Letters endorse Upthegrove and Ferguson, offer gratitude for veterinarian at Animal Services
Why vote for Dave Upthegrove
I am one of many people that have been working to stop the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from selling critical mature legacy forests to the timber industry. We must protect our most carbon-dense, structurally complex public forests.
If Dave Upthegrove becomes the next Lands Commissioner he will:
1. Prevent DNR from selling the legacy forests.
2. Restore salmon through habitat and watershed protection.
3. Improve wildfire prevention.
Without Dave Upthegrove as our next Lands Commissioner, you can say goodbye to 77,000 acres of older, diverse, carbon-dense forests — many close to 100 years old.
Your most important vote on Nov. 5 could be the choice for Lands Commissioner. This could have climate impacts for hundreds of years.
Please vote for Dave Upthegrove as if your future depends on it, because it very likely will.
Heather Pens, Olympia
Important change at Animal Services
This is an open thank-you letter to the governments of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Thurston County.
While I do not fully understand the budgeting structure for Joint Animal Services, I am aware that each of the entities above played a role in funding two much-needed staff positions: a veterinarian and a surgical support position.
It is important to note that this does not mean there are veterinarian services available to the public. It does mean that the animals coming to Joint Animal Services can be treated on site.
For years, animals were transported to local veterinarians or even as far as Tacoma where they were spayed, neutered or received other care.
Having their own veterinarian means Joint Animal Services can quickly treat animals coming in with injuries or having been abused. Likewise, animals pending adoption no longer are put into travel kennels and driven off site, sometimes when it is very cold or hot.
As you can imagine, shelter animals are under tremendous stress. The veterinarian and her assistant are another set of hands that provide animals with loving and gentle care.
This is a tremendous benefit to our community, and I am grateful for the insight and generosity that brought about this much-needed addition to Joint Animal Services. I am also thankful for the kind and caring staff at Joint Animal Services, who work with tremendous challenges and rise to the occasion every day.
Kate H. Bligh, Olympia
Ferguson a great candidate for Governor
Time is running out to vote for Attorney General Bob Ferguson for Governor, who for the past 12 years has worked ceaselessly to protect our state’s citizens from all forms of corruption, whether from national corporations or local groups or individuals.
His focus on minorities is exceptional and essential, since our state is home to 29 tribes, along with other vulnerable minorities. From pay inequities to violence and restrictions against women, to threats of unfair use of tribal lands, AG Ferguson is on the front lines with a dedicated staff of lawyers backing him.
He’s devoted his energies to cold cases of sexual violence that need to be resolved, for the fairness and sense of relief of the victims, whether they are women living everyday lives or male and female prisoners, trapped in a system of overcrowding and unwarranted violence.
He’s working tirelessly to stem the supply of illegal guns and won many lawsuits against gun sellers of such arms, with other states joining him in his successful lawsuits.
He has formed an Organized Crime Task Force to investigate and prosecute organized crime rings that endanger employee safety and damage businesses and the economy, driving up costs for all Washingtonians.
Fining the corporations that fueled the opioid epidemic, he’s won over $1 billion and ensured the money be used solely for treatment and addressing the crisis.
Throughout his AG years, he’s worked closely with Gov. Jay Inslee and is well-prepared to take over as our next Governor.
Vote Ferguson for Governor!
Kathleen Rooney, Lacey