People's Forum town hall
Engage directly with community leaders
History buffs know that April 11th was a notable date 112 years ago. On that date, in 1912, the last photos of the Titanic afloat were taken as she left the safe harbor of Queenstown destined for the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
A less seismic event is being held this April 11th. "People's Forum Town Hall: local government transparency in decision making," has generated much criticism for those who have agreed to participate in the panel discussion. Some have described this event as a "KKK anti-civil" gathering that promotes racism. One landowner on Towne Road gave public testimony that this is a "QAnon hosted event." If either claim were true, Clallam County elected leaders would not agree to participate, and neither would I.
Tuesday's barely-passed motion that allowed the surfacing of Towne Road to go out to bid revealed that transparency, accountability, and honesty are lacking in some areas of local government. It also revealed that the people of District One, the eastern part of Clallam County, cannot rely on the words of their elected leader -- a commissioner who promised, via resolution, to return a road to the people who have paid for it, and will continue to pay for it. That promise in December made Towne Road seem unsinkable. Similar to an ill-fated voyage 112 years ago, Clallam County is headed into dangerous and uncharted waters.
Voyagers into treacherous seas shouldn't be concerned with the party affiliation of the telegrapher charting the ice floes. Questioning how the sailor in the crow's nest voted in the last election should not be our primary concern. The deckhand inspecting the rigging on the lifeboats should not be shamed for disagreements that happened years ago. We, the residents of Clallam County, are sailing in the same direction and it will take all of us to change course.
The barrier that blocks dialogue from occurring between the public and their elected leaders is coming down this Thursday, and the People's Forum can be thanked for facilitating a welcoming, safe event for that to happen. The panelists each bring a unique perspective on transparency and accountability.
Commissioner Randy Johnson is admired for supporting the motion that sent the completion of Towne Road out to bid. The community's safety and connectivity were a driving motive behind his decision.
Commissioner Mike French supports completing Towne Road due to rising costs. He realized that delaying the project by a month and missing the construction window, would have delayed completion by at least a year. French often engages with attendees after commissioner meetings and is generous with his time.
Director Bruce Emery worked his way through the ranks of the Department of Community Development to become its elected leader. Tasked with managing the Towne Road Levee Project, and the adjoining Dungeness River Floodplain Restoration, he brings decades of experience to a role that requires specialized knowledge.
Gayle Baker served on the board of Save Our Sequim (since dissolved) at a time when many felt transparency was lacking. CC Watchdog has leaned heavily on her organizational skills and ability to find information at a moment's notice. She is especially admired for backing the information she provides with data that supports her research.
William Armacost, former city council member and Sequim Mayor, served when our community was craving transparency. His tenure saw the rollout of the MAT clinic and the unexplained resignation of a city manager. I've known William for years; he did my mother's hair for three decades. At a time when Mom's health was failing, and my family was coping with having a loved one disappear bit by bit, William treated Mom with a tremendous amount of respect and dignity. For that, he will always be my friend.
The Special Surprise Speaker is unknown to me, but I hope it is the only commissioner who hasn't yet confirmed his participation on the panel. There are so many questions regarding his recent behavior that this opportunity could be the first step in restoring public trust. Right now, District One is a ship without a captain.
In high school, I was friends with the jocks, skaters, nerds, drama geeks, and the foreign exchange students. I haven't changed in that regard since graduating from Sequim High in 1998 -- I'm still a free agent. Never one to worry about repercussions from being seen with the "wrong crowd", it’s a philosophy that has served me well in life. I've learned a lot from my friends, but I've learned even more from people I disagree with.
I look forward to learning more about local government and transparency on Thursday night, and I look forward to your questions.
A note from the organizers: We have no problem with the Town Hall being taped. We consider it to be a public meeting. Currently, we lack any equipment to do so. We are bringing our own PA system. I will look today to see if there is a place to plug in a recording system if somebody brings one in. If someone brings in their own hand held equipment we will be happy to accommodate them with seating in front or anything else they might need.
Jeff, the more I learn about you the more I like you. Thank you for taking on the very tough task of steering the life boat for this sinking ship the: US Clallam County. Until we are on the life boat though-it's all hands on deck! We need to come together as a community and recognize that not all is perfect here in Clallam County. That we are not racists, fascists' or whatever moniker du jour is attached to people who expose the truth just because we care about our county, our state and our country.