“We The People of Clallam County” is the title given to this series of Listening Sessions and Candidate Forums, which will be held in eight different sites throughout Clallam County, over the next several weeks.

These meetings have been organized by candidates, who are running for Charter Review Commission.

We’d like to give you a little background about what “Home Rule Charter” is.

Out of 39 counties in Washington State, only seven of the counties have adopted home rule charter – for their form of county government.

Clallam County was the second county to do so, in 1977. Home Rule Charter gives greater self-determination by the people of our county, resulting in less influence from Olympia.

As adopted in our county, every five years we have the opportunity to elect 15 people, to form the Charter Review Commission, five from each district.

District 1 – is the area around Sequim.

District 2 – is the area around Port Angeles.

District 3 – is the western portion of Port Angeles and the West End.

The 15 people, who are elected, will form what has been described as a mini-Constitutional Committee, and their purpose is to review the adequacy and suitability of the Charter to meet the needs of the county and its residents.

Amendments, if approved by the Commission, will go on the November 2020 ballot for approval by the voters.

All of the Charter Review Candidates, from all three districts, have been invited and welcomed to attend each and every one of these Listening Sessions and Forums.

During the first hour, the public will have an opportunity to share their ideas, regarding priorities for review by the Commission.

Depending on the number of people wanting to participate, each person will likely have 1-3 min, to speak.

All of the meetings will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. Meetings on the West End:

Friday, Sept. 20 – Clallam Bay Sekiu Lions Club; 90 Bogachiel St.

Friday, Sept. 27 – Forks Athletic & Aquatic Club; 91 Maple Ave

Friday, Oct. 4 – Makah Tribal Marina; 1321 Bayview Ave

Friday, Oct. 18 – Quileute Tribal Administration – West Wing Room; 90 Main St.