Vote Democracy
To the editor:
The outcome of the mid-term elections will help strengthen or weaken our democracy.
With this in mind, I created a list of characteristics I will look for in choosing candidates running for office. The value of each depends on the office sought. Readers may have some different ideas. Many of mine are about healthy human development because that is my study as my former students will tell you.
• Find common ground working with others to solve a problem.
• Has compassion for those who disagree
• Helps opposing sides work together in preventing and working through problems
• Values honesty, truth and trustworthiness
• Helps establish a calm, productive atmosphere when working with others
• Has compassion for those who are different
• Realizes that encouragement is healthier than the use of fear
• Values children
• Is a good model for others, especially for youth
• Helps youth and others develop good leadership skills
• Uses great care in choosing a leader
• Realizes some leaders are bad to follow
• Disapproves of the Jan. 6 insurrection
Helen Hoover
Kingston
Kuss unworthy
To the Editor:
I must first thank Thad McManus and agree with his description of Rick Kuss’s campaign for Kitsap County sheriff as being a “stealth” campaign (letter to editor 9-23-22). Stealth is the perfect word for it.
After questioning him on his campaign site, he offered to meet with me personally. We had a brief but cordial conversation, during which I brought up several issues and stated my concerns with each. However, other than nodding politely here and there, he never gave his position on any of those issues.
He repeated his desire for unity, which sounds great to everybody, and that he is a strict follower of the Constitution. I asked him his viewpoint on extremism, and he assured me that he did not support it in any form. I left the meeting giving him the benefit of the doubt while continuing to check his page for more information.
Later I was shocked to see his support for the notoriously extremist Joseph Arpaio and the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. I found that it indeed is known to be an extremist organization, which believes every sheriff is the highest authority in the land, above elected representatives.
Either Rick Kuss is dangerously ill-informed or naïve as to what constitutes extremism or he is fully aware of it and is purposely misleading people. I suspect the latter. Don’t be taken in.
Iris Smaus
Kingston
Back Tawresey
To the editor:
We endorse Alice Tawresey’s candidacy for commissioner for Kitsap PUD. We have known Alice since the early 1980’s when she was mayor of Winslow. She has an admirable record of community involvement at local, county and state levels. We served with her as leaders in Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts and for over 12 years as founding members and leaders of Bainbridge Island Ropeskippers, where she served as coach and GM.
Level-headed and pragmatic, as mayor she administered a $30 million budget; served 11 years on the state Transportation Commission, where, as chair, oversaw budgets of several hundred million dollars. Alice is visionary, as evidenced during her tenure with Olympic College’s Board of Trustees, where she was instrumental in the school’s implementing the first four-year degree program of any community college in the state. Alice has leadership with nonprofits. She led the fundraising effort for Bainbridge Performing Arts theater’s first expansion. As board chair of Arc of the Peninsulas, she’s leading its efforts to enhance services to people with developmental disabilities.
KPUD is working to make sure island customers have reliable water service. The district is absorbing many private water systems that can no longer meet changing regulations. As a provider of the fiber optic backbone on the island, the PUD is the reason local agencies, companies and many home-based businesses have lightning-fast internet service.
Alice has the vision, skills, and experience necessary to lead Kitsap PUD as it grows to meet our needs. Please join us in voting for Tawresey.
Ken and Barb DeWitt
Bainbridge Island
Vote Simmons
I’m voting for Tarra Simmons for her second term as my 23rd Legislative District representative (Position 1). I hope you will, too. In her first term, Tarra has demonstrated her passion for social justice. Tarra’s lived experience informs her work to address addiction, homelessness and community re-entry after incarceration.
Tarra made her mark with the passage of three of her bills with broad bipartisan support.
The high cost of health care is one of the largest drivers of bankruptcy in our country. House Bill 1616 (Concerning the Charity Care Act) standardizes and expands eligibility for charity care. It will increase access to free or reduced healthcare to 2.2 million Washingtonians.
HB 1412 recognizes that trapping formerly incarcerated people in a debt cycle only increases recidivism. That legislation also reduces racial disparities in Washington’s criminal legal system.
HB 1818 will extend the time that the Department of Corrections can provide housing vouchers for people leaving incarceration from three to six months, allowing more time for a person re-entering society to get on their feet and avoid homelessness.
Tarra’s skill in achieving legislative successes has helped many Washingtonians who are struggling for a brighter future. Please join me in making sure that Tarra returns to the legislature to continue the important work she has started.
Cathy Knight
Bainbridge Island
