Bateman and Farmer Bring Balance

I support Jessica Bateman for Olympia City Council and Jerry Farmer for the Olympia port commission, and I respectfully ask you to support them as well. I’m ready for the fresh ideas and balance that these leaders bring.

These two candidates understand that our greatest aspirations for a strong public sector must be balanced with the need for economic prosperity. Without a healthy small business climate, we cannot be a progressive community. Reasonable economic development is good for our residents.

Sadly, operatives working for their respective opponents seek to tear down Jessica and Jerry instead of lifting up their own candidates. We can do better than the low-class politics of vilification and fear mongering.

I appeal to you as a progressive Democrat who co-sponsored the $12 minimum wage, marriage equality, and a carbon surcharge. I have fought hard for workers’ rights, tax reform, fully-funded schools, vulnerable citizens, environmental protection and so much more. I have a 100 percent environmental voting record and a 98 percent labor record and yet, operatives in our community seek to tear down me, Jessica, and Jerry simply because we support a healthy business climate. Enough already!

I’m asking people in this community -- Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike -- to stand up to these anti-growth forces. We need leaders who think critically, not with extreme ideology. We can be progressive and business friendly.

If you want effective, hardworking, and reasonable leaders, please join me in voting for Jessica Bateman and Jerry Farmer.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Bateman and Farmer Bring Balance."