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Mayor-Elect Leavitt accepts victory, talks about goals for Vancouver

By Andrea Damewood
Published: November 13, 2009, 12:00am
2 Photos
ZACHARY KAUFMAN/The Columbian
Leavitt complimented his predecessor, Mayor Royce Pollard and presented his goals for Vancouver on Wednesday.
ZACHARY KAUFMAN/The Columbian Leavitt complimented his predecessor, Mayor Royce Pollard and presented his goals for Vancouver on Wednesday. Photo Gallery

Standing in a room named after the man he defeated, Mayor-elect Tim Leavitt accepted his victory over Mayor Royce Pollard today, praising the 14-year mayor’s successes and outlining what he hopes to achieve in the next four years.

Despite the rancor stirred between the two men over the past year, Leavitt told dozens of supporters in the Pollard Community Room at the Firstenburg Community Center that he thanks the outgoing mayor for his pledge of support during the transition.

“He is still the mayor, and he will forever be the mayor,” Leavitt said of Pollard. “He remains a big part of this city.”

Leavitt also took a moment to remember those who served, including Pollard — a retired Army lieutenant colonel — on Veterans Day.

But he devoted most of the 45-minute press conference to future.

The incoming mayor said that he has five main points upon which he will focus: the city budget; government transparency; fighting tolling on the Columbia River Crossing project; job creation; and arts and culture.

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

He reiterated his pledge to find a solution to tolling so the massive bridge replacement project does not place undue burden on Clark County commuters.

“Tolls are not a foregone conclusion,” Leavitt said. “The only way we should be looking at tolls is as an absolute last resort.”

He also said that Vancouver residents should be prepared to have a much more visible city council. Leavitt, 38, a senior civil engineer for PBS Engineering + Environmental, is likely to lean more heavily on the six other council members to attend events than did Pollard, who is retired.

Vancouver residents “will begin to see and get to know your city councilors better while I’m mayor,” he said.

Along with promising to hold council meetings all over town — in schools and community centers — Leavitt said he will host quarterly town halls starting in January, with a few informal meetings planned for the next two months.

Leavitt again mentioned his intent to form two committees, one to scour the city budget for ways to save money and to “fully staff” the police department and another to look at various ways to create more jobs and help small businesses.

Leavitt said in the next four years Vancouver will move forward “stronger and united in purpose and conclusion.”

“I am honored and humbled to serve this community,” he said.

Andrea Damewood: 360-735-4542 or andrea.damewood@columbian.com.

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