Democracy, the Right to Privacy, and Trump’s Big Lie are on the Ballot
| JERRY LECLAIRE OCT 28 |
By now you have your ballot—they were sent out a week ago. If you haven’t received it or it disappeared into the recycling, contact your elections office today. (Click here for contact information.) Check out vote.wa.gov for additional (and somewhat personalized) details. If you take the time to vote this weekend it is likely you can drop your completed ballot in any post office box and expect it to arrive in time and be counted. Postage is covered—you don’t have to search for a stamp! Or you can drop your completed ballot into one of the conveniently located drop boxes—click here for current information. Two drop boxes, the South Hill Library and the Indian Trail Library, are currently unavailable on account of construction. (You can check a little later to confirm that your ballot was received and accepted by visiting vote.wa.gov.)
Instead of my laying out my meager musings, I recommend that you visit The Progressive Voters Guide. I am in accord with their voting recommendations for every position in Spokane County—with a few caveats that I’ll come to below.
This is not an election in which one should be tempted to lodge a protest vote—at least when there is a choice offered. This is not time to vote against an incumbent like Senator Patty Murray simply for the sake of change and because her opponent is a “fresh face”. That’s how we lost Thomas Foley and got George Nethercutt and then his hand-picked successor, McMorris Rodgers. On the other hand, I cannot imagine a reason to vote for McMorris Rodgers—not if one wants any positive federal action on voting rights, the right to choose, climate change, sensible gun control, or a myriad of other issues.
For Washington Secretary of State, the only statewide position on the ballot this election, I endorse the proven administrative expertise of nonpartisan candidate Julie Anderson over the incumbent political appointee Steve Hobbs. I have met and talked with Ms. Anderson on two occasions—and I find her hands on experience and command of the details of the office of Secretary of State impressive. Ms. Anderson is supportive of Ranked Choice Voting—as am I. Mr. Hobbs is skeptical. Finally, I thought Ms. Anderson acquitted herself extremely well in the recent debate with Mr. Hobbs held last Sunday at Gonzaga.
I also strongly endorse non-partisan candidate Deb Conklin for Spokane County Prosecutor over incumbent Prosecutor Larry Haskell. The racist, white nationalist, diatribes on Gab lodged by Larry Haskell’s wife, Leslie, are an embarrassment to all of eastern Washington. Anyone who imagines that Leslie’s white nationalist rhetoric doesn’t spill over into Larry’s work as Prosecutor must be dreaming—or has never been married.
All the races on the ballot are important but some are of paramount importance in part because they could be close and much rests on the outcome. I highlight Maggie Yates’ challenge to incumbent Al French for County Commissioner from District 5 (SW & W Spokane County). Ms. Yates winning would make a huge positive difference in county governance. Finally, retaining Vicky Dalton as Spokane County Auditor over Bob McCaslin Jr. is essential to the continued proper management of the Auditor’s office. Electing the incompetent challenger could compromise precisely the election integrity and transparency to which he pretends.
Vote. This weekend. Then contact five or ten friends and encourage them to do the same. Much rides on this election.
Keep to the high ground,
Jerry
If you liked this post from Indivisible–The High Ground, why not share it?