KINGSTON — Beginning in June, County Commissioner Rob Gelder, D-1st District, is offering drop-in office hours in Kingston on the first Saturday of the month.

But there’s a twist …

“Although I’m always available to meet by appointment, I realized that didn’t always offer the flexibility that people working during the week might need” Gelder said in a press release. “At the same time, I didn’t think we needed one more opportunity to sit around a conference table.”

That’s why the new drop-in office hours will be a “Walk & Talk.” Anyone interested in an informal conversation with Gelder should meet at the Kingston office (behind the Sheriff’s Kingston Office located at 26076 Illinois Ave.,  at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. “From there, we’ll walk different routes around Kingston and talk about the issues that concern you.”

“My hope is to combine office hours with a bit of exercise. Should the walk ever be called on the count of weather, we’ll just stay at the office and I’ll put the coffee on.”

Gelder is running for reelection in the November election. He was appointed to the commission in March 2011 and elected in November to the year remaining in the term. He is challenged in the upcoming election by Chris Tibbs, Republican, of Poulsbo.

Tibbs is sales manager for Ootopia Coffee Roasters. He and Gelder served together on the county’s Citizens Budget Advisory  Committee.