Leavenworth County commissioners delay vote on ‘Traditional Family Values’ proclamation after mixed public comments

The Leavenworth County Board of Commissioners heard public comment and delayed final action on a proposed proclamation recognizing “traditional family values,” directing staff to bring revised language back at next week’s meeting and discussing moving the observance from July to August.

Supporters and critics of the proclamation addressed the board during the public-comment period. Logan Panato of Leavenworth said he was concerned the proclamation’s language — as reported in a local article and in the packet — read as exclusionary and asked commissioners to avoid “divisive language.” Amy Coffey of Lansing told the commissioners she strongly supported the proclamation, saying it affirms “the traditional family” as an institution that provides stability and passes down civic values.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the proclamation is largely symbolic but acknowledged the political and emotional charge around language that could be read as excluding single parents or other family forms. Several commissioners asked for gentler wording and time to consult staff and legal counsel before adopting the document.

Board discussion and next steps - Commissioners debated whether specific paragraphs might single out or stigmatize single parents even though the packet’s text included language recognizing single parents’ struggles. One commissioner said the paragraph addressing single parents was intended to be supportive rather than exclusionary; another suggested softening the tone. - The board agreed to return the proclamation to the agenda next week for further review. One commissioner asked staff to consider shifting the month named in the proclamation from July to August, because the item will be revisited in mid‑July; the board directed staff to prepare the item for the following meeting with possible wording changes.

Public comments (selected) - Logan Panato (resident): Asked commissioners not to use language that could be read as exclusionary and said “not everybody holds those values.” - Amy Coffey (resident): Spoke in strong support, saying the proclamation recognizes a social tradition of families “that provide stability” and called for celebrating marriage and responsible parenting.

The board took no formal vote on the proclamation at the meeting; the item was continued for further revision and final consideration next week.

The board also received several other public comments at the start of the meeting — including requests related to right-of-way vacations and accessibility concerns for people traveling to weekday meetings — but those were addressed in separate agenda items.