Council Member Stewart “Gavels Down” Fellow Council Members

March 8, 2011

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I’m really sorry I missed last evenings Vancouver, Washington City Council Meeting. Had I been present, I would not have been able to contain myself and would have applauded council member Jeanne Stewart for her dressing down of fellow council members for now discussing favorably the very policy they ousted her from the C-Trans board because of her voting for it just weeks ago.

I have to add here that I have come to respect Larry Smith quite a bit over his work with various Veterans’ issues and look forward to working with him in the future. But when I feel he is wrong, I have to state so. And, I feel his and the rest of the council’s decision to cut Ms. Stewart from the board was very wrong.

Troubling to me is hearing the words from Jack Burkman, “the will of the body.” He means what city council determines on how council members will vote in regards to issues on the C-Trans board.

Somehow, “the will of the people” seems lost, “the will of the body,” a majority of the 7 members of city council taking precedence.

That strikes me as communistic, not that I feel Burkman is a communist. But, we allow phrases to slip into our language that can easily be misconstrued towards communist thought.

Ms. Stewart faced the wrath of the Vancouver City Council for taking a stand placing the “will of the people” over the “will of the body” and she was rudely cut out of where we citizens need her most, representing us as wimpish mayor Leavitt and fellow council members continue to ignore citizens concerns over an overly expensive $4.6 Billion project to replace the I-5 Bridge, to include forcing Portland’s financially failing Loot Rail on Clark County citizens.

Also of concern, from Burkman is hearing him utter something about “if we are going to ask residents for tax money, we tell them exactly what they are going to get.”

One problem, Jack, YOU’VE NEVER ASKED US!!

Since council and WaDot decided to ignore the voices of citizens and voters who continually reject extending Loot Rail into Clark County, we have never been asked again, but rather TOLD what we will pay, like it or not!

Hell, we even heard nutless wonder Tim Leavitt let slip on the Lars Larsen show that he does not even want citizens to vote on Loot Rail.

Spin it any way you wish, it I obvious her removal was retribution for thinking of voters and tax payers and placing our concerns over the bullying nonsense we have seen from city council.

Jack, you can polish a turd all you wish, it is still a turd!

Wisely, Jeanne ‘Gavel Down’ Harris kept her mouth shut during the dressing down rightfully administered by Ms. Stewart last evening.

Ms. Stewart was right last November and she was rightfully indignant last evening. If I had been there I believe I would have led a well deserved standing ovation for her words.

At least we have one council member with a pair, even if it is a soft spoken lady.

UPDATE: Jeanne Stewart sent an email apology to council member Larry Smith as follows, “After thoughtful review of the Council meeting on Monday, March 7, 2011, I recognize that I owe you an apology for interrupting you twice, during the discussion on the C Tran issues.”

“And even though my frustration at having been disregarded was justified, my goal as a council member is to lead by example and as such, I sincerely apologize for those interruptions.”

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