Terence Stamp as General Zod in the 1978 movie, "Superman." — If our US president is going to insist everyone bow down before him ala the 1978 Superman movie’s General Zod, he could at least be a little easier on the eyes. We don’t have any “Zod minions” on the local level, do we? Asking for policy concerns, not eye candy!
“Superman” still ©Warner Bros./DC Comics

The Camas, Washington, USA city council election is coming up November 4. All elections are important, but this one might be more important than you think, not least because the US’ own General Zod is trying to do away with elections, entirely.

If you’re paying attention to world events at all, you’ve noticed the global movement towards national leaders favoring fascism. Climate change acceleration has the richest and more powerful amongst us jockeying for their safe spaces, economically and geographically. Do we have any Zod minions scrambling for a safe space in this new world order right here, in Camas? Let’s see.

This article is a quick summary of my (very limited) personal experience and online research of Camas city council candidates, save Ward 2, Position 1 and 2 candidates Martin Elzingre and Timothy Hein, who are running unopposed.

As ICE kidnappings nationwide increase in number and brutality; as I worry for Palestinians I’ve befriended online and the “ceasefire” isn’t honored; and as I see climate change accelerate; it feels asinine to wring hands over preserving Camas’ “small-town feel.” I’m a wee bit more concerned about my kids and their classmates getting targeted by ICE, thank you very much. Protection of marginalized communities and protection of our environment are my top priorities, so I’m focusing on those two issues in this article.

I’ve had only passing contact with all of these individuals save Dale-Bourke, which I will disclose below. I can confess to only marginal involvement in that one campaign (I volunteered to put up four signs last week). I have had either zero, or pleasant interactions with all of these candidates in my dealings around town over the years. So, aside from my desire to defend the values I hold dear – the ones currently under attack by our federal administration – I have no bone to pick with anyone.

Marilyn Dale-Boerke

Marilyn Dale-Boerke was in the supportive community at this year’s #CamasPride event, a presence that speaks volumes in itself. In her role in the Camas School District, she had a strong hand in stopping ongoing bullying to which I was a witness. She heard my testimony and then the bullying stopped, immediately. These instances demonstrate a commitment to marginalized communities, to me.

Dale-Boerke’s modest political campaign, long list of relevant experience, and endorsement by respected Camasonian Nan Henricksen also carry a lot of weight with me. Dale-Boerke (Boerke in your election pamphlet) is my pick for Ward 1, Position 2.

Geoerl Niles

Also running for Ward 1, Position 2 is Geoerl Niles. Niles is a leader at Ascend International Ministries and treasurer of Celebrate Hope Ministries Uganda. He has a shorter, yet also relevant, list of applicable experience. My big concern about Niles is that he is also a local pastor. In my opinion, religion already has an oversized role in US politics.

Also, let’s talk about colonization. Our current US-democracy-in-meltdown is the logical sum of country built on colonization + late-stage capitalism + climate crisis. No one would argue the benefit of helping communities that need help, but those of us delving deeper into the how and why we in the US are where we are ideologically aren’t so quick to support white missions in Africa. Fair trade with African-owned and -run businesses? Awesome. Programs (with white leadership) that breed dependence, fueled by donations and served with a heavy dose of religious indoctrination? Especially considering African underdevelopment was caused by colonizers and their minions exporting African souls by the millions to feed early capitalism’s need for slaves in the first place? No thanks.

Side note, did anyone see the photos of Jared Kushner in Palestine the other day? Colonizers being colonizers, already planning their Gaza Royale, or whatever they’re gonna call it. Now then, I am not equating Niles with Kushner! Absolutely not. And I am sure that Niles is doing a lot of good in his ministry work, truly.

However, as I continue to watch the first-ever live-streamed genocide, I am very done with all things colonizer. Colonizer brutality wiped out the Native Americans just like it’s trying to wipe out Palestine, so I’m careful not to support it, or anything like it, with my dollars or my votes.

Back to the issue at hand. Niles is endorsed by the Clark County Republican Party. Given the Republican Party’s attack on both marginalized communities and climate mitigation efforts, as signified anew by their deafening silence on a myriad of current policy choices that will cause suffering in the US, not least the current government shutdown, Niles is not my pick to defend them (us).

Mahsa Eshghi

I’ll be honest, Mahsa’s campaign first caught my eye when her large campaign sign, near my home, was destroyed. I figured hmm, she must be doing something good. These days, if violent folks are acting out, I listen – to the voices they are trying to intimidate into silence*.

Eshghi’s extensive engineering experience makes her extraordinarily qualified to help Camas in this time of growth and change. Plus, the fact that she left the oppressive government of Iran “looking for a better life and peace outside of that corrupt government” surely will make her a voice for both majority and minority communities.

I’m further heartened by the diverse voices I see supporting Mahsa (rhymes with “NASA,” according to one of her Instagram posts) online in her campaign, and the grassroots nature of of the campaign itself. Nan Henrickson is endorsing Eshghi, as well. Mahsa Eshghi is my pick for Ward 3, Position 2.

Leslie Lewallen

Ward 3, Position 2 incumbent Leslie Lewallen has been an attentive listener when I’ve spoken to the council, which I remember well and appreciate. However, her assertion in our elections pamphlet that “I … never forget that I work for and answer to the citizens of Camas – not consultants or outside interests” doesn’t tell the whole tale.

Also endorsed by the Clark County Republican Party, Lewallen is Clark County Project Director of Future 42 as of July 2025. Future 42 is a conservative group funded by multimillionaire Brian Heywood that, among other things, is actively trying to roll back climate change mitigation measures, opposing Washington state’s cap-and-invest efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent by 2050 – a position in direct opposition to “Clark County voters who, during the November 2024 general election, voted 57 percent to 43 percent to reject a measure that would have repealed the state’s 2021 Climate Commitment Act and killed the cap-and-invest program,” reports a July 2025 local news article.

In this other news article - roughly halfway through - Future 42 parent group Project 42’s co-founder Dann Mead Smith declines to discuss Project 42’s finances or which groups it gives money to. Project 42, Future 42, Let’s Go Washington and more conservative groups appear to be more than just closely aligned in ideology. And the support for initiatives they sponsor is garnered by paid signature gatherers, so there’s that. Potato, po-tah-to.

Future 42 is also sponsoring anti-trans legislation, and Project 42 is heavily invested in recruiting political involvement of conservative women through “League of Our Own.” Phew! That’s a lot. Lewallen should have her hands full with Future 42 alone, without being involved in Camas city politics.

Anti-trans, anti-climate and allied with those recruiting more conservative voices for the same? That makes Lewallen a hard pass for me.

In Conclusion

Do we have any General Zod minions on the local level in Camas? I’ll leave that conclusion to the reader. But our current national deep dive into fascism is sponsored by not even 33% of Americans (most of them now regretting that decision). Voters who sat out the 2024 presidential election essentially ushered in a dictator with their apathy. Let’s not allow even one more March of the Villains to advance while we sleep on our right to vote, shall we?

While I have your attention, if you have funds to spare, please consider donating to my friend Khaled. Yesterday, I enjoyed a cup of coffee here in Camas while he brewed a cup of coffee - “for hope” - in Gaza. Go to Instagram and follow Khaled, or any number of Palestinians who are literally surviving on donations because they have no choice at the moment; it’s an excellent privilege check. Their kindness, joy and friendliness to us in the US, whose bombs have decimated their land, will astound you.

* Civil discourse and disagreement is actually a skill to cultivate, as is self control – current federal administration examples notwithstanding. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

#CamasWashington #CamasCityCouncil #MarilynDaleBourke #GeoerlNiles #MahsaEshghi #LeslieLewallen

Charity Feb lives and writes on The Herbalist’s Homestead, a progressive little hobby farm rebelliously tucked into the southwest hills of Camas, Washington, USA. She photographs portraits in her home studio and environs under the business name Portraits of Connection by Charity Feb.

A Progressive Take on the 2025 Camas City Council Election

Marilyn Dale-Boerke

Geoerl Niles

Mahsa Eshghi

Leslie Lewallen

In Conclusion

Need Senior Photos?