Letter: Vote Steve Simmons for state representative

I strongly urge you to vote for Steve Simmons and against Larry Haler for state representative. Here’s why. Haler and fellow representative Brad Klippert voted against funding for badly needed local projects like the Duportail Bridge in Richland, the Lewis Street project in Pasco, the 395/Ridgeline Interchange in Kennewick, and the Red Mountain Interchange project in West Richland.

Haler’s lame excuse is that he really meant to vote for the transportation package, but didn’t, because he was tired and hit the wrong button. That defies credibility. His vote caused funding for the Duportail Bridge and Ridgeline Interchange projects to be cut by about half. By first promising to support the package, then casting the very last vote against it, then claiming to have made a mistake, and finally claiming that his no vote had been the right one, Haler has cynically tried to be on both sides of the issue.

Voting to raise taxes is hard, but there were more than $200 million of badly needed local projects at stake. I’m voting for Steve Simmons and I urge you to do the same. Steve will tell the truth, do what he says he will do, and put our community first.

This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 4:27 AM with the headline "Letter: Vote Steve Simmons for state representative."