The election primaries are two weeks away and with them come the hopes and dreams of those running for office or those supporting library funding.
The governor’s race recently turned ugly with Christine Gregoire being slammed by the NAACP for her involvement in an all-white sorority back in the mid-1960s. Chalk one up for democratic rival Ron Sims. But Gregoire threw a right hook when she gained the endorsement of Gov. Gary Locke. I’m not sure that’s a positive thing, but it isn’t a bad thing either.
While the democrats hash it out, republican Dino Rossi’s signs are popping up everywhere with no apparent formidable foe from his own party. Once the democrats quit bashing each other the race will become more interesting, with issues and past records becoming more important than what someone did 40 years ago.
Voters from Snoqualmie Valley, whether republican or democrat, need to think about who will best represent our interests. As I have said many times in the past, as county executive, Sims has shown that he will make proposals at the expense of rural property owners. The Critical Areas Ordinance updates are one example of urban vs. rural property owners.
The other measure on the ballot Sept. 14 is the library bond. Needed is $172 million to keep the library system at a level acceptable to supporters of the library. In reality, the amount of money per household is small. Their Web site touts an average of $24 per year for a $300,000 home. Investing in the library system seems to be a good idea to support education. The amount requested in this bond is more than the amount defeated in the last request. But this time the library system has done a better job of telling people specifically what will happen and they have developed a better grass-roots campaign.
I continue to hear from Valley residents about our increased taxes and stacking ballot measures that alone on individual face value don’t seem like much, but collectively add up to be unaffordable for many. It boils down to quality of life and how much voters are willing to pay. Once we get beyond the “must haves,” such as emergency services, hospitals and schools, it boils down to the “want” list. Do you want improved library services?
Last but not least are the changes in candidate selection in the primary. Voting has changed from a blanket primary as used for 70 years, to the new forced selection of a party in partisan races such as for governor. Now you will have to select a party, and in partisan races only select candidates belonging to that party. This will only be used for the primary and not in the general election held in November. The state and county also assure us that our privacy will be maintained, so that nobody will know which party we selected.
The most important message regardless of your views, or mine for that matter, are to get out there and vote on Sept. 14. Casting a vote is not only a right, it’s essential.
