The public is invited to hear Local Port Candidates speak about the Port of CW issues on Wednesday, September 23, beginning at 7:00 p.m

The Camas Washougal Aviation Association (CWAA) is hosting this forum for C-W Port Commmissioner candidates

Location: Camas Washougal Municipal Court, 89  "C" Street in Washougal.

District 1 candidates Gary Perman and Mark Lampton and
District 3 candidates Alan Hargrave and Bill McCrae Smith are invited to participate.

Each candidate will have the opportunity to provide a three minute opening statement and a three minute closing statement. A total of five questions will be asked by CWAA moderator Liz Pike and Brent Erickson, Executive Director of the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, Port candidates Bill McCrae Smith and Mark Lampton have refused to attend. One insider close to their campaign disclosed that because Martha Martin, President of the CCIA was not allowed to write and control the questions as a moderator, she declined to moderate and Smith/Lampton/Daniels refused to attend and participate.

"We are very interested in learning more about our Port Commissioner Candidates," said Neil Cahoon, Vice President of CWAA and Chair of CWAA's Public Affairs Committee which is organizing the candidate forum. "This forum will provide an opportunity for our members and the general public to find out where these candidates stand on issues that are important to our community" said Cahoon.

The Camas Washougal Aviation Association is a 501c3 organization. It's mission is to support aviation in the community and raise awareness of the important role of Grove Field and its general aviation activities. CWAA raises money each year through various fundraising activities including the annual Grove Field Open House over Camas Days weekend and at Summer Concerts at Marina Park.

Funds are used to award scholarships to college bound students from Camas and Washougal seeking professional careers in aviation. CWAA also sponsors an aviation camp each summer and provides scholarships to many of the local youths who attend.

Hopefully, the two candidates will re-consider and consider the public's desire to learn more about them and their platforms. Maybe refusing to attend a public forum is indicative of how they will run port meetings as well.