PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles Mayor Sissi Bruch’s intention to ask the City Council to consider removing artwork on the new Veterans Park fencing that depicts Revolutionary War soldiers holding guns has caused a firestorm of controversy.
We spoke with the Mayor Monday afternoon, who told us that, for her, the issue was first and foremost about symbols.
“Yes, it is, because there’s…you can have symbols and like that, soldiers with guns represent our armed forces and there is absolutely nothing offensive about that. But we could potentially have symbols that represent the freedoms and the democracy that the soldiers have fought for and that the veterans have fought for and I would love to see those symbols in place as well.”
We asked if that meant she was seeking a compromise now rather than removal of the symbols.
“Yes, I’m absolutely open to hearing any potential compromises. I’ve gotten some good ideas from the emails that I received and maybe I’m really getting to a balance. Right? Right now, all there is are the pictures of two soldiers or sentries with their guns. Could we potentially have other symbols added that could balance this picture to show, you know, what they fought for? For the freedom and the liberty?
Some have called to have the issue removed from Wednesday night’s meeting agenda. Councilmember Cherie Kidd wrote a letter saying Bruch had overstepped her authority as mayor.
“When I got that letter I wanted to make sure that I hadn’t overstepped my authority or that I wasn’t doing anything wrong. So I sent Cherie’s email to our legal department and they reviewed it and they said they that the RCW she states is not the one that applies to Port Angeles and that I did not overstep my authority. So I just wanted to double-check that because if I had done something wrong, I will absolutely, you know, take it back. It’s not the intent for me to push something down anybody’s throat.”
Bruch says while she does not intend to remove the item from the agenda, she does want to move it forward on the agenda so that people won’t have to be there all night.
Did the Mayor foresee that her idea would be so divisive?
“No, I had no sense that it was going to be this big because I thought that we could have a conversation and not let, I guess, emotions get in the way. This is just to be able to have that conversation and if people don’t want it then let’s vote against it and it’s all done. This is what democracy is all about. This is why it is so important, I think, to make sure that all our voices are heard.
The council meeting will not be held Tuesday night as usual because it’s election night but will instead be in council chambers Wednesday evening at 6 pm.