Vancouver Police Officers' Guild Endorses Tim Leavitt for Mayor of Vancouver

Press release issued by the campaign today:

The Vancouver Police Officers' Guild has endorsed Vancouver City Councilman Tim Leavitt for Mayor of Vancouver. The VPOG represents the Police Officers, Corporals, and Sergeants of the Vancouver, Washington, Police Department.

In a letter announcing the endorsement, Guild President Ryan Martin says, “We appreciate [Leavitt's] past and present concerns over the leadership within the Vancouver Police Department.”

Leavitt joined the Vancouver City Council in 2003 and served on the City’s Planning Commission before that. During his time as a councilman, Tim has regularly listened to and spoken with Guild membership, closely evaluated the recent Matrix study of the Department, and held frank discussions about issues affecting both sides of the table.

The VPOG supports Leavitt's message of positive change and forward movement for the City of Vancouver. “Our membership believes there is a time for change within our city government. We also believe there is a time for change within our city's leadership team. We believe that time is now.”

“Our city employees are passionate about the future of Vancouver,” says Leavitt. “We are in absolute agreement that the City must stop cutting budgets for core services like Police and Fire. It’s time to re-prioritize at City Hall. That is what I’ve been fighting for and one of the reasons why I have received support from the Police, who have been repeatedly underfunded year after year.”

Leavitt has also been endorsed by AFSCME Local 307VC (Vancouver City employees) and Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 757 (C-Tran employees) and has received the informal support of Unite Here Local No. 9 (Hilton Vancouver employees).

Persons interested in volunteering, donating, or learning more may contact the campaign office at 360.609.4846, via email at leavitt4mayor@gmail.com, or by visiting the campaign website at www.leavitt4mayor.com. The campaign also has a Facebook page and group, at “Leavitt4Mayor”.