Letters to the editor for July 24
Back our police officers
With the news giving the rioters top priority, isn’t it time to start praising and thanking our officers for protecting us and our communities?! Our governors and mayors are bowing down when they should be standing tall and backing our police officers for everything they do.
Nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop, which outnumber the bad cops by the thousands.
Start saving our cities and towns and backing the blue! Get the rioters out of Washington and all of the states and stop defending what these crazy rioters are doing. There are protesters peacefully trying to speak and they aren’t being heard. There are rioters tearing our streets apart. Let’s start using our heads and do something about it!
Praise our good police officers. Governors and mayors, start doing your job and help this community! Get these rioters off the streets, and take control! These people have been heard long enough. Listen to the American citizens who are tired of the chaos!
Cindy Elliott, Olympia
Jackson Maynard for Congress
I worked alongside Jackson Maynard for years in the state legislature as he fought for the people of Washington on some of our state’s most pressing issues, including ensuring public safety for all communities and alleviating highway congestion.
During that time, I witnessed Jackson, short on sleep and over-caffeinated, face a variety of frustrating situations with calm and determination. He consistently asked the tough but necessary questions — the kind of questions that challenge assumptions and hold our government accountable. And through it all, Jackson always remembered who he worked for and strove to get the most value from every tax dollar.
In a time with so much negativity in politics, I am excited to vote FOR someone. Someone who is focused on doing what is right. A leader of high integrity and with the competence and fortitude to get the job done. I can say with utmost confidence that Jackson is exactly the kind of person our nation needs and the people of the 10th Congressional District deserve.
We should send Jackson Maynard to Congress this November, and our first step is to support him in the primary this August.
Matthew Germer, Lacey
Vote for Huffman in the 35th Legislative District
I write to endorse Darcy Huffman for state legislator in my 35th District. I’ve known her for decades in various roles. I vouch for her tenacity, integrity, honesty, candor, compassion. She has superb organizational and financial skills and experience.
From 25 years in international banking and risk management, to a decade reinventing the financial and programmatic structure of a progressive church, she has shown the power to envision, enact, and empower others and effect needed changes.
Her world travels, secular and faith-based, have taught her about other systems, what works or doesn’t, and thus she brings a wide perspective to any state challenge. She also is a good listener/learner, seeks input, then charts a course. She is as transformative as she is personable.
She is keenly aware of, and dedicated to, resolving housing insecurity and lack of access to quality health care, including funding stability for clinics and hospitals and preventing personal bankruptcy due to health emergencies, especially now! Darcy abhors racism in any form and will be a leader in legal and institutional change.
She opposes prioritizing business and the economy without public health safety measures, like her opponent does. She knows about the economic needs of our district, starting with the need for broadband internet access and reliable cell connections for all as a boost to businesses, students, schools, and the elderly.
Darcy is sharp, effective, reliable and determined. She seeks input rather than spouting a party line. She speaks truth to power. Darcy will serve us all well.
Gery Gerst, Olympia
Beth Doglio is the best
The first holder of the office, Denny Heck, brilliantly represented the recently minted 10th Congressional District. He was smart, wise, and schooled in how to get things done in politics.
We have the opportunity to replace him with an equally bright and talented legislator in Beth Doglio (DOE-li-o).
Several of those seeking to follow Denny have good progressive credentials, but they don’t come close to Doglio’s track record of getting things done as a legislator.
Living in the 22nd Legislative District, I have followed Doglio’s performance. She is amazing. Successful legislators know how to network. From what I know of her work in the legislature, she and fellow 22nd District Rep. Laurie Dolan have accomplished way more than anyone else. My wife and I attended a town hall where even Republican state Rep. J. T. Wilcox praised Beth as being better to work with than some colleagues on his side of the aisle.
In the eyes of many of us, the other Washington has been broken for a long time. In the upcoming election there seems to be a good chance serious positive change will be possible. We want to send the best person we can to help create that positive change, and that is Beth Doglio, hands down.
Warren Carlson, Olympia
The 35th District needs Darcy
Darcy Huffman gets it. That’s why we need to send Darcy to Olympia to represent the 35th Legislative District.
I know Darcy for her strong experience that runs from business to nonprofits. We need someone like Darcy who is ready to tackle issues that range from housing to healthcare. In the midst of this pandemic, we need someone who knows broadband being available to everyone creates economic development and levels the playing field for those who need it most.
Send Darcy to Olympia. She gets it.
Laura Adamson, Olympia
Vote for Biggerstaff for 22nd Legislative District
I am asking you to join me in voting for Mary Ellen Biggerstaff to represent the 22nd Legislative Districts in our state legislature. She is among other excellent candidates vying for this seat, but Mary Ellen, I believe, is the strongest. She has her roots in Thurston County. She is proud to have spent the last 15 years caring for our community as a nurse practitioner while raising her four teenagers. She will be a strong voice representing us.
As a nurse practitioner, she was confronted daily with patients in desperate need of universal health coverage. Moreover, many patients lacked safe and affordable housing, access to education, and jobs that paid a living wage. She found this unacceptable. She thinks it is time for transformational systemic change.
We will need to make up large holes in state revenue because of the coronavirus this year. Washington State has one of the most regressive state tax systems in the country. We need to implement a wealth tax, an income tax and/or a capital gains tax to make up for lost revenues from the sales tax and also make our tax system more fair.
Mary Ellen will fight to transform our system into one that holds human dignity above corporate profits. She will listen and respond to our community. She will fight for policies that ensure safety, dignity, and justice for all of us.
Check out her website.
Patricia A. Holm, Olympia