Get out the vote, and vote for Wilke

I want to encourage American citizens in Clallam County to be sure to vote in our 2018 Primary election.

Most people have received their mail-in ballots and know where the ballot boxes are. In Sequim, the box is near the J.C. Penney’s store and must be received before Aug. 7.

Many of us watch or read the news and cringe at some of the things our politicians say and do. Well, this is our chance to do something about it. Vote out incumbents that you don’t like and support candidates that you do like, but be sure to vote. Complacency can have surprising results. Unqualified candidates can sneak into office solely because too many people did not vote.

I would further like to support Jodi Wilke for State Representative in our District 24. She is the real deal and has prioritized infrastructure, safe schools and communities, meaningful jobs and to push back against an establishment gone wild, where over-control, over-regulation and over-taxation has been detrimental to the well being of our residents.

Jodi has a diverse background in a variety of areas that will serve our county well.

Be sure to vote — this is a very important election year.

Bobbie Piety

Sequim

Vote for Hayden

Too often the masses don’t vote in primary elections or even general elections during a non presidential election year. But there are times, like this one, when a primary and subsequent general election is very important.

In this election, due Aug. 7, the race for District Court 1 Judge has three candidates: Suzanne Hayden, Dave Neupert and Pam Lindquist. The top two candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November.

This is a position that affects most everyone since district court hears cases regarding traffic infractions and various misdemeanors. This judge will be hearing and settling your contest of traffic tickets and your complaints for trespass, assault and various legally mischievous incidents.

Behind this bench, you want a judge who will use common sense and apply solutions that will work for all parties involved whereby the defendant and community will benefit.

Suzanne Hayden is that person. She is committed to responsible justice. She has 23 years practicing law in Clallam County. Most of those years has been as a defense attorney for juveniles. During her tenure, she has initiated change so that children are no longer brought to the court in shackles. She understands and complies with the safety component of a courtroom, but has cooperatively worked to maintain a child’s dignity when being confronted with their mistakes.

Suzanne Hayden’s understanding of our justice system has stimulated her to change District Court 1 to be efficient and cost effective. But her compassion for changed lives for offenders of misdemeanors to become positive contributors in society is this candidate’s strength.

She approaches decisions regarding what is best for the community at large — like charging fines and/or jail time for someone who can’t pay, or calling for community service in an educational realm whereby the individual would attain a degree/diploma in order to pay restitution and positively contribute, giving back to the community.

I want to see Suzanne Hayden’s name on the general election ballot in November. That’s why I’ve already mailed in my ballot. I encourage you to vote right away as well, so the ballot doesn’t get buried in a pile of junk mail.

Carol Lichten

Sequim

Keep it civil

To the man who drove by our peace vigil and shouted that I was a (expletive),

Wow! My sign for our vigil represented the 58 babies and toddlers who are still in “Baby Jails” on our southern borders and elsewhere and have been deemed ineligible to be returned home.

I am a Christian, a mother and grandmother. I cannot stay silent while there are still an additional 2,493 children who were kidnapped from their parents for a first time misdemeanor. Mind you, a misdemeanor akin to running a red light or using the unauthorized likeness of Smokey the Bear. But jail the first time offender and have your kids removed and shipped across the country?

Children who were seeking asylum which is legal (HR 1153) are now being held hostage on American soil by our government. Over half are being declared ineligible for reuniting mostly because the government deported their parents.

I say, settle this in court, not with babies.

When you screamed from your car, “Just return them to Mexico,” I told you that these asylum seekers are not from Mexico and to check your facts. That’s when you felt emboldened to escalate your argument to slurs.

Now I know it was Lavender Weekend, so perhaps you are from out of town. In Sequim we believe in and we honor the First Amendment, a.k.a. free speech. We also like each other here. It doesn’t matter if you are left or right in Sequim if there is a need for our schools, our fire department, or emergency victims we all rally together. We help rebuild, make meals and hold hands. That’s who we are.

Maybe it is because we breathe the radiant air off the Olympic’s glaciers. Maybe it is because we are indeed surrounded by the calming fragrance of lavender. Maybe the rain shadow puts us in a sunny mood. Whatever it is, Sequim is a place of beauty and kindness.

If you do live here I suggest you pull it together and just ignore people who give up their Sunday afternoons for a cause. It is our right and you have a right to think babies in jails is just fine.

Sequim, I beseech you to insist on civil discourse and to publicly call out bad behavior. We do not bully here. We do not swear at strangers from our cars. We do realize for better or for worse we are on this planet together and words matter.

For the love of Sequim,

Sally Franz

Sequim