Spotlight: Vancouver City Councilman Bart Hansen

Sometimes good guys slip through the cracks and wind up with other political parties.  In the case of Vancouver City Councilman Bart Hansen, a Democrat, here is one local politician who seems to get the fact that he represents us. 

A fierce advocate of public safety and the lone dissenting vote against a budget that slashed fire and police protection Hansen is fervently backed by the IAFF (Firefighters Union), however he has stated if something is best for the people he would go against them, like the pending discussion about annexation of Vancouver City Fire Protection to County Fire District 5.  It would cost Hansen all his Union support, but he would vote in favor of it because it is best for residents.

A religious man with an amazing family who support his efforts he also a coach for a youth football team in his very limited amount of spare time.

During the election he published his personal cell phone number and took calls from voters with questions at all hours.  He was out fixing his own signs that were vandalized by over-zealous volunteers of the opposition.  He ran as clean a campaign as anyone this county has ever seen.  Due to his appointed position when Tim Leavitt was voted in as Mayor, Bart is now running for the third year in a row to retain his seat. 

During all the higgledy piggledy that has surrounded the city council this year between shouting city council-people, no tolls attacks, a hard fought budget battle and arguments about city council benefits (he voted No), Councilman Hansen has remained a calm presence in the eye of a violent storm.

The Vancouver City Council is made up of non-partisan candidate’s therefore political leanings are not supposed to be a factor.  Yeah, right.  I would go out on a limb and state that if Hansen ever were looking for a new political party this one should welcome him with open arms.