Saturday, March 30, Traveling Town Hall: Perhaps a small step toward a healing

All of us -- as parents, as children, and as fellow members of our Seattle and Washington and American neighborhood -- grieve over the terrible, very recent accident involving a motor vehicle hitting pedestrians on a street in North Seattle.

Two people were killed, and two others were very critically injured. They were innocent pedestrians, minding their own business and simply crossing a road not far from our community's Eckstein Middle School. Though we don't know for sure, as the police investigation is ongoing, it does look as if the driver was severely impaired by alcohol or other drugs.

In the very neighborhood of this awful tragedy, Representative Gerry Pollet will host the latest in his series of Traveling Town Halls Saturday morning, March 30, from 10 to noon.

 

The Town Hall will happen at Top Pot Donuts, 6855 35^th Avenue Northeast (between 68^th Street and 70th Street). Rep. Pollet and constituents will talk about proposals for stronger DUI laws, of course, as well as other issues. As we endure the aftershock of yet another grievous heartbreak, perhaps coming together in this way, as a community, can be a small step, a little fragment of help toward a healing.

It's town hall weekend

Tomorrow, March 16, many legislators will be will be holding town hall meetings in their respective districts. 

Constituents are invited and encouraged to participate in the discussion. It's an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the issues before the legislature this year.

Here are the scheduled town hall meetings for House Democratic legislators this weekend. We hope to see many of you there.

Read this story in Spanish.

A Legislative town hall meeting may be coming to your neighborhood....

Next Saturday, March 16, is Legislative Town Hall Day -- and many Representatives and Senators will be coming home from Olympia to meet with constituents in person. 

These local meetings are an opportunity for you to ask questions and give input about the pressing issues in state government.

Here is the current list of town hall meetings scheduled by Democratic legislators right now. There may be additions later in the week -- if so, we will repost.

People are talking: Good turnout so far for Pollet's 'Traveling Town Halls'

Rep. Gerry Pollet

State Rep. Gerry Pollet's Traveling Town Halls are proving to be a pretty decent ticket for folks who have something to get off their chest on Saturday mornings.

The46^thLegislative District meetings stem from Pollet’s past experience organizing carpools of parents and others into a three-to-four-hour weekday excursion to Olympia -- for just a few minutes of face time with legislators. These Traveling Town Halls allow constituents to meet with Pollet most every Saturday morning from 10 to noon at various locations around the district, instead of trekking to Olympia.

Pollet has already welcomed three-dozen citizens to his first two meetings earlier this month: the premier 2013 get-together at the U-Village Burgermaster and his most recent constituent-conversation at the Lake Forest Park Town Center. Pollet's informal meetings -- you might even call them "Flash Town Halls" -- start at 10 most every Saturday morning. The next one is this Saturday, Feb. 2, at Diva Espresso, which is located at 8014 Lake City Way Northeast (between north 14th Avenue and north 15th Avenue). Pollet and Kenmore Mayor David Baker will hold a joint Traveling Town Hall on Saturday morning, Feb. 9, at Espresso Works, which is located at 6734 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore.

"We’ve covered local issues, for sure," he said of the meetings so far, "such as the red-light-camera authority at the 'Five Corner' intersection of Sand Point Way Northeast and Northeast 45th Street. And we’ve engaged in spirited discussions on statewide issues, such as potential reforms in the revenue system, funding for education, and reducing gun-violence."

Pollet launched his traveling-office tradition last year, holding Saturday-morning meetings all over the 46th District during the 2012 legislative session. With the 2013 session now in full swing, he said he wants residents from 46th District neighborhoods to have an opportunity to speak their minds without having to travel to Olympia.

Folks can always find information on Pollet's in-district meetings -- as well as information about a wide variety of community, legislative, and state-government issues -- at his legislative website.

49th LD town hall video available online

 If you missed Saturday's 49th Legislative District Town Hall Meeting, don't feel left out!

CVTV covered it from start to finish, so get in on the conversation with Reps. Sharon Wylie, Jim Moeller, and Senator-elect Annette Cleveland. It may take a little bit to load, so please be patient.

Read this story in Spanish here.

49th District Town Hall TOMORROW!

Representatives Sharon Wylie and Jim Moeller, and Senator-elect Annette Cleveland will hold a town hall meeting for 49th Legislative District residents this Saturday at the Community Library from 10 to noon. Check out the details in the e-flyer below. For more information, contact Megan Walsh at (360) 786-7924 or Megan.Walsh@leg.wa.gov

Pair of 46th Legislative District Town Halls set for Saturday, Jan. 12

Rep.  Pollet

Come one, come all! Sen. David Frockt, Rep. Gerry Pollet, and Rep.-elect Jessyn Farrell are looking forward to hearing from their 46th Legislative District neighbors in one or both Town Hall meetings next Saturday morning and afternoon, Jan 12. The three Democratic lawmakers will meet with interested citizens:

• From 10 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria at North Seattle Community College. North Seattle Community College is located at 9600 College Way N., Seattle.

• From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Upper Level at Third Place Commons in the Town Center at Lake Forest Park. The Town Center is located at 17171 Bothell Way N.E., Lake Forest Park.

Rep.-elect Farrell

Frockt, Pollet, and Farrell welcome discussions about these and additional key issues they will join other legislators in facing this year in Olympia:

• Funding our K-12 schools.

• Strengthening access to our colleges and universities.

• Preserving health care for our children, and for our disabled and elderly fellow citizens.

• Developing our transportation options.

Sen. Frockt

For more information, contact either Sen. Frockt at 360-786-7690, or Rep. Pollet at 360-786-7886.

Rep. Probst hosts town hall Sat., June 2

Rep. Probst

Rep. Tim Probst of Vancouver looks forward to meeting constituents from his 17^th Legislative District at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, in a town hall meeting in the district. Rep. Probst will discuss the issues that matter most to the community and will be happy to answer questions about state government and his work in the Legislature. The meeting will take place at the C-Tran Transit Center, 3510 SE 164^th Ave., Vancouver.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Rep. Hansen hosts telephone town hall

Rep. Drew Hansen of Bainbridge Island will host a telephone town hall 6-7 p.m. Thursday, May 31. He looks forward to a live conversation with his constituents about the issues that matter most to his district and the state.

Under the telephone town hall format, thousands of constituents will receive telephone calls to their homes in Rep. Hansen’s 23rd Legislative District just before 6 p.m. May 31. The constituents may ask questions for him to answer by pressing *3 on their phones during the call, and they may listen to the live conversation to hear questions from others and answers.

Residents who do not receive a phone call may participate in the meeting by calling 1-877-229-8493 and entering the ID code 18646 when prompted.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Telephone-town halls bring government home

TTH with Rep. Jeff Morris

Since you’re reading this blog post, chances are you actually have been to a town hall meeting with one of your elected officials. The Advance thanks you and your work to make government better, but this post is about those not usually in the room.

In the last few years, House Democrats have embraced a new way of reaching out and talking with their communities. As you’ve seen on the blog, many members like telephone-town halls (TTH) as a way to complement their constituent outreach. At the beginning of each TTH, calls are placed into the district inviting people to stay on the line if they’d like to join the discussion. An hour-long question-and-answer session then takes place.

“Enabling the people of my district to engage from home, if it’s a convenient time for them, has brought hundreds of new voices into the political dialogue,” said Rep. Marko Liias. “It’s great to give updates from session, but I believe there is incredible value in neighbors listening to the other questions and concerns brought up in the meetings.”

Rep. Marko Liias at a live town hall

On a TTH last week, Liias had a question from Robin in Everett wondering how to deal with the speeding problem near her home and an elementary school. Robin stated that she’s “not real politically inclined” before asking how she should go about making the area safer, possibly through installing speed bumps.

“Robin has already talked to local law enforcement about the problem, had already come up with a possible solution, and was ready to take her community problem on,” Liias said. “That’s politics and being engaged, so it was great to have the opportunity to connect with Robin and hopefully help her lead on that issue.”

On the call Liias, familiar with school walking and biking safety issues, offered to come out to check out the problem with Robin and help brainstorm ways to make the streets there safer for children getting to school.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Rep. Hunter hosts telephone town hall

Rep. Ross Hunter of Medina will host a telephone town hall 6-7 p.m. Monday, May 14. He looks forward to a live conversation with his constituents about the issues that matter most to his district and the state.

Under the telephone town hall format, thousands of constituents will receive telephone calls to their homes in Rep. Hunter’s 48th Legislative District just before 6 p.m. Monday. The constituents may ask questions for him to answer by pressing *3 on their phones during the call, and they may listen to the live conversation to hear questions from others and answers.

Residents who do not receive a phone call may participate in the meeting by calling 1-877-229-8493 and entering the ID code 18646 when prompted.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Town hall meetings -- giving citizens a voice

Reps. Roger Goodman and Larry Springer
taking citizen questions at a town hall
meeting in Kirkland City Hall.

You may have participated in a town hall meeting via telephone.

Town hall meetings with lawmakers now happen in person, over the phone or through the web. People are also using email, Twitter, Facebook and other tools to have a dialogue with their local lawmakers.

This is a new twist on an old idea: bringing citizens together to discuss issues -- or decide things.

Typically, you hear the phrase "New England-style town hall meeting." It's true that small towns in New Hampshire, Vermont and elsewhere holding town hall meetings more than 300 years ago. Every citizen got the chance to talk, debate and vote on issues.

Yet this idea goes back even longer.

It's inspired by the ancient democracy in Athens and the notion that every citizen should have a say. The Swiss towns of Glarus and Appenzell have been Langsgemeinde -- town hall meetings -- for 700 years.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate, from both parties, are embracing modern twists on this old idea. Technology may be improving it. But the notion behind it, that every citizen counts, is as strong as ever.

Rep. Hans Dunshee will be calling constituents in the 44th Legislative District on May 7 at 6PM to host a tele-town hall.

Rep. Tami Green will be hosting her own tele-town hall for the people of the 28th Legislative District on May 9 at 6PM.

The Town Hall fun continues in the 21st Legislative District!

Last weekend legislators met with constituents all across the state, from Spokane all the way out to Forks. This weekend the fun continues!

21st Legislative District Representatives Mary Helen Roberts and Marko Liias, along with Senator Paul Shin, will be holding two town halls on Saturday. The details for those events are as follows:

Mukilteo Town Hall

Time: 10:30 AM

Place: Mukilteo Library

           4675 Harbour Pointe Boulevard

           Mukilteo, WA

Edmonds Town Hall

Time: 1:30 PM

Place: Edmonds Council Chambers

          250 Fifth Avenue North

          Edmonds, WA

The legislators encourage constituents to show up with their questions on education, the budget, and any other issues pertaining to state government. Not sure if you’re a resident of the 21st? You can find out here!

To read this story in Spanish, click here. 

Town Halls are happening in your district this weekend!

For a PDF of this schedule, click here.
To view this schedule in Spanish, click here.

1^st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT:

Reps. Luis Moscoso & Derek Stanford

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 – 11:30 AM – Mountlake Terrace

Place:   Mountlake Terrace Library

            23300 58^th Avenue West

            Mountlake Terrace, WA

                        AND

Time:   1:00 – 2:30 PM

Place:   Cascadia Community College

            UW Bothell Mobius Hall

            18345 Campus Way Northeast

            Bothell, WA

3^rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT:

Reps. Tim Ormsby & Andy Billig

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   West Central Community Center Auditorium

            1603 North Belt

            Spokane, WA

 

11^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Rep. Bob Hasegawa

 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   Tukwila Community Center Social Hall

            12424 42^nd Avenue South

            Tukwila, WA

 

21^st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Marko Liias & Mary Helen Roberts

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Time: 10:30 AM

Place:   Mukilteo Library

            4675 Harbour Pointe Boulevard

            Mukilteo, WA

                        AND

Time:   1:30 PM

Place:   Edmonds Council Chambers

            250 Fifth Avenue North

            Edmonds, WA

 22^nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Sam Hunt & Chris Reykdal

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   12:30 – 2:30 PM

Place:   Chambers Prairie Elementary

            6501 Virginia Street Southeast

            Lacey, WA

 

23^rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Sherry Appleton & Drew Hansen

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 – 11:30 AM

Place:   Eagle’s Nest

            Kitsap Fairgrounds

            1200 Northwest Fairgrounds Road

            Bremerton, WA

                        AND

Time:   1:30 – 3:00 PM

Place:   Poulsbo City Hall

            200 Northeast Moe Street

            (3^rd Avenue Northeast)

            Poulsbo, WA

 

24^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Kevin Van De Wege & Steve Tharinger

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Time:   5:00 PM

Place:   J.T. Sweet Stuffs

            80 North Forks Avenue

            Forks, WA

            (hosted by Rep. Van De Wege)

                        AND

Time:   5:00 PM

Place:   Quilcene Community Center

            294952 Highway 101

            Quilcene, WA

            (hosted by Rep. Tharinger)

                        AND

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   11:00 AM

Place:   PA Senior & Community Center

            328 East Seventh Street

            Port Angeles, WA

 

27^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Jeannie Darneille & Laurie Jinkins

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   The Evergreen State College

            Lyceum Hall

            1210 Sixth Avenue

            Tacoma, WA

29^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Rep. Connie Ladenburg

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10-:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   Pacific Lutheran University

            Garfield Book Co. Community Room

            208 Garfield Street, Suite 101

            Tacoma, WA

 

35^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Rep. Kathy Haigh

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   Shelton Civic Center

            525 West Cota Street

            Shelton, WA

 

41^st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Judy Clibborn & Marcie Maxwell

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 – 11:30 Am

Place:   Hazelwood Elementary

            7100 116^th Avenue Southeast

            Newcastle, WA

                        AND

Time:   1:30 – 3:00 PM

Place:   Mercer Island High School

            9100 Southeast 42^nd Street

            Mercer Island, WA

 

44^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Rep. Hans Dunshee 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   Mill Creek City Hall

            15728 Main Street

            Mill Creek, WA

                        AND

Time:   1:00 – 3:00 PM

Place:   Lake Stevens Community Center

            1808 Main

            Lake Stevens, WA

 45^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Larry Springer & Roger Goodman

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   1:00 – 2:30 PM

Place:   Sammamish City Hall

            801 228^th Avenue Southeast

            Sammamish, WA

 

47^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Rep. Pat Sullivan

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Place:   Cutters Point Coffee

            16739 Southeast 272^nd

            Covington, WA

 

48^th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

Reps. Ross Hunter & Deb Eddy

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Time:   10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Place:   Redmond City Hall

            Council Chamber

            15670 Northeast 85^th Street

            Redmond, WA

41st District lawmakers invite citizens to town halls

Rep. Marcie Maxwell

Rep. Judy Clibborn

State lawmakers from the 41st District will unite to host a pair of town hall meetings on Saturday, Feb. 18, to share news about the legislative session and listen to local residents discuss their hopes and concerns on state issues.

Rep. Judy Clibborn, Rep. Marcie Maxwell, and Sen. Steve Litzow will hold their morning town hall from 10-11:30 a.m. at Hazelwood Elementary in Newcastle, and an afternoon town hall from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at Mercer Island High school.

The jointly hosted town halls are more convenient for local citizens and help maintain the bipartisan approach the 41st District lawmakers bring to Olympia. Participants can submit questions before the meeting via email to townhall41@leg.wa.gov.

The 2012 session began Jan. 9 and is scheduled to end Mar. 8.

Below are details on the locations:

Hazelwood Elementary (Map and directions)
7100 116th Ave. SE
Newcastle , WA

Mercer Island High School (Map and directions)
9100 SE 42nd St.
Mercer Island, WA

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Lytton, Seaquist host teletown halls this week

How do we do more with less?

For the last several years, lawmakers have been looking at innovative and less-expensive ways of communicating with their constituents. Teletown halls were recently embraced as a cost efficient way to reach out to constituents during the legislative session.

Rep. Kristine Lytton

Reps. Kristine Lytton (D-Anacortes) and Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor) will be hosting hour-long teletown hall conversations this week.

Rep. Lytton’s call with those living in the 40th Legislative District will happen tonight at 6 p.m. She’ll discuss what’s going on with education including her trio of bills that would help teachers and principals grow in their careers, give school districts greater spending flexibility, and increase state funding for all-day kindergarten programs.

Rep. Larry Seaquist

Rep. Seaquist’s teletown hall for 26th Legislative District residents will start at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday, January 26. As the chair of the House Higher Education Committee, Rep. Seaquist is excited to have a conversation about the latest in higher education funding. He’ll also discuss other topics like the state budget situation and the economy. Callers will be encouraged to ask their own questions during the conversations.

Registered voters within these districts will be called when the teletown halls begin. Those that do not receive a call and would like to participate can call 1-877-229-8493 and enter the ID code “18646.”

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

46th Legislative District Town Hall THIS Saturday

• Meet with members of the 46th Legislative District as they prepare for the 2012 Session. 

• Inform your lawmakers of issues important to you and your community. 

• Learn about the issues facing lawmakers as they return to Olympia. 

• Receive an update on actions taken during the special session and the continuing budget process. 

Saturday, January 7th from 1 to 2:30 PM
North Seattle Community College Concert Hall at 9600 College Way North

For a map and driving directions, please click here.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

49th Legislative District Town Hall

Your 49th Legislative District lawmakers - Rep. Jim Moeller, Sen. Craig Pridemore, and Rep. Sharon Wylie - cordially invite you to a town hall meeting on:

Saturday, January 7, 2012
10 a.m. to noon.
Public Service Center 6th floor Hearing Room
1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver

Keep your lawmakers informed on the issues that are important to you and your community so they can better represent you in Olympia, and if you have questions, be sure to bring them along.

Get briefed on the actions taken during the December Special Session to close the budget gap and learn about the bills your lawmakers will be working on when the regular Legislative Session convenes on Jan. 9.

Let’s kick-off the New Year with the best foot forward by getting the conversation started!

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Chris Reykdal wants you...

Rep. Chris Reykdal (D-Olympia)

…to participate in tonight’s telephone town hall, that is.

Rep. Chris Reykdal will be spending the evening discussing the upcoming legislative session and last month’s special session, as well as taking questions directly from constituents.

If you are a resident of the 22nd Legislative District and have a burning question for Rep. Reykdal, or would simply like to hear what he has to say, be sure to pick up the phone when he calls you at 6 p.m. tonight.

If you do not receive a call, you can call toll-free 1-877-229-8493 between 6 p.m. to  7 p.m. to connect to the live event.

This is the first telephone town hall for Rep. Reykdal, who hosted an in-person town hall last spring at Garfield Elementary School in Olympia.

Tonight’s event will serve as a way for Rep. Reykdal to hear from constituents as we move into the legislative session, as well as another avenue for citizens to access their representatives in the legislature.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Save the date: Wylie's pre-session town hall is on Nov 22