Don’t be turned off, turn out instead | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 1:30 am Friday, October 28, 2016

To the editor:

Even if you are turned off by the presidential election, it is important that you fill out your ballot for state, regional and local races.

These elected officials have arguably more influence on our lives because the decisions they make affect us close to home.

This letter is in support of Loretta Byrnes for Representative, 23 Legislative District, because she has the qualifications and energy to represent us effectively, to solve the McCleary education problem and other issues that affect us.

Sherry Appleton has been in office for 12 years but her performance at the Hansville Candidates Forum and other forums recently indicate that it is time for her to retire. At those forums, Sherry gave answers that were incomprehensible and at times was unable to even remember the question well enough to respond at all. Although Sherry is proud of the fact that she was appointed to the Council on Aging, she has not attended any of the meetings since April.

Education now comprises 48 percent of the state budget and is the “paramount duty” of the state, and it is clear that Loretta Byrnes knows more about our education system (based on her years of working in the field), the McCleary lawsuit and possible budgetary solutions than does Sherry. Loretta will be effective in dealing with these tough issues, a leader even in her first term, while Sherry has had six terms to do that and hasn’t.

We need and deserve a representative who has the energy and intellectual capacity to represent us in the Legislature. So, even if you are turned off by the presidential election, please fill out your ballot for Loretta Byrnes for legislative representative in the 23 District.

ALICE TAWRESEY

Bainbridge Island