August 22, 2022
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As your state senator, it is very helpful for me to hear directly from you, but I know it can be difficult to come to Olympia during the legislative session. That is why I created an annual 12th District “listening tour” after my first election to the Senate six years ago. These listening tours have really helped me hear directly from constituents on issues important to your communities, and the discussions each fall prepare me for legislative sessions.
 “Listening tours” prepare me to represent you at our state Capitol in Olympia.
Sixth annual listening tour: September 13-16
This year’s 12th District listening tour will be split between the traditional areas of the 12th District and the new areas of the district resulting from the recent state redistricting. The first portion of the tour will take place on Tuesday, September 13, through Friday, September 16. (The remaining tour will take place November 14–18 in the King and Snohomish counties portion of the new 12th District). For the September portion of the tour, I look forward to visiting Cashmere, Leavenworth, Chelan, and Wenatchee.
The past listening tours have taken me all throughout the 12th District and helped connect me with issues important to all four counties in our district – Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan, including several communities, such as Leavenworth, Cashmere, Quincy, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Pateros, Twisp, Chelan, Grand Coulee, Bridgeport, Waterville, Rock Island, Mansfield, and Mazama. Many of these areas will no longer be within the 12th District boundaries, which is why this year’s stops will include Cashmere, Leavenworth, Chelan, and Wenatchee. It is always helpful to hear directly from you, the people I serve, on issues important to your community.
November 14-18 "listening tour" in new areas
With the recent redistricting changes, the 12th District will have new boundaries following the November elections. The new 12th District boundaries will continue to include much of East Wenatchee, all of Chelan County, and portions of Snohomish County (Index to Monroe) and King County (North Bend to Duvall). Approximately half of the population of the new areas includes the cities of North Bend, Carnation, Sultan, and Monroe with the other half of the new area located in unincorporated King and Snohomish counties. A new feature of the new 12th District is the Cascade Mountains, including Snoqualmie Pass and Stevens Pass. As I do with all constituents, I will be working hard to outreach to these communities over the coming months and years, which is why a portion of this year’s listening tour is dedicated to the new areas. This portion of the tour will take place in mid-November when the new boundaries officially take effect following the November elections.
 Each year of my listening tours has included meetings with the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. This meeting from 2017 involved discussions about key funding needed for Wenatchee’s Saddle Rock trails. Working together during the 2018 session (click here), we secured the necessary funding and the trail work is now in progress.
Meet with me in-person or by video conference
While I am looking forward to in-person meetings for this year’s listening tour, group meetings can still take place by Zoom or as traditional conference calls. My office will schedule the meetings approximately 20 minutes apart to accommodate as many groups as possible. If you are interested in an appointment, either in-person or via Zoom, please contact me at brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov or 360-688-8951.
Listening tour ideas successful in the Legislature
Hosting a listening tour each year allows me to hear directly from you in preparation for the upcoming session. Ideas shared during past listening tours have even turned into successful legislative action. As examples, a suggestion by Leavenworth officials to dispose of brush and yard clippings resulted in a bill that became law in 2018. A funding request related to the Saddle Rock trail in Wenatchee became reality when it was included in the state capital budget two years ago, and a road paving project to a popular fishing location in Okanogan County was recently funded. A biochar demonstration project in the Methow Valley to reduce wildfire risk was also funded, as well as significant future improvements to the city of Wenatchee’s Community Center utilized by Pinnacles Prep School. All were ideas first discussed with constituents during past listening tours. Besides legislative ideas, I also collect helpful comments that prepare me to make better decisions to represent you in Olympia.
 The first stop on my 2018 listening tour took me to the city of Leavenworth to meet with the City Council. My Senate Bill 6055 was signed by the governor in 2018 to assist the city in disposing of its brush and yard waste. City officials joined me in Olympia for the bill signing (click here). Smiling in this photo is the late councilmember Carolyn Wilson (light-colored shirt), who sadly passed away last month. She served Leavenworth with great distinction.
Legislative staff and issue specialists will join us
As I have done the previous years, I have invited my legislative staff, communications staff and issue specialists to join me. It’s helpful to have these resources available when visiting with communities. If we do not have answers to the questions you ask, we’ll track them down and follow up with you. The 12th District listening tours are a great opportunity for staff based in Olympia to hear directly from you about issues of interest in our district, so I hope you’ll connect with us.
Please schedule your meeting with me
I hope you will consider participating in this year’s listening tour. Please remember that these meetings are all prescheduled with specific times. If you are interested in an appointment, please contact my office at brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov or 360-688-8951.
Whether you are able to participate in the upcoming listening tour or not, please know that my position exists to serve you. Please feel free to reach out to me and my office anytime by emails, phone calls, or letters. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and ideas about state government and thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your state senator.
Sincerely,
Brad Hawkins
State Senator Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District
Website: senatorbradhawkins.org
107 Newhouse Building - P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
|
