Washington House Democrats

Rights-violation charges getting timelier, more thorough investigation

Moeller led work last year for Vancouver human-rights office

January 16, 2007

OLYMPIA -- Allegations of human-rights violations in fast-growing Clark County are receiving timelier and more thorough investigations, thanks to the opening of a Vancouver office of the state Human Rights Commission.

State Rep. Jim Moeller, who last year led the work to get the office opened, said Southwest Washington citizens "are much better-served when they can meet with an investigator in person."

The rights commission staffs the Vancouver office once a week. Moeller, D-Vancouver, won support for budget-money last year to open the office.

He said that budget-cuts several years ago eliminated the siting of a commission-investigator for his region.

"Clark County is one of the fastest-growing communities in the country," Moeller explained.

"Unfortunately, this growth comes with a price. The population explosion brings an explosion in the kind of allegations of injustice and discrimination that are specifically addressed by the commission."

Complainants in the Vancouver region can now meet locally and in person with a Human Rights Commission investigator. If an on-site visit is called for, the fact that the commission regularly staffs the Southwest Washington office clears the way for a more rapid investigation.

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