Letters to the editor for Oct. 20

Huffman for Olympia School Board

Why care about local elections or vote for Darcy Huffman? Because we have far more voice in our community and region than in a vote for President. Often ignored are school board elections, which truly affect our future generations by policies and actions they make, how they make those decisions, and budgets they set. Please vote for those seats whether you have kids in school or not! It’s also our future they shape — plus you pay to support schools, so why not have a voice in that.

As a retired educator and union activist of 40+ years in Olympia area schools, I support Darcy Huffman for Olympia School Board. Why? Because she values straight talk, honest answers, educators and all children of all abilities, origins, races and genders. She demonstrates a keen ability to see and explore various sides of an issue as well as to involve and listen to all players when making a decision. Working through diverse interests and opinions to achieve compromise where possible is her forte. She is task-oriented, a tireless worker, extremely organized, and focuses on the target goal. Further, Darcy has a proven long-term commitment to the Olympia community.

Observing and working with her for years, and knowing her background, I can attest to her consistency of values, integrity, tenacity, goal focus, creative visioning and planning skills, plus effective dedication to improving whatever organization or cause she works for. Our schools’ needs plus Darcy’s skills and values are a great match.

Gery Gerst, Olympia

Editorial Board missed key facts

As a librarian, my primary duty is to assure that patrons have all the facts, not incomplete or inaccurate information. Reading the Editorial Board endorsements for Port of Olympia Commission left me disappointed that a reputable news organization, to which I have individually subscribed for 39 years, and at the libraries where I have worked, would provide incomplete, inaccurate information about Port District 2 candidate Jessie Simmons. Jessie is not “now a college graduate;” he also holds a master’s degree in political management and is completing a second master’s in political science.

The wording of the Editorial Board seems dismissive of his rock-solid support for working people. In these stressful, uncertain times, working women and men need all the support they can get. Jessie has the only unionized campaign staff in the county. His day job is getting marginalized people into well-paid, desperately needed jobs in the trades. He has a vision of recruiting and training people in the maritime trades. (Anyone following the news knows that there is a critical shortage in this field.)

The most critical fact overlooked by the Editorial Board is that Jessie is the only candidate who has worked directly in environmental mitigation of toxic chemicals and fuels at ports around the world. In Iraq, Jessie, as a non-commissioned officer, worked not only in Port logistics but was an environmental compliance officer. There is no one running for Port Commissioner with stronger port and environmental experience.

Deborah K. Pattin, Olympia

Elect Robbi Kesler to Olympia City Council

Olympia voters, please cast your ballots for Robbi Kesler when you vote for Olympia City Council Position 2.

Robbi and I met when our kids were at the same preschool, and then we served together on the community council of a local public elementary. She is incredibly organized, a hard-worker, and a good collaborator. There are so many opportunities and challenges facing our beautiful city, and we are so lucky to have a chance to elect someone with Robbi’s deep professional experience and broad lived experience.

Robbi grew up in Mason County. Her first job was in high school at an Olympia restaurant. Her impressive professional experience since then — including as a policy adviser to members of the state House of Representatives on local government issues and as general counsel to the Chehalis Tribe — offer a unique opportunity for us to elect a council member with a deep understanding of city government and tribal relations.

Our city recently signed a new accord with the Squaxin Island Tribal Council. Robbi is an enrolled member of the Skokomish Tribe, and served as attorney to the Chehalis Tribe for several years. Electing Robbi will further show our collective commitment to having a native voice at the decision table.

Kelly Morgan, Olympia