Letters to the editor for July 19

Vote for Reed for Olympia School Board

An important decision Olympia voters will make is who will represent us in the District 1 Olympia School Board seat. This decision affects not just students, parents, and staff, but also the community at large. It helps determine how our tax dollars are spent, shapes the well-being of young people and essential workers who impact our social ecosystem, and affects the life trajectories of future generations.

Talauna Reed is the only District 1 candidate with the necessary experience and backbone to empower teachers, students, and families. Since being unanimously appointed to the Olympia School Board in 2022, Talauna has been a lone voice for all students and staff. She cast the only vote against district budget cuts and the only vote against administrative salary increases because she believes that paraeducators, social workers, and health room aides should be prioritized.

We deserve to be represented by a true public servant. Talauna’s dedication to helping people goes beyond the school board. She organizes with the Tenants Union of Washington State to bring underrepresented communities to the table. She organizes the annual Joy and Justice event to distribute toys, books, and clothing to families in need. She advocates for marginalized people at Olympia City Hall. Her commitment to justice is what we need in an elected official.

Let’s keep Talauna Reed on the Olympia School Board. Vote for her in the Aug. 1 primary. You can register to vote or update your voter registration at voter.votewa.gov.

Steven Marquardt, Olympia

Support the West Thurston fire levy

Taxpayers in southwest Thurston County have an opportunity to show their support for their firefighters on Aug. 1 with Proposition 1 for a multi-year levy lid lift to maintain current staffing levels across the 162-square-mile service area. Without passage, the department’s budget will only be allowed to grow by 1%, which falls short of keeping up with the rate of inflation or increased costs for providing services.

Department leaders listened to the public after the double failure of the excess levy in 2022. The excess levy was to not only keep ahead of the growth but also to fund necessary apparatus and facilities upgrades which were defrayed to keep adequate firefighting staffing levels.

The naysayers state that the levy will place undue burden upon taxpayers. Think of an extended response to a fire or life-threatening medical emergency due to the local station crew being already committed to an incident in the community.

In critical care of sudden cardiac arrest, there is a 10-minute window for a potential successful resuscitation. The size of a fire doubles every 60 seconds.

The department is asking only to stay current with its staffing so it may meet the expectations and maintain the safety of our community.

West Thurston has demonstrated fiscal responsibility and transparency for many years. Don’t allow one naysayer to convince you otherwise due to their own personal agenda. Vote yes on Proposition 1 and keep your community safe.

Robert W. Scott, retired fire chief, Rochester

Vote for Moomau for Port Commission

I have lived across the street from Bill Moomau, who is running for District 4 port commissioner, for 25 years. He is highly qualified as the only candidate with marine experience having worked for a construction company in Vietnam that operated two dry docks and eleven T2 tankers in the South China Sea. He has traveled extensively and has a house in Portugal. He has visited many ports and toured Rotterdam in Holland, which is the largest port in Europe, as well as Hong Kong and Shanghai in Asia and Panama in South America.

His goals for the port are different from other candidates. He proposes to close and convert the marine terminal to community space for housing, a Little League ball field, and space for the homeless. He wants to sell the Lacey warehouses and some assets to pay down the $33 million in debt. He supports the airport and New Market industrial space.

I hope you will read the voters pamphlet and the League of Women Voters page and vote for Bill Moomau.

Stanley Bernstein, Tumwater

This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 5:00 AM.