Backstabber Report

Jeanne Harris – Vacouver, Washington City Council’s Queen Of Obscene

When it comes to rude behavior and an obscene attitude toward people who elected you to public office, the crown could easily be awarded to Jeanne Harris, a councilwoman serving Vancouver, Washington.

In a YouTube video posted by NoTolls.com, that has only just begun to go viral, with slightly less than 38,000 views at the time of this article, Jeanne Harris succeeded in not only making an ass of herself, but trampled on the 1st Amendment Rights of those who tried to address the Vancouver City Council on September 13th, 2010.

It seems that Jeanne Harris won’t allow citizens to address council members by name, or address any issue she deems “not city business,” though some might disagree that a new light rail system running through the city isn’t city business. Jeanne Harris also seems to set limitations on how a presentation is made. She apparently doesn’t like maps being displayed by citizens, as well. Top it all off with Ms. Harris telling another council member, who had taken a mildly worded position against her antics, to “shut up.”

This happened when Councilwoman Jeanne Stewart later asked the city attorney for his opinion on whether the council could restrict comments. Saying she was concerned about the restrictions, Harris interrupted her.

“Well of course you are [concerned], Councilmember Stewart. They’re your friends,” she said. “They’re the people who supported you.”

Stewart denied they had supported her.

When another person took the podium to address the council and attacked Harris by name, Harris repeatedly demanded that the mayor gavel him down. She then gathered her things and left the chamber. Following the meeting, Harris returned, chastising Stewart for addressing concerns to the council about Harris’ restrictions. Stewart could be heard calmly telling Harris to “settle down,” followed by Harris telling Stewart to “shut up.”

Disobey Harris’ iron fist and she’ll order the Mayor of Vancouver to gavel you down (which he will) and tell you that you are finished, as she did to one citizen. Which, by the way, brings us to the Mayor of Vancouver. All we can say is “somebody” needs to grow a set of balls. It seemed the only person at that meeting with a set of them was Councilwoman Stewart – and we say that as a compliment to her.

With four other men on the council, we don’t think there was one testicle among them. Did they voluntarily castrate themselves, or is it something in the Vancouver water that shrinks gonads to the point you can’t stand up to a woman who tramples on the right to free speech?

There are a number of questions that are raised.

#1. How did this woman get elected and when will her recall come?

#2. In an interview with radio host Lars Larsen, she admitted to not knowing the Constitution, but referred to the Town Charter and the decisions of the council of how meetings would be conducted. From where we come from, the Constitution and the 1st Amendment overrule any town Charter and local government must follow Federal law. Is Vancouver not part of the U.S.?

#3. She wrote a letter that might resemble an apology, if it weren’t for her unchanged attitude. In an email sent to council members, only a half hour after submitting her apology, she sarcastically “thanks” people for listing her phone number and “making my life Hell.”  As an insurance agent, she blames others for her losing policies because of her attitude that night. Her phone number is 360-896-0422, so should you feel inclined to tell her how sympathetic you are to her, we’re sure she would appreciate the support. She went on to say she “wasn’t normal” that night. The question is, does she admit to being abnormal, and if so, should she serve the public if she can’t control her emotions?

We’ve attended a number of public council meetings in our day. They can become heated, but other than a citizen being a threat to people’s safety, or becoming violent, citizens have been allowed to voice their opinions without being silenced by a council member. At no time during Jeanne Harris’ meeting did any citizen even raise their voice. The fact was she silenced people who had a right to address the Council on any issue they felt was important – in any civil manner they chose.

Jeanne Harris forgot one important fact.

Jeanne Harris was elected by and works for the citizens of Vancouver. It isn’t the other way around. She disgraced her position and the city of Vancouver, Washington. Thank God, if you don’t live there.

Councilmember Harris received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Communications from Concordia University in Portland, so if you are considering Concordia you may want to rethink enrollment, if this is an example of their graduates.

Currently, other council members are now conducting an ethics hearing on Jeanne Harris. The ethics committee would report to the City Council which, if it chose to act on their findings, could mete out a punishment ranging from admonition to recall, City Attorney Ted Gathe said.

Timothy D. Leavitt, Mayor
E-mail Tim.Leavitt@ci.vancouver.wa.us

Jeanne Harris, Council Member
E-mail Jeanne.Harris@ci.vancouver.wa.us