VANCOUVER, Wash.- The city of Vancouver would be renamed, if proponents of calling the city Fort Vancouver get their way. The name change idea is in response to confusion generated by the relatively close proximity of Vancouver, Washington to Vancouver, British Columbia.
The name change to Fort Vancouver would play on the city's rich history as a military and trading post.
The idea is not new, but has come up again, because of the upcoming general election in Vancouver. It could put city councilor challengers in place who are open to the name change idea, should they oust incumbent councilors who don't favor it.
State law says a city council majority is required to get a city name change on the ballot. Otherwise, 10-percent of residents would have to sign petitions supporting getting the name change of the ballot.
Incumbent mayor Royce Pollard has long disapproved of a name change, preferring to refer to the city as "Vancouver U.S.A." or "America's Vancouver". His mayoral challenger, city councilor Tim Leavitt says the city has bigger issues to contend with before he's interested in discussing a name change.
But residents are talking about it, and agreeing to disagree.
