Vancouver City Councilor Bart Hansen announced Tuesday he plans to run in November for another term.
Hansen, 40, a key accounts manager for Clark Public Utilities, was appointed to the council in January 2010 to fill the vacancy created when Tim Leavitt was elected mayor. Hansen successfully ran for election in November 2010 and then won re-election in November 2011.
He’s seeking another term because “I feel like there’s still more work to be done,” he said, adding that the city is facing issues in transportation, liveability and maintaining and sustaining current public safety standards.
This year, Hansen hatched an idea for high school students countywide to ride C-Tran buses for free after school. The students could get free admission to city-owned community centers, or just ride to a library or after-school activity. The point would be to provide transportation to a safe environment to study or do something constructive.
The rest of the City Council is on board with Hansen’s idea, and city staff members are working with the school districts and C-Tran to develop a pilot project.
“Enhancing the liveability of our city is one of my major focuses, and student access would play a large role in that,” he said Tuesday. “Not only does it address some of the public safety concerns we have with some of our young adults, but it also gives them opportunities that were never afforded to them before.”
Utility assistance
In 2012, Hanson helped develop the city’s utility assistance program in which the city helps struggling working families pay their utility bills through donations from other customers. The program is modeled after Clark County Public Utilities’ Operation Warm Heart.
Hansen said he believes it’s important that city leaders seek to improve all areas of the city on an equal basis.
“We all have an equal share in the community, regardless of where we live in Vancouver,” he said in Tuesday’s press release. “That is why my objective is ‘one community, safe and prosperous.’ This is my pledge to all the citizens of Vancouver.”
In addition, the city must carefully plan for its public safety facilities to evolve with the community’s changing needs, he said. Hansen notes that during the recession, he fought to prevent the closure of Fire Station 6 and keep it funded and operating to maintain acceptable emergency response times.
Hansen has served on boards including the Children’s Justice Center, Elder Justice Center and the Safe Communities Task Force. He is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 152, and the Vancouver Police Officer’s Guild.
“Councilor Hansen has maintained steadfast support for public safety measures, programs and personnel during his time on the City Council, and we look forward to working with him in the years to come,” guild President Jeff Kipp said in a written statement.
Hansen’s campaign website is www.BartHansen.com.
