Washington Forum returns with third installment

The third installment of the Washington Forum will take place on Tuesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place, 425 S. Edgewood Road, Mount Vernon. Titled “The Room Where It Happens: How Government Really Works from City Hall to Capitol Hill,” this event will provide attendees with a candid and insightful look into the realities of public service and governance.

This forum will feature a distinguished panel of experienced public servants, including Athens Mayor and immediate Past President of the National League of Cities Steve Patterson, former U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs, and former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. The discussion will be moderated by Mount Vernon Mayor Matthew T. Starr.

Panelists will share their firsthand experiences working in government, offering perspective beyond headlines and political narratives. The conversation will focus on what public officials wish citizens better understood about their roles, how government functions in practice, and opportunities for improving institutions to better serve the public and strengthen the Republic.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear personal stories from inside the decision-making process and engage directly with panelists through a question-and-answer session.

The Washington Forum, a yearlong civic series in partnership with Kenyon College’s Center for the Study of American Democracy, continues its mission of fostering informed civic dialogue and providing the community with access to thoughtful discussions on public service and governance.

The event, part of the city’s America 250 programming, is free and open to the public.