Decision 2008

Endorsing Sherry Appleton

I am voting for Sherry Appleton to return her to the Washington State Legislature to represent the 23rd Legislative District. Sherry has consistently supported education, the environment and working families.

She has also worked on our behalf to try to get passenger-only ferries and to keep ferry fares affordable. One particular ferry action for which I’m thankful is the ability to use a commuter card for more than one car so that families can travel to weddings and funerals across Puget Sound at a lower cost.

Sherry Appleton has promised to work to put a cap on interest rates charged by payday lenders. Payday lenders are a scourge in poor areas, preying on young, low income families, including military families. When I think of young families having to borrow money for gas and milk to get to payday, while the wage earner in the family is serving in the military, the thought that they could be paying up to 300 percent interest annually makes me very sad. In fact, I am sick of it.

Linda Gabriel

Poulsbo

Every vote counts

Recently a close friend of mine told me she did not vote in the primary election! I was flabbergasted to say the least .. didn’t vote. Why in the world would someone throw a single vote away? This is the most important election, I believe, in the American history.

Let’s look at our own state government first starting with “our” governor, Christine Gregoire.

1. We have a 33 percent increase in spending, and it only took four years. This leaves our state with a $2.7 billion deficit. Are you listening?

2. Then, Gregoire has doubled the cost of her “personal staff. If that isn’t bad enough – she has tripled her communications staff!

Need more?

3. Gregoire supports a state income tax.

4. Gregoire and her “Democrat-controlled” legislature raised taxes over $1.1 billion.

Do you remember the last election four years ago, when Gregoire ran against Dino Rossi? Dino won twice, but after the third vote, Gregoire took it.

I don’t want that to happen again, or have this group back in office again!

I’ve had enough. Have you?

This time, everyone, needs to get the vote out and your vote does count. Let’s make sure when they count the votes this time there won’t be any questions as to who won.

Nancy Zorrozua

Bremerton

GHAC

Caution, Hansville and Eglon

There is a small group of people who have placed themselves in a position to be making decisions for our communities of Hansville and Eglon. They are doing so without the input of you, the people. Who are they? They are the self-selected Greater Hansville Area Advisory Council (GHAAC). They have made themselves an official county government body. They claim to represent you, but they vote as individuals without your input to decide things that affect us all.

These few voted and brought the speed bumps to downtown Hansville and Hood Canal Drive. Did they ask you for your opinion? These few decided to name Hansville, Eglon, and beyond “Greater Hansville.” Did they ask you for your opinion? These few voted and installed a sign saying “Welcome to Greater Hansville” way down at the Eglon Corner in the Kingston zip code. Did they ask you for your opinion?

What’s next?

Hansville, Eglon, and the North End — Keep an eye on this group, the Greater Hansville Area Advisory Council.

Philip Smith

Hansville

Here’s an idea

Rather than a golden parachute …

We have it all backwards. Since the captains of industry have failed us, let’s bring back our manufacturing base with American labor and import our chief executive officers and chief financial officers from China and India. They have proven they can run the show and they won’t need a $20 million salary and that sweet plume the golden parachute.

Go Obama.

Jim Nicks

Poulsbo

Kingston ferries

Ferry financing is an ugly business

As Chair of the Kingston Ferry Advisory Committee and co-chair of the Executive Council of Committees, I’ve been in the no-man’s land of ferry financing for the last two years. It’s ugly there.

Our leaders in Olympia are determined to shift ferry funding costs to ferry riders and our Central Sound routes are clearly in their crosshairs. We’ve been blessed to have Sherry Appleton and Christine Rolfes on our side in this struggle. Their leadership, persistence and willingness to confront other legislators on behalf of ferry riders has been inspiring to me. The next legislative session will cast the die for our ferry system’s future and we need Sherry and Christine there.

Walt Elliott

Kingston