Vancouver mayoral candidate Justin Forsman says current Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle has ‘led this city into debt, dysfunction, and disconnection’

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

Vancouver is the heart of Clark County, built by working families and small businesses who believe in accountability and opportunity. But under the current administration, under Ann’s rule, while your city manager makes $324,000 a year, we have watched this city sink deeper into chaos, congestion, and disarray.

The people of Vancouver have had enough. The era of failure is over. The decline must come to an end. It is time for responsibility, strong leadership, and real progress. That is what we deserve, and that is what we are going to seize this November.

Our city is now nearly 44 million dollars in debt. Their excuse is that the economy did not perform as expected. That is not leadership. That is a cover-up for poor planning and mismanagement. While the city racks up deficits, residents are hammered with higher taxes, rising utility bills, and fewer services.

I will work hard to cut waste, lower taxes for residents and businesses, reduce utility taxes, streamline the permit process, and as part of this effort, I will also focus on removing parking fees within our city altogether to make life easier for working residents and help local businesses thrive.

Our traffic situation is out of control. Lanes are being removed while more people move into our city. That is insanity.

Vancouver’s infrastructure should reflect the strength of the people it serves, not punish them with gridlock and bottlenecks. We can support cyclists by identifying alternative bike routes that do not displace our main traffic corridors. Smart planning means improving flow for everyone, not creating new obstacles in the name of politics.

While residents sit in traffic, fentanyl floods our community, crime increases, and encampments continue to spread across neighborhoods, parks, and business fronts. The city continues to fund failure. We need real solutions, not more excuses. Illegal encampments will be cleared. But our approach will be guided by compassion, with support for those who seek help and humane treatment and options for the animals they care for.

As your mayor, I intend to declare, with the support of council, a public health emergency in response to the fentanyl crisis. Too many lives have been lost. Too many families have been torn apart. The time for soft words and inaction is over.

We must support our officers, enforce the law, and stop coddling criminals while hard-working residents are left to struggle or live in fear.

There is also a dark and uncomfortable truth that needs to be exposed. I have spoken directly with high-level executives in the trades, including the Carpenters Council, who confirmed what few in power dare acknowledge. There is widespread exploitation of undocumented workers, which in many cases amounts to human trafficking and indentured servitude. These workers are controlled through debt and fear. This is happening here in Clark County. Injured workers are often left with no record of employment and no recourse. The city council was briefed. They did nothing. That silence speaks volumes.

Some have said I have no place as your mayor and no credibility to lead.

I do come from a tough background. Foster care. Ward of the state. No handouts. Made mistakes and faced setbacks. But I do not run from that. I rise from it. I have seen what happens when the system forgets about you, and I will never stop fighting for those it continues to fail.

We need leaders who care about long-term public health. Our water is contaminated with fluoride, microplastics, and other harmful chemicals, including glyphosate. These substances do not belong in the human body. I will fight to eliminate them.

We also need to restore real democracy. The current administration quietly stripped away the Citizen Forums at City Hall. These forums gave residents the opportunity to speak every other week and were broadcast live on CVTV. That was a vital platform for public engagement. It has been taken away. Yes, you can still speak on agenda items, but the core of civic participation has been removed.

As mayor, I will bring back the Citizen Forums. I will open the doors of government to the people again. You will be heard, seen, and respected.

Anne has led this city into debt, dysfunction, and disconnection. She backs bloated bureaucracy, failed policy, and rising taxes. She has failed to listen, failed to act, and failed to lead.

We cannot wait another four years. Vancouver is awake. The people are ready for change, ready to rise, and ready to rebuild their city with bold, fearless leadership.

I am that leadership. I will put the people first, work with the council to get results, and restore transparency and prosperity in Vancouver.

We already know the system is broken. It is time to take our city back.

You can support my campaign at the link below:

Support the campaign:

GiveSendGo | Justin Forsman for Mayor of Vancouver

Website: www.ForsmanForFreedom.com

Justin Forsman
Candidate for mayor of Vancouver

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: Washington is bleeding taxpayers and now a State Representative wants to make it worse
  Mark Harmsworth argues that a proposed statewide payroll tax would worsen Washington’s ongoing loss of jobs, businesses, and economic competitiveness.
• 
  Opinion: WEA secret meeting about opposing the initiatives gets leaked
  An opinion from Let’s Go Washington criticizes a leaked Washington Education Association meeting about opposing LGW’s initiatives on girls’ sports and school transparency.
• 
  WA Gov. Bob Ferguson says his budget will rely on cuts, not taxes, to balance
  Gov. Bob Ferguson plans to balance Washington’s budget through spending cuts, rejecting sales and property tax increases amid a multi-billion dollar shortfall.
• 
  Rep. Peter Abbarno tours YWCA Clark County domestic violence shelter, calls for stronger support services and accountability for offenders
  Rep. Peter Abbarno toured the YWCA Clark County domestic violence shelter, highlighting the need for expanded survivor housing and restored offender accountability.
• 
  Clark County Council votes to increase property tax by 1 percent
  Clark County Council approved a 1 percent property tax increase for 2026 to support county services amid rising expenses and structural deficits.