Wednesday will be first of what new mayor envisions as quarterly events
Making good on one of his campaign promises, Mayor Tim Leavitt will host a town hall meeting Wednesday in east Vancouver, and he is encouraging residents to turn out to chat.
“I talked quite a bit about it during the election, of increasing access to the mayor’s office to the community,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt said he hopes the town hall, which will be at the newly opened Cascade Park Library branch, will become a quarterly tradition, with each one held in a new spot around the city.
The idea, he said, is to listen to citizens and give them a chance to speak to elected officials without putting in for a three-minute time slot at a city council meeting.
“I want to hear the goals, concerns and issues that folks have,” Leavitt said.
Councilor skeptical
The city councilors have also been invited to attend, and Leavitt said he expects at least a few will show.
At least one council member isn’t likely to, however. Councilor Pat Campbell responded to Leavitt’s e-mail invite last week with skepticism.
“I thought we had town hall meetings? Isn’t that what city council is?” Campbell wrote. “Individual council members having their own meetings at public expense, in addition to our city council can only add to confusion and division.”
Leavitt said he’s interested in looking at “any opportunity” to connect with residents “and I think most of the council is as well.”
He said there will be little city expense involved in hosting town halls, with minimal staff present.
“We’re just going to listen and answer questions as we can,” Leavitt said. “And if there needs to be, we’ll follow up with folks.”
Andrea Damewood: 360-735-4542 or andrea.damewood@columbian.com.
