The Legislature is midway through its 2010 session, and I think every member from either party would agree that this is the most difficult session in memory. Economic woes have affected families, businesses and governments in every developed nation and here in Kitsap. Sincere, well-meaning people from across the political spectrum are putting forth their recommendations for helping our people and our state recover — by creating jobs, strengthening our schools, increasing public safety, and maintaining the basic services that most of us agree must exist to protect our most vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbors.

As the session unfolds, I’m doing my best to represent the wonderfully diverse people of our legislative district. Because “no opinion” is not an option when it comes time for a state representative to cast her vote in Olympia, I will necessarily displease someone in our district on any given day. That’s just the nature of representative democracy. But I’m disappointed by a small handful of recent letters in the Herald — not because they are critical of my decisions, which goes with the job, but because they have become personal attacks.

Regardless of the picture these letter-writers are attempting to paint, my office door is open. At the end of each day, I try to respond to every email, phone call and letter, because I work for you and no employee should ignore the boss. We won’t always agree, but that doesn’t make your opinion, or mine, any less valid. It simply makes us human, with each of us taking part in an experiment in representative self-government that’s been going on for better than 200 years. I’m grateful to be able to play my small part.

Rep. Sherry Appleton

Poulsbo