EVERETT — Members of Congress wary of discussing health care reform at a freestyle meeting this summer can benefit from the experience of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen.
The Democratic congressman’s town hall in Everett on Wednesday afternoon had the high-pitch of emotion and presence of media awaiting conflict that’s marked similar forums across the country.
Hundreds of people showed up and lobbed verbal grenades at one another on the costs and benefits of Democratic legislative proposals.
But none sailed directly at Larsen while he stood on the infield of the AquaSox baseball stadium and moderated a 2 1/2-hour conversation on the most divisive issue since the Iraq war.
Maybe those attending were too tired to be uncivil. Many in the crowd of 2,400 arrived three hours early to make sure they got a seat and a chance to discuss — or argue — with those holding opposite views.
Maybe it was the layout of the venue. Once inside, those sitting on benches behind ballpark netting were far enough away from Larsen that any vitriolic spew mostly dissolved into the atmosphere.
Or maybe Larsen’s approach, honed through frequent hosting of town halls, calmed the unrest right out of those who came in search of a fight.
“Other than being a much larger crowd and being in a ballpark, it is something Congressman Larsen has been doing for years and is very comfortable with,” spokeswoman Amanda Mahnke said. Larsen left on vacation after the forum and could not be reached for this story.
Political allies and foes applauded his performance at the town hall.
“He did a fantastic job of picking people to ask questions. It seemed really fair,” said Julie Martinoli of Monroe, a leader of Seeds of Liberty, who disagrees with Larsen on most aspects of the Democrat-crafted legislation going through Congress.
Twenty-four hours before it happened, Larsen’s staff had not sewn up the logistics for the event that ranks as one of the most attended of any town hall this summer.
For weeks, it was scheduled for the Everett Station in a room where a couple hundred people could fit comfortably.
Then Mount Vernon happened.
Larsen went there Aug. 8 for a health care forum. He arrived at the location to find it had 150 seats and 900 people wanting them.
With most of the crowd unable to get in, Larsen strapped on a wireless microphone and then went back and forth taking questions from those indoors and then those outside.
When that event ended Saturday evening, Larsen told his staff they’d need a bigger site for Everett, Mahnke said.
District Director Jill McKinnie and Snohomish County Outreach Director Luke Loeffler searched out possible locations, such as Comcast Arena, the Everett Performing Arts Center, the Everett High School Civic Auditorium and Memorial Stadium.
Staff preferred the stadium because it had the highest capacity and it also had the lowest fee, under $500. However, they worried stormy weather might create a last-minute washout.
They monitored weather forecasts until about 5 p.m. Tuesday, when they committed to the stadium and publicly announced the venue change.
Larsen then phoned leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in Snohomish County. He told them of the switch, assuring them the reason for it was to ensure as many people as possible could participate.
Everett police were told, too, and a few uniformed officers were deployed, though they kept a low profile.
Larsen staffers had already anticipated organized demonstrations of supporters and opponents. They made no effort to encourage or discourage them.
People like Martinoli and Snohomish County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Phillips started pitching tables, raising signs and carrying on with one another in the parking lot about 2 p.m.
“People who were holding signs on both sides were mostly carrying on civil conversations,” Phillips said. “Put a table and (Vice President) Joe Biden there and you have a beer summit.”
The gates didn’t open until about 4:30 p.m. By then some had exercised their lungs enough and went home. Others went inside, glad to have a bench to sit on and await a shot at questioning Larsen.
“While there had been some incidents elsewhere, here in the Northwest our expectation was civility,” Mahnke said.
“We are very grateful that the residents of the 2nd District can show the rest of the country that we can have a constructive conversation about health care reform,” she said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623, jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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