FORT VANCOUVER REGIONAL LIBRARY GETS "POLITICAL, NOT PARTISAN" FOR COUNTY CHARTER VOTE
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| Informational sign about Charter Info Workshops for Library patrons, entrance to Vancouver Central Library |
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library District is going the extra mile to inform Clark County voters about the upcoming new County Charter vote on November 4.
The new County Charter, a document worked on by 15 elected Freeholders to effectively change the way our County government works, was approved by both conservative and liberal Freeholders, including diverse figures like Rep. Jim Moeller and Sheriff Gary Lucas, on an 11-4 vote to forward for our approval this upcoming election. Given that ballots are already arriving in mailboxes (they shipped from Elections Oct 14) its clear that folks who wish to make an informed choice about a new structure and form of County government should and can be informed.
This is a good thing, and the Library District is providing a service to the community - which is part of their mission. O Vancouvria!, as readers of my blog know, is a firm and full supporter of the new County Charter, which provides for:
-5 County Commissioners, 2 from Vancouver and 2 from suburbs/rural Clark County, 1 County-wide elected Chair
- a separation of oversight and administration of County employees from the County Council (think like Vancouver, or Ridgefield's, "Council-City Manager" form of government)
-less expenses in salaries for County Council (each councilmember will now get $53K per year, instead of the current $102K)
-strong powers of initiative, recall, and referendum - which we now lack, and which have led us to the pretty pass of Commissioner David "Whiz" Madore holding petulant petty banana republic-like powers over an unwilling majority of citizens
However, the trouble I have with Fort Vancouver Library District's providing "info sessions" on the County Charter can best be encapsulated in the following email statement from FVRL spokesperson Sue VanLaanen:
"Mr. Anderson – Following up on our phone conversation this morning:
Attached is a copy of the poster on display in multiple libraries regarding the series of Charter informational sessions.
More detailed information about each session is posted in our online calendar. For instance, here’s the calendar posting
for the Battle Ground Community Library session on Oct. 16. You’ll see
that the Freeholder presenters are listed in the description.
Mr.
Silliman, as a representative of the Freeholders who voted against the
Charter proposal, was scheduled to appear at each of the events.
Unfortunately, he canceled his appearance at the Ridgefield session
Tuesday night and neither of the other Freeholders who voted against the
Charter could come, which left just the ‘pro’ Freeholder as a
presenter.
Herein lies the trouble. As Sue notes, the Library "does not take a position on issues". Yet, as Sue also notes, Freeholders who voted NO on the new Charter have cancelled their appearances at said information sessions - leaving voters to hear ONE SIDE ONLY when it comes to the Charter.
Perhaps this is not a bad thing. However, perhaps the Library shouldn't be sponsoring, as a neutral party open to ALL in the community it serves, any sort of political information sessions on ANY and all issues or candidates. If the Library is going to hold sessions where only one side of an issue, or one candidate's perspective, is presented, then the Library effectively opens itself up to accusations it is showing support for one side or the other. Sorry to say, but that appears to be the case here - given FVRL's own statement.
I invite Sue VanLaanen and the FVRL to drastically rethink their fence-sitting that actually isn't fence-sitting, and come down on one side (staying completely neutral) or the other. When push comes to shove, and the FVRL needs voter support for its own continued funding, its best to NOT offend anyone who could possibly give said support. Even if they aren't Charter YES folks.
O VANCOUVRIA! SITS DOWN WITH SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE AND STATE HOUSE REP (49TH DIST, WEST VANCOUVER) JIMMY MOELLER!
O Vancouvria! recently had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time with State House Rep (49th District, Dem) and Speaker Pro Tempore in Olympia, Jim Moeller! Jim, who has been represented by archconservative forces in Clark County as similar to Lavrenty Beria (former KGB head under Stalin in the Soviet Union), is NOTHING at all like what he's made out to be by Tea Party fanatics on the right, from David Madore on down.
Jim, an addictions counselor for 20+ years at Kaiser Permanente (his "day job") is also the number two man in the Washington State House of Representatives, wielding day-to-day power on the floor of the House. He's been our state rep for Vancouver west of Andresen and south of 99th Street for nigh on 12 years. Jim is smart as a whip, always eager to help those in need, and is compassionate to those, like myself, who have fallen on hard times - while always being mindful of the axiom that you DON'T provide help to those who DON'T help themselves.
Jim is the right fit for our district and for Clark County as a whole in terms of a quiet, yet firm progressive voice in Olympia. He's someone who stands up for what is right by citizens of our County and City, regardless of the consequences. He also speaks truth to those in power - not from a position of power, but from a position out of his own understanding. His opponent, Lisa Ross, meanwhile, read her responses during their Clark Vancouver Cable TV debate directly out of a notebook, and invited "everyone" to her house (live on TV) for a fundraiser. While Lisa has done good things as a CPA, and its laudable she's lost a lot of weight, its clear that Jimmy (with the weight of conservatives, such as the Building Industry Association, and progressives, such as the unions, behind him) is the RIGHT person to continue strengthening SW Washington's hand over Puget Sound naysayers who would prefer we join Oregon and leave their "turf" alone.
Below is the text of my sit-down with Jim. Read on til Sunday, when O Vancouvria! goes to press WITH OUR ENDORSEMENTS FOR ALL CLARK COUNTY RACES.
1) What would you like us to know about yourself?
I'm a native of Vancouver. Mom and dad were both from North
Dakota and moved out west as their family grew and also, mom didn't want
to be a farmers wife.
Attended all public
schools while growing up and went to WSU Pullman in the late 70's and
PSU Portland in the 80's. I was always interested in policies and
politics since a Boy Scout and help out on campaigns to earn my merit
badge.
I was elected 1st to city council in
1995 and reelected in 1999. I filled the open seat from retiring Val
Ogden in the state legislature in 2003 and have been elected by my peers
as Speaker Pro Tem for the past 5 years.
2) What would you like us to know about your opponent?
I
don't know much about Lisa as I don't think many don't. I understand
she is a CPA and she lost 85lbs walking her dog. Politically, she ran
for Vancouver School Board last year (2013) and was a presidential
delegate of Rick Santorum (2012).
3) How have you used your experience to help folks in your district?
Politics
is about relationships. I have spent 20 years developing relationships
as a city councilman and as a state representative. I hope to continue
to use my experience on council and in the state legislature for my
constituents in my committees of transportation, healthcare and labor.
4) What strengths have you gained from this position?
That's more difficult to say. I believe that as one gets older, your
relationships become stronger. First, because of simply the "march of
time" but also because they are deeper and broader.
5) What weaknesses do you see you need to work on in this office, if any?
I think I
have difficulty expressing my thoughts/thinking - crisp and clearly. I
get too "wonky" feeling that everyone needs to know everything I know to
understand an issue or solution - not true and I challenge myself to
K.I.S.S. everyday - "Keep it simple, stupid".
6) What changes do you foresee happening next term?
We need to
agree upon new revenue (taxes) to meet the order from the Supreme Court
and "amply" provide for k-12 education in this state. My challenger
believes we should "Fund education first" a nice slogan but she has no
ideas on how. The facts remain that someone will pay the bill and that
someone is in the short-term the Washington taxpayer but in the
long-term it's all of us.
7) What do you like about your work in this position?
I like the ability to solve problems for people. Not every
solution requires legislation and that requires the ability to listen to
others and find the solution that works.
8) Tell us something humorous that's happened on the campaign trail, this year, or past years.
Actually, most of the humorous stuff happens while door-belling for other candidates.
9) What's your favorite color/s, and why?
I LOVE the colors of Fall. The browns and greens and oranges and reds.
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