Clark County Councilor Michelle Belkot said by the time she assumed her District 2 seat, her work was already underway.
Belkot, one of three newly-elected members on the county council, secured a win in the November general election.
“I’m just trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible,” she said.
In preparation for the role, Belkot said she researched the county council’s website and looked into boards and committees she had an interest in serving on.
She was especially interested in roles with transportation and construction focuses, given her professional experience.
“I’ve been working on multimillion-dollar construction and architecture and engineering contracts for over 20 years,” Belkot said. “That links right up.”
During her term, Belkot said growth and housing will be a priority. Particularly for her district, which comprises the urban area north of Vancouver and outside of city limits, she said issues with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s recruitment of new employees is paramount. She said it is “a unanimous concern” among voters in her district.
“We don’t have Vancouver city police, because we’re not in the city; we’re in the county,” Belkot said.
After being sworn in on Jan. 3, Belkot said she would acquaint herself with the role by talking to the other councilors, the county manager and county staff.
Belkot is one of three new faces to the Clark County Council following November’s election. She anticipates the variety of experience that has been added to the council as a boon to its operation.
“We all come from different backgrounds and different professions, which is great,” Belkot said. “Everybody brings a different perspective because of that.”
Each district has its concerns pertinent to the area, she said. While councilor Sue Marshall, who represents North Clark County, may have constituents who are more worried about land use issues, those in councilor Glen Yung’s district are more worried about homelessness.
“I think it’s good to have a variety of experience because everybody looks at something a different way,” Belkot said.
Belkot isn’t necessarily a stranger to how the county works. She said she had worked to secure contracts for drug rehabilitation with Clark County Public Health.
Belkot said she has continually received feedback from those in her district.
“I’m keeping my promise to the voters in (District 2), come take your concerns to me,” Belkot said. “I’m still making my (District 2) priorities, the priority.”
Belkot has embraced the amount of issues she will have to work through in her new position.
“There’s just so many things, and I think as time goes along, there will probably be certain things in particular that I will be more interested in than others, and those will become the priority to me,” Belkot said.
