Some Washington legislators held townhalls in their districts to get feedback from constituents on a variety of issues.

Did you attend?

We want to know what you told your representatives about education in our state - or what you would have told them if you attended. Share your thoughts and read the stories below! We welcome your submission at any time.

Chris Enslein | 48th District

I've been going to Town Halls for 48th district for about 8 years. This was first time I saw police officers. The officers said one of the legislators asked them to come. Police presence gave the event a different feeling and not in a good way. There was an overflow crowd. Perhaps to accommodate the crowd the meeting was managed differently. Attendees were able to make a short statement/ask question for several mintues, then the legislators grouped the issues and addressed them. This did not allow for the normal follow up questions and dialogue that has happened at past Town Hall Meetings.

I raised two issues; amendments needed to make the Race to the Top legislation (SB 6696) strong enough to put WA's application for funds in good standing and implementation of the Quality Education Commission recommendations which include K-3 class size. I felt the legislators generally showed support for the Race to the Top program and the QEC recommendations but I did not get a committment to the specifics. Perhaps if I had been more precise in my questions I would have gotten better answers.

I feel I was able to say what I wanted to say. As the legislators had asked the crowd to refrain from clapping it was hard to tell if the room supported what I said. I did not feel a lot of push back from the room but given the other questions most of the attendees came for other issues with taxes being a huge concern for most folks in the room. Therefore I tailored my comments to educate the others in the room about importance of education reform and the opportunity for federal funds to do what WA has already decided it must do.

Deb Blakeslee | Tacoma

I know it is too late to schedule one now, but two of our 29th legislative districts electeds held a townhall in January. It was better attended (50+) than the one two years ago (30). Just to reiterate what one of my electeds' assistants said a few weeks ago: "In 20 years, we hardly get anyone who comes to our office regarding education."