Letters to the editor for July 17

Vote Beth Doglio

Let’s return Beth Doglio to the Legislature! Voters in the 22nd District have a unique opportunity to do so in the Aug. 2 primary election. We urge you to join us in voting for Beth Doglio for state representative. Beth was a key part of the 22nd District legislative team from 2017-2021. We served with her and know first-hand that she gets things done.

We need to return her energy, experience and leadership to the House of Representatives. Beth is a nationally recognized champion of the environment, a founder of Washington Conservation Voters. She has helped lead the passage of groundbreaking legislation to empower workers through higher wages and improved protections; to make Washington a leader in the fight against climate change; and to provide more resources to address homelessness.

Beth will advocate for increased gun safety legislation. A dedicated spokesperson on a woman’s right to choose, she said, “I will do everything in my power to fight against the Supreme Court’s efforts to destroy our rights in this country.”

Beth Doglio has a record of fighting for the working people of Washington, especially state employees and educators. She supports cost-of-living increases for public employees and retirees.

And, most importantly, she lists herself as a “full-time mom.” Please join us in voting for Beth Doglio for state representative.

Sen. Sam Hunt, 22nd District

Rep. Laurie Dolan, 22nd District

Current sheriff should not be reelected

Reelecting Sheriff John Snaza would be a poor decision on the part of voters. In the voter’s pamphlet he uses phrases including “maintaining the highest level of professionalism,” “I will continue to lead with integrity…” and calls himself “a servant leader.”

Contrast his words with facts and his actions. Voters ought to consider the investigation of the death of Trey Hanson on April 12 of this year while in custody of his department’s deputies. Snaza is completely blind to the blatant appearance of conflict of interest that exists in having the investigation of this death investigated by his identical twin brother who is the sheriff in an adjacent county.

In Thurston County, we should vote for a sheriff that will work to build trust and faith in our law enforcement officers and the actions and policies of the Sheriff’s department. Our current sheriff instead runs a department that smacks of cronyism.

Reelecting Snaza is a mistake, it moves us away from a county with progressive law enforcement the public can trust.

Steve Albrecht, Olympia

Why Jessicia Bateman is the right type of politico

Jessica Bateman, who is running for re-election as the Position 2 Representative for the 22nd Legislative District, is that rarest of politicians who manages to balance being a successful leader and policy hero while working to find equitable and innovative solutions for some of our state’s greatest challenges.

She leads by pushing for housing affordability through density and transportation.

She does her homework! Enter into a conversation with her and you will find that she is well versed in policy and details.

Last but not least, she is an able advocate for inventive problem-solving measures such as Olympia’s Home Fund, a program that has the potential to build equitable housing in an inequitable housing market.

As a Washington legislator, Bateman has successfully co-sponsored bills for community solar, long-term care, assisted living, firearm safety, and worker protections, to name just a few. She is also the vice-chair of the Health Care and Wellness Committee, and a member of the Housing, Human Services and Veterans Committee. All this during her first term in office!

Jessica Bateman’s record of leadership, innovation and advocacy make her unquestionably the best candidate to represent LD-22.

Robert Vanderpool, Olympia