Letters to the editor for Oct. 28

Vote for Carolyn Cox

The election is around the corner. Everyone who can, should vote. Local elections matter.

I enthusiastically support Carolyn Cox for Lacey City Council. I am a business owner in Lacey and fortunate to know Carolyn personally. She is an elected official of high integrity. She is thoughtful about issues facing our community and takes positions that I agree with. She is a compassionate leader that get things done.

In fact, she helped write the Thurston County Climate Mitigation Plan to ensure our county is prepared for the impacts of climate change and she has been at the forefront of addressing homelessness and housing issues. She worked to improve transit service in Lacey and now chairs the Intercity Transit Authority.

It’s no surprise she’s been endorsed by firefighters, teachers, state employees, environmental groups, labor unions, women’s groups, state retirees, Democratic organizations, and top elected officials, including Lt. Gov Denny Heck, the 22nd District state legislative delegation, two county commissioners, the mayors of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater — and me!

Please vote for Carolyn Cox by Nov. 2.

Eddy Cates, MD, Olympia

Elect Spence Weigand to Olympia City Council

As someone who has had the opportunity to work with three governors, I know firsthand that individuals can make a big difference in the success or failure of government.

Anyone who lives in Olympia knows that we need to do something about the homeless problem, the lack of affordable housing, and the feeling of individuals and families that they are not safe in our downtown. I understand these are difficult problems for the City Council to solve. But it is time to bring a new approach, new experiences and, importantly, a new perspective if we are going to change the current situation.

Spence Weigand would bring these much-needed attributes to the City Council. As a successful Realtor, he knows firsthand the challenges individuals and families face in finding affordable housing. He knows firsthand the value of neighborhoods where people feel safe and are free from strangers parking, camping and using drugs on their streets. He knows the importance of keeping and attracting businesses to our downtown and making it a safe neighborhood for those who live there.

Don’t underestimate what an individual can do to bring much needed change to the City Council. Vote for change and please join me in voting for Spence Weigand.

Curt Smitch, Olympia

Talauna Reed is an exciting candidate

Talauna Reed has a resume that any community leader should aspire to have. She holds a degree in organizational management, is engaged in local politics, and is informed about issues. She is a caseworker for Interfaith Works, working with unhoused Olympians. She was a small business owner in our community.

She volunteers with a diverse mix of community organizations ranging from political groups, to Black Leaders in Action and Solidarity Thurston County (BLAST), and Showing Up for Racial Justice Olympia (SURJ). She also organizes toy and book drives and Easter basket giveaways to support our kids.

Talauna developed a detailed platform that goes above and beyond what many other candidates offered us. She discussed her ideas during candidate forums that are recorded and available online. Her ideas represent the mixture of her conversations with community members, knowledge of current policies, and research into what other cities like Olympia are doing.

A lot of Olympians are struggling. Talauna Reed will bring their perspectives to council meetings through her lived experiences and her conversations with Olympians. She will create change on council just as she has done so successfully in her work and volunteering.

There’s a momentum behind her campaign that I haven’t encountered before and it shouldn’t be dismissed. I’m tired of endorsements, editorials, and social media posts that ignore the tremendous experience that Talauna Reed will bring to the Olympia City Council. It’s disappointing that her strong community support hasn’t been acknowledged in news media.

Jenna Ball, Olympia