By Forum Editor

Christi Baron

U.S. Representative Emily Randall made a whirlwind visit to Forks last Friday, meeting with local leaders, educators, healthcare administrators, and small business owners to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the West End of Clallam County.

Randall, who represents Washington’s 6th Congressional District and succeeded longtime Congressman Derek Kilmer, arrived at Forks City Hall around 11 a.m. She was greeted by Mayor Tim Fletcher and members of city staff before heading into a full day of back-to-back meetings and tours.

Her first stop was with Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Diana Reaume to discuss local education priorities. That was followed by a working lunch centered on Forks’ role in the regional Recompete initiative, which aims to spur economic development in persistently distressed communities.

After lunch, Randall visited the Forks Forum office before heading to Forks Community Hospital for an in-depth look at rural healthcare challenges. At about 2 p.m., she stopped in at the Forks Chamber of Commerce for more community dialogue, then visited several small businesses, including Chinook Pharmacy, Decker Hardware, and Native to Twilight.

The final stop of the day was the Forks Industrial Park, where she joined Mayor Fletcher, city attorney/planner Rod Fleck and Forks Community & Economic Development Assistant Nick Dias, to follow up on previous discussions regarding a prospective tenant and ongoing support for current businesses.

Randall departed Forks around 3:45 p.m., wrapping up a tightly scheduled but productive visit.

Throughout the day, she listened to community concerns on a range of issues, from access to healthcare and education, to workforce needs and rural infrastructure. Her visit underscored her ongoing commitment to hearing directly from constituents in all areas in the district.

Randall, a native of the Kitsap Peninsula and former Washington State Senator, has long focused on expanding healthcare access, supporting public education, and improving behavioral health resources. During her time in the state legislature, she served on key committees including Higher Education, Workforce Development, Health and Long-Term Care, and Transportation.