U.S. Senate
I’m voting for Sen. Patty Murray. She’s worked hard for the health care services women care about like birth control and breast cancer screenings.
It is clear that Dino Rossi is too extreme to represent young women in our state.
Murray also stood up to powerful insurance companies in order to get a health care reform bill that really helps people.
When it mattered most, Murray was there for women.
LaVerne Nelson
Vancouver
Sen. Patty Murray has been in the other Washington too long.
No one questions her ability to bring home the pork with her prodigious history of earmarks, but what we should question is her lack of independent thought and judgment.
She is so quick to say “yes” to any and all of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi’s agendas that she didn’t even pause long enough on her “yes” vote for Obama care to get a kickback like many of her fellow Democrats.
Murray and her big government ways must go. My vote is for Dino Rossi and restoring some fiscal sanity to our government.
Bryan Yinger
Brush Prairie
17th Legislative District, Pos. 1 and 2
It is a pleasure to spend time campaigning with Brian Peck in his race for 17th Legislative District, Position 1. Peck is a common-sense businessman who strongly respects the state and federal constitutions. This energetic, upbeat, pro-life candidate pledges to focus on education, public safety, and protecting the most vulnerable. Reducing burdens that government agencies place on businesses is a high priority for Peck. Peck opposes tolls and light rail on a proposed Columbia River bridge and is a great choice for voters and taxpayers.
Ann Makar
Vancouver
It’s very important to have people from various fields representing us in the Legislature. It would be a real benefit to have an educator like Monica Stonier, someone who works with the students every day, someone who sees and understands the issues as a representative. I think her voice would be an excellent resource for other members to have access to. Having Stonier’s voice in Olympia, with her experience and vision, will be a very big plus. Let’s send Monica Stonier to Olympia.
While we’re at it, let’s retain Tim Probst. Probst has done an outstanding job of representing the 17th, and has maintained fidelity with Washington voters by voting against the bill that killed I-960.
Craig Sayre
Vancouver
The fiscal crisis in Washington, per capita, is even worse than that of California. So why is The Columbian talking about petty car tabs and PDC filings? None of that seems very important when the Democrats keep spending us into oblivion. Ask the 13 percent unemployed if they care about the minor details of businessmen Brian Peck and Paul Harris. Don’t be distracted. Let’s send Harris and Peck to Olympia as our 17th district representatives. They will bring a determination to make government truly effective and fiscally responsible.
Michael Shaw
Vancouver
As an independent voter who focuses on honesty and issues instead of party politics, I urge voting for Monica Stonier as our 17th Legislative District rep. She’s a middle-class working wife and mother who understands what families are dealing with today. Her opponent shows a lack of integrity by not paying taxes and will continue the same old status quo politics.
Stonier brings a fresh, realistic voice to our state government, and has promised to work to better manage the budget, even if that means disagreeing with her own party. She’s the best choice for families and small businesses trying to make it in these tough economic times.
Deena Warner
Vancouver
The Columbian editorial endorsing Monica Stonier was ridiculous. I am not voting for a public employee and union member this November. We’ve tried that and now our schools are having their funding cut. We bloated our budget and now we’re paying for it. This is because we send liberals to Olympia. Not this time. Vote for conservatives.
Jonah Barnes
Vancouver
18th Legislative District
18th Legislative District voters have an important choice. Jobs are going unfilled for lack of applicants with the right skills. Dennis Kampe has trained students in such skills, as a teacher and as director of the Clark County Skills Center for 19 years, managing $4.5 million budgets. That’s real, hands-on experience. He has actually helped economic growth. That’s not just empty rhetoric and tired slogans. Everyone talks about the need to create jobs and to improve the economy. But ask yourself, “Who really has the experience to do it?” The answer is Dennis Kampe.
Sharon Watt
Woodland
49th Legislative District
Rep. Jim Moeller supports an income tax on the state’s highest earners. The original federal income tax never remained at the top 1 percent to help those less fortunate. The 2008 campaign defined rich as $250,000. The income tax initiative lowers this to $200,000.
Washington voters approved I-960, requiring a two-thirds approval from legislators to raise taxes. Moeller voted to suspend I-960 to resolve the budget crisis, which was largely exacerbated by majority Democrats’ inability to rein in government spending. These legislators ignored their employers’ explicit directive because they think they know better. In the private sector, that’s grounds for dismissal. For that vote alone, Moeller deserves his pink slip.
Larry Rambousek
Washougal
Clark County commissioner
Steve Stuart has earned re-election. He has proven he can work with others to keep Clark County’s budget balanced.
He identifies and promotes everything that makes this a livable area, which is not only good for its citizens, but also for businesses.
Companies like to locate where employees want to live.
Stuart recognizes that parks, open space and greenways, and clean rivers and streams need to be part of our balanced world.
Florence Wager
Vancouver
Clark County prosecutor
As a proud Republican and former deputy prosecuting attorney, assistant city attorney and current private attorney emphasizing the protection of vulnerable adults, I have seen up close the work of both Tony Golik and Brent Boger. Golik has clearly shown the experience, the skills and the professionalism to effectively run a county prosecutor’s office and to insure protection of our most vulnerable citizens. It is crucial for us as a community to have someone like Golik at the helm.
