the votes for it and Cherish wins her re-election, that's what the people voted for. If the voters speak in volumes and I maintain that lead, then that means they're counting on me to do the best job I can being a servant to them.”
As of press time, another round of election results was expected to be released on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
