So I hear about the Town Meetings with our 8th District Representatives and think, “cool! I’ll have to go!”.  8th District Representatives Larry Haler, Shirley Hankins, and State Sen. Jerome Delvin are all going to be there.  What a great opportunity!  Then I check out the announcement and notice Richland is not on the circuit.  Now West Richland is, but why not come to the larger of the two Richland’s?  Well, one can only hope they are not doing this out of spite over the whole Hankins/NW Tire reports.  After all, there are semi-neutral places, such as the Richland Library, to hold a one-hour event without having to… you know… run into any of your accusers.  As much as I would like to think this has nothing to do with the Tri-City Herald/Chris Mullick reports well… whatever. 

Citizens are invited to join in discussions about local and legislative issues during town hall meetings Saturday, March 17, in Prosser, West Richland and Kennewick. The meetings are sponsored by Sen. Jerome Delvin, Rep. Shirley Hankins, and Rep. Larry Haler, all R-Richland.

[Ehhhuummm... all R-Richland]

If Shirley was smart, and presumedly she is, she would insist that at least one meeting takes place in Richland.  It is one thing to avoid confrontation when it isn’t productive. But it is another to run from it.  And really, confronting this issue is really the best way to do damage control.  And it isn’t like she and the rest of the gang have to answer any questions on the matter… after all, it is an “ongoing investigation”.  But seriously, holding an event in West Richland’s City Hall/Library is just fine.  It is only a two mile drive… er… doesn’t that seem silly to you too?  Scheduling a Town Hall talk two miles away?  Um… you could still walk to this one. 

Bottom line is, if Shirley Hankins is trying to make a statement to the City of Richland, she is also making another one to us.  If she is unwilling to be a true professional, and hold an event in seemingly unfriendly territory (which it isn’t), it could make it even more unfriendly two miles down the road, in a town 1/4 or so the size. 

Having this event in Prosser, West Richland and Kennewick, and not in Richland only serves to widen the rift the Herald report created.  Shirley may deny any wrongdoing, and yet may be proven correct.  Yet, my Grandmother always told me you can’t run from your problems.  Or one of your major voting bases.

Just sayin…

Update:  The Tri-City Herald’s, Chris Mullick, picked up on the story (not that it wasn’t obvious) today.  While Hankins, through her staff, deny stiffing the City of R, and the City or R plays down the importance, State Sen. Jerome Delvin (R-8) provides the quote of the day.

The new format, inviting officials from ports, school districts, chambers of commerce and the like, was first tried in a town hall meeting Delvin and Hankins had last month in Benton City. Delvin said it worked well and they figured they’d try it again.

But why wasn’t anyone from the city of Richland invited to participate?

“Talk to Hankins about that one,” Delvin said.

What can I say…