OLYMPIA — State representatives plan town hall meetings today in Port Townsend and Sequim.
State Reps. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, and Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, are making a last-minute swing across the North Olympic Peninsula to solicit input from their constituents as the lawmakers focus on writing the operating budget for the coming biennium.
The meetings will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St., and from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.
Both events are open to the public.
The two legislators represent the 24th District, which covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
“We have tough decisions in front of us on issues ranging from education to health care to public safety,” Van De Wege said.
“It’s important that we hear from the people we represent before we take critical votes in the coming weeks.”
Van De Wege and Tharinger will deliver brief introductory remarks before taking questions from constituents.
“It’s especially challenging for our constituents to travel to Olympia to meet with us during the week,” Tharinger said.
“In order to do our jobs, we have to hear what people’s priorities are.”
Both Van De Wege and Tharinger acknowledged that the late notice isn’t ideal, but a last-minute scheduling change allowed the lawmakers to make the trip back to the district during the week.
