Newcomers should get the facts on Olsen | LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Published 11:28 am Friday, October 24, 2014
To the editor:
It’s fall so we are bombarded with James Olsen campaign signs. We’ve managed to keep him sidelined so far, but it’s important new residents have the facts.
He has alienated a large number of us, not through independent or conservative views, but with his public rants and demeaning name calling.
He objects to recognition of our Japanese American community for the hardships they suffered as internees in World War II. He even tried to force his way into classrooms with his alternative view (that they were spies). The Bainbridge Island School District was forced to issue a no-trespass order against him.
He has lashed out at individuals who have questioned his views and motives through name-calling and rude remarks. The long list includes members of our Japanese American community, local individuals and myself. He has implied publicly many times that I am a drug addict because of my first name.
He ran a local campaign years ago that was cited for signage that violated the city sign ordinance. Rather than saying thank you, removing and fixing the offending signs and moving on, he looked for other signs in the community that were not compliant. His target? The beloved local fire department annual pancake breakfast signs. The city had no choice but to remove them days before an event that raises funds for children who have been injured in fires.
He also strikes out at organizations that the people who stand up to him are attached to. He posted a threat against one I run on its Facebook page last year.
He will tell you Bainbridge will not elect him because we are a bastion of liberalism and don’t respect his conservative views. We will not elect him because he is not qualified and lacks the temperament for productive public service.
Make sure the people around you know the truth about James Olsen. Google him. An awful long, sad list will pop up. We all deserve better.
MARIJANE C. MILTON
Bainbridge Island
