District 12 legislators plan town hall in Cashmere for June 4

CASHMERE — State Senator Keith Goehner of Dryden, State Rep. Brian Burnett of Wenatchee and State Rep. Mike Steele of Chelan are planning to convene a town hall meeting in Cashmere following a wrap-up and recap of this session’s legislative efforts.

While lawmakers from Washington at the federal level are reluctant to hold events like this, state legislators are more than happy to update their constituents, especially those handily elected by large majorities like Goehner and Steele. This is often the case at the state level, where lawmakers are largely able to do exactly what they’re elected to do by their voters: Either advance or oppose legislation.

In a joint statement, the three legislators said, “We value transparency, accessibility, and open dialogue with the people we serve. This town hall is a chance to reflect on the legislative session, hear from our constituents firsthand, and ensure we’re representing the priorities of Central Washington. We encourage everyone to attend and be part of the conversation.”

Topics on deck for the lawmakers themselves include the state budget, tax measures, transportation funding, education and plenty more. These topics could serve as prompts for public questions as well, but constituents may ask anything they like, of course.

Interacting with state lawmakers in person is an excellent way to feel engaged in the political process, something that concerned citizens should be comfortable with during times of political tension like we sometimes see on the national stage. While state issues never seem to get quite as contentious as federal ones, the fact is that Washingtonians are far more invested in local dealings than national ones, even if federal issues command more of our attention.

The event will be held on Wednesday, June 4, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Cashmere Riverside Center, located at 201 Riverside Drive, Cashmere. All 12th District residents are encouraged to attend in person. For those unable to attend, another event will be held later in the month in a location to be determined on the west side of the district.

In their statement, the lawmakers included their contact information if you have questions about the event or something specific.

Eric LaFontaine, Sen. Goehner’s Public Information Officer can be reached at (360) 786-7408

Kelley Payne, Rep. Steele’s Public Information Officer can be reached at (360) 786-7761

Brendon Wold, Rep. Burnett’s Deputy Comms Director can be reached at (253) 973-0505

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media