Letters: Elections, Inslee COVID response and more | Sept. 24

Chvatal has right skills for Olympia

Frances Chvatal, candidate for the 16th Legislative District House, the other day was talking about her career in nursing. The first message I took was her intimate knowledge of health care, and I do want someone in the Legislature who knows both caregiving and the business of hospitals.

On reflection, the second message about process — how a nurse functions in a hospital power structure — is maybe an even more important qualification to do the actual work in Olympia. Both hospitals and legislative bodies are populated with people with big egos. To navigate the halls of a hospital to advocate for the care of patients and succeeding is not that different from lobbying your sometimes-difficult colleagues on behalf of legislation important to Walla Walla. Diligent homework, social sensitivity, persistence and ability to listen are the skills I want in my legislator.

I want my legislator to be effective in Olympia, not necessarily score points. I will vote for Frances. Please consider the qualities you want in your legislator.

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Dozier wanted to sell Valley water

Perry Dozier proudly says, “I’ve lived here all my life.” Danielle Garbe Reser grew up in Moses Lake. After graduating from Whitman College and Columbia University, she joined the U.S. State Department and worked all over the world for 14 years, under both Democrat and Republican administrations. Global experience is critical at this time. Being insulated in a small community does not give a very robust experience of the world and different points of view.

Listening to a candidates forum on Northwest Public Broadcasting, the question of water conservation and usage came up. Of course, Perry Dozier did not mention he wanted to bottle/sell/ship his farm’s right to water out of the valley in his response. It was merely two years ago that the community had to stand up in opposition to Perry Dozier’s wish to profit from the water that he has the right to farm with. Thankfully, he and Nestle’ were both prevented from this-so far.

Danielle will represent all of us. She loves this country and will have a seat at the majority table in Olympia to speak for us in Southeast Washington.. She will listen and represent us with grace and dignity, in a bipartisan manner.

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We aren’t safe in Trump’s America

President Donald Trump’s disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic actually began on May 10, 2018, when he disbanded the Global Health Security Team that had been in charge of leading the U.S. response in the event of a deadly pandemic or a bioterrorism attack.

Fast forward to the week of Aug. 14, 2020, and an article in the New York Daily News: In an interview that aired on HBO that week, Trump absurdly claimed that the pandemic is “under control in the U.S.” When Axios reporter Jonathan Swan pointed out deaths were topping 1,000 a day, Trump could barely muster a shrug. “They are dying, that’s true,” he said. “It is what it is.”

So, President Trump, as of today, Sept. 2, 2020,more than 185,000 men, women and children have died after becoming ill with the virus. The White House’s incompetent response, under your watch, is responsible for many of these deaths. All the victims and their families deserved more than your shoulder shrug and your, “it is what it is,” comment. Sadly, these people were not safe in your America.

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COVID-19 toll not worth the cost

On Thursday, Washington state reported that the state’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 are now 1% of the total population of 5.7 million. Let’s think about this for a minute. The governor has shut down all nonessential businesses, churches, state, county and city offices since March and now schools can do nothing but push buttons on a Chromebook from home. This will prove to be a disaster for most of our kids.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the damage this and other governors with similar restrictions have inflicted on the 99%.

(Costs for) Businesses and restaurants, churches and government offices being closed and now schools having to do remote learning is calculated in the trillions of dollars. In my mind, this is the greatest tragedy in the history of this country.

President Trump is not to blame for this as it in governors’ hands to enact regulations for their own state. Many states have done a much better job and have not suffered in the way Washington state has been forced to suffer. It’s time for a change in Olympia. The 1% number proves this can be managed in a much better way.

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Ignore ‘chatter,’ be sure to vote

(During the) 1980 presidential election, Reagan vs. Carter, I worked on a line crew for Puget Power. Standing in line to vote, after work, someone said “Reagan won.” This was before polls closed. I stepped out of line and went home. Just a personal view, based on the “chatter” about this upcoming election; stay, cast your vote, with all the “absentee and mail-in ballots” in the works, it is important to be counted.

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Mitchell best for Superior Court

We have a responsibility to learn about both candidates running for Walla Walla Superior Court judge. Our duty requires us to vote. I encourage anyone who has never sat in the court of law to do so at some point. A lawyer’s education, preparation, common sense and presentation of the law, are best witnessed in person.

Mike Mitchell embodies the essential characteristics required of a Superior Court judge in Walla Walla. Mr. Mitchell has a history of maintaining a high work load and showing utmost competency. I’ve appreciated his highly developed communication skills, timely responses and ability to approach each motion with absolute fairness. He maintains an ethical and professional approach as attorney, mediator, judge pro tem, arbitrator and superior court commissioner.

I attest to Mr. Mitchell’s voice of reason, his knowledge of the law and his exhibition of fairness between all parties. We deserve a judge who has a breadth of experience and exceptional character. We need the candidate to win the election who remains measured and steadfast in his will to uphold the law. Please support Mike Mitchell, a superior candidate for Walla Walla Superior Court judge.

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Reader describes Trump’s promises

Watching the patriotic Republican Convention, you realized Democrats/media (redundant) lied and withheld information for four years!

You didn’t know that:

Trump appeals to women, Hispanics, blacks, Asians, youth, loggers, manufacturing workers, dairy/agriculture farmers, fishermen, veterans, etc., because of accomplishments — economic growth/prosperity/opportunity, empathetic prison reform/pardons, opioid regulation, Black college support, opportunity zones, energy independence, conservative judges, border control, lower prescription drug costs, VA Choice, “right-to-try” life-saving drugs, pipelines, new Space Force, charter schools/school choice, Second Amendment/religious liberty/free speech rights and pro-life policies!

Trump conducted the largest mobilization since World War II and implemented the Defense Production Act to force companies to produce millions of ventilators, personal protective equipment, test kits, masks, gowns, etc., suspended travel early from China and Europe (criticized as hysterical/racist), deployed field hospitals/ships, and approved convalescent plasma/therapeutic drugs, saving over 2 million lives from COVID-19!

Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed” will produce/manufacture/distribute COVID vaccines years ahead of usual!

Trump obliterated ISIS, eliminated terrorist leaders, brought hostages home, forced Europe to fund NATO, moved embassy to Jerusalem, brokered historic Israel/UAE peace deal, renegotiated unfair trade deals, ended wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, rebuilt military, renounced dangerous Iran nuclear and climate deals and held China and Russia accountable!

Promises made, promises kept!

This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Elections, Inslee COVID response and more | Sept. 24."