Town hall meeting demonstrates importance of civic involvement
Photo by Josh McDonald/ Idaho Gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan addresses the crowd at The Bean during a town hall meeting last Wednesday.
KELLOGG – How important is it for local business owners to be civically aware and welcoming when it comes to politics?
Earlier this week, popular coffee house The Bean hosted a brief town hall meeting for Idaho Gubernatorial candidate Paulette Jordan as she made her way across North Idaho for the final time before Election Day.
The event was very well attended as more than 60 people packed inside the building for a last chance to hear the Idaho State representative speak in person.
Sarah Still, the owner and operator of The Bean, believes that hosting events like this are vital for a community and a great way for business owners to get to know their customer base.
“I think it’s important for people to be able to come together and hear about the issues in a neutral space,” Still said. “We don’t have a lot of places where people can do this kind of thing, so I think making it available is important.”
Jordan herself commented on the importance of these types of community meetings, not just for her, but for all campaigns, community issues, and anytime the community needs to weigh in on something.
“For us these stops are a way to get to know the people in these more rural areas,” Jordan said. “But most of all, it’s important for people to be able to come together and hear about the issues, get their questions answered, and have an open dialogue with each other on them.”
No matter what the political affiliation, Still wants people to use her business as a place where people can gather if that is where they feel comfortable.
“I’m open to anyone who needs to use it,” Still said. “We want to accommodate people getting informed.”