It is my understanding that the Seattle Times rarely fails to endorse the incumbent candidate, but that is just what they did in the 5th District race for State House of Representatives between Jason Ritchie and Rep. Jay Rodne.

Apparently Rodne’s hateful and irresponsible remarks about a religious minority (in November, 2014) were not forgotten by the Seattle Times, who questioned Rodne about them.

The Seattle Times said that Jason Ritchie will be a “new pragmatic voice” in Olympia, and his experience as a small business owner (he owns a company that modifies disabled people’s homes so they can remain in them) will bring a valuable small business perspective to Olympia.

I did giggle, when the Seattle Times said that Jason Ritchie was to the left of Rodne.

Jason Ritchie has children in the public schools, and as a community college teacher, he cares deeply about appropriately funding education. But Ritchie has repeatedly stated that taxes on working families or an income tax are “non-starters.”

This November, I will vote for a change.

Roger Ledbetter

Snoqualmie