Cincinnati Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld is in Washington, D.C. Tuesday for a meeting at the White House on gun violence.
Sittenfeld will be part of session with Vice President Joe Biden and officials from state and local governments
“To talk about strategies for gun violence prevention, it’s obviously something that is an issue facing the entire country and an issue that we are facing right here in the city of Cincinnati,” Sittenfeld said. “Because there is so much sort of dysfunction and obstruction at the federal level, I think the thinking is let’s both listen to and learn from local practitioners who are on the ground and talk about how we can tackle this challenge.”
Sittenfeld said he is not sure about the format of the meeting or how many other local and state officials will be attending.
“You can learn so much in terms of what other states are doing and what other cities are doing,” Sittenfeld said. “You know it’s an honor to go to the White House and an honor to be with the Vice President, but most of all people are doing good things all across the country that I hope I can listen, learn and bring them back to Cincinnati.”
Sittenfeld focused on gun violence in his unsuccessful bid to be the Democratic nominee in this fall's race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Rob Portman.
Former Ohio Governor and Congressman Ted Strickland beat Sittenfeld in the March primary.
Vice President Biden and President Obama endorsed Strickland in that race.
Sittenfeld said he is positive the invite is not “a peace offering” from the White House following the Strickland endorsement.
“There’s no peace to be made, everyone is free to make the endorsements they want too,” Sittenfeld said. “I think this is because I have been advocate on an issue that they care a lot about.”
This is Sittenfeld’s first invitation to an event at the White House.
