Longview school bond campaign heats up

Yellow “Vote Yes” for schools signs have started popping up around Longview in the next phase of the Longview school bond advocacy committee’s campaign.

Phil Jurmu, Longview school board member and board representative on the committee that advises the school board on bond matters, said the committee has started canvassing neighborhoods. An informational brochure soon will show up in resident’s mailboxes.

Jurmu said he’s encouraged to see so much community support for the $119 million bond measure.

“This weekend I talked to some people in their neighborhoods, and some of them, two years ago when I talked to them, they were not too excited about having additional cost because they’re on fixed income,” Jurmu said. “But I didn’t get that reaction as much this time.”

After meeting with community members, Jurmu said he got the sense that “the community feels like we got it right.”

Jurmu said the committee isn’t taking anything for granted. He said groups will continue to canvass neighborhoods and starting Oct. 21, there will also be people at six different intersections waving signs.

“They’ll be out in the morning and night, and then later on, closer to Election Day, we’ll be out in force to remind people to get their ballots in,” Jurmu said.