Vancouver City Council Declares War on No Tolls Businessman

April 13, 2011

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In the last two two days, at two separate meetings, Vancouver City Councilors have made a point of asking two people testifying against light rail and tolls if they’re “working for” David Madore, the man who started the group www.NoTolls.com.
At the City Council meeting on Monday night, Mayor Tim Leavitt asked one of the No Tolls workers, Josephine Wentzel, if she were there that night working for “Mr. Madore.” As she registered her shock and sputtered that she was there speaking only for herself as she put on her comment card, Leavitt barreled on and asserted she received $3000/month as an activist. (Wentzel’s reaction is at 22:26 and Leavitt’s comments occur at 28:45 Here.)
Then last night at the C-tran meeting the same thing happened to another anti tolls and light rail activist. The Columbian reported it this morning:

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By that time most of the crowd of almost 100 people had filtered out of the county’s Public Service Center. That included Wentzel, who had engaged in a heated exchange with Stuart earlier in the evening. The pair sparred after Stuart asked Vancouver resident Debbie Peterson whether she was representing herself or notoll.com founder David Madore when she testified against the crossing project.

I understand elected officials are beginning to feel like public pinatas on this issue. They’re wrong on tolls and light rail, they’re being rolled by Portland, and the people of Clark County are acutely aware and are pushing back. Pushing back is what we call democracy. That elected officials are trying to justify short circuiting democracy by NOT LISTENING to the plebeians and questioning their sincere motives is contemptable and unworthy of them.
Leavitt, Stuart et al, are trying to silence their opposition by questioning their motives. Many of these people have been in the public eye for years. This cynical move is as misguided as it is shameful.
If the Vancouver City Council members are getting pro-tolls and pro-light rail media advice there should be a public record pay stub around here. 
Or maybe they’ve just been reading Saul Alinsky.

Tell ’em where you saw it. Http://www.victoriataft.com