The contest for Vancouver City Council Position 4 presents an easy decision for voters — Bart Hansen should retain his seat on the council, and The Columbian’s Editorial Board recommends a vote for Hansen in his race against political newcomer Justin Forsman.
As always, this is merely a recommendation. The Columbian trusts voters to study the candidates and the issues before making an informed decision. To that end, we direct you to video of the Editorial Board meeting with the candidates.
Since being appointed to the city council in January 2010, then winning elections again in 2010 and 2011, Hansen has helped shepherd Vancouver out of the Great Recession and has taken the lead on several projects. He counts himself as a strong supporter of public safety — police and fire — and of protection for vulnerable citizens. He points with particular pride to a program he spearheaded that will provide free bus passes and free entry to community centers for low-income students, and to a program for assisting low-income residents with their water bills. He also points with pride to the progress made by the council as a whole.
“Where we were at in 2010 and where we are today is two different worlds,” Hansen said. “We have gone from taking the city where you are looking at a major deficit, to where in your utilities you are looking at a pay-as-you-go policy and eliminating the debt service, which essentially is going to recoup 25 percent of our budget. These things that happened along the way I’m very proud of.”
On specific issues, Hansen advocated for an advisory vote to be sent to the public regarding the outlawing of personal fireworks in the city, but eventually voted with the rest of the council to eliminate fireworks beginning in 2017. And he suggests that the council should consider a vehicle renewal fee — which can be up to $20 without a vote of the people — to help pay for street maintenance and repair.
While Hansen has been an effective and thoughtful council member, the ease of the decision to support him in this election comes from, in part, a result of his opponent’s inexperience.
Forsman’s primary issue is a desire to eliminate fluoride from the city’s drinking water, saying, “We’re forcibly medicating the people.” Of note, he has claimed in campaign material that fluoridation costs the city more than $3 million a year, but now acknowledges that $70,000 is a more accurate figure. He also worries that the United Nation’s Agenda 21, a nonbinding plan related to sustainable development, will have a negative impact on Vancouver, and stresses a need to adhere to the U.S. Constitution. “I’m for the people and I want to protect the people,” he said.
Forsman also has argued that his criminal record, which includes a 2 1/2-year prison stint, should not be relevant to voters, but we believe that it is. “I’m not that guy anymore,” he said.
On specific policy, Forsman suggests that money from marijuana taxes, about $800,000 of which goes to the city, should be used for street repair. But Hansen counters: “If you’re going to tax something, there should be a nexus. What it’s affecting, there should be a direct correlation.”
Overall, that kind of nuance demonstrates that Hansen has a superior grasp of the issues facing the city. Bart Hansen is the stronger candidate in the race for Vancouver City Council Position 4, and The Columbian recommends that voters support him.
