Maybe the Greater Vancouver Chamber needs to rethink its “Statesman of the Year” award.
Almost simultaneously, while Mayor Philip Johnson was receiving his award from the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVC), in which the winner is supposed to represent “the interest of business along with their overall community priorities and responsibilities,” he was drafting up an attack ad going after a veteran and mom who’s running for Battle Ground City Council because she got sick and couldn’t make an event. After the last couple of years, surely the mayor has learned the importance of stopping the spread. But instead of seeing the wisdom of not getting others sick, Mr. Johnson saw it as an opportunity to politically smear a candidate. I doubt this embodies what the GVC had in mind when mulling over candidates. But on the other hand, they had to choose between Mr. Johnson or Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, so I understand the dilemma.
The citizens of Battle Ground need results, not insults. It’s a shame that Mr. Johnson is going out on a sour note, but Battle Ground is no doubt ready for change, and Victoria will be a great City Council member. Vote for Victoria!
Rob Anderson
Ridgefield
