Letters to the Editor: August 15-21, 2019

Posted

The Editor:

The primaries are over and the focus now is on the general election in November. Our election system – a top-two primary followed by a winner-take-all general – is mandated by state law. But is it the best way to encourage voter participation, increase voter influence and ensure those elected have the broadest possible support?

Ranked choice voting (RCV) is an alternative when more than two candidates are running. Voters can, if they wish, rank candidates acceptable to them. The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and the second choices of that candidate’s voters are transferred to those remaining. This repeats until one is left. A single election systematically narrows the field one-by-one, making primaries unnecessary and all but ensuring those elected are acceptable to a majority.

Vote splitting (spoiler effect), where minor-party candidates with no chance of winning can determine who’s elected, is all but impossible with RCV. Voters can vote for third-party candidates without wasting their vote or, in a close election, helping a candidate they don’t like – second choices count. If RCV had been used in a few Midwestern states in 2016 or Florida in 2000 – all close elections with minor-party candidates – one or two of our recent presidents might well have been different.

Locally, a top-two primary with more than three candidates and a close vote spread can easily eliminate a candidate who might have been elected if all candidates had been on a single RCV ballot in November. RCV also encourages shorter, cheaper and possibly more civil campaigns (see FairVoteWA.org).

In the state legislative session earlier this year, Local Options Bill (HB 1722) would have permitted localities to try RCV. The bill was co-sponsored by 27 state legislators, including Sharon Shewmake in the 42nd district and Jeff Morris in the 40th. It died in committee but will almost certainly be reintroduced next year. In the meantime, considering whether RCV would improve elections in Whatcom County and taking a look at many places nationally where it is being used successfully would be worthwhile.

John Whitmer

Bellingham

The Editor:

I would like to add to the police report regarding a domestic abuse victim that the Blaine Police Department encountered at 4:20 p.m. on July 31. I’m a border patrol agent and I was on patrol at 6th Street and A Avenue when this shaken and crying young lady approached me for help. After contacting Blaine police and EMS, I began treating a severely bruised hand and did my best to calm her down and reassure her she would be helped. I write to you not for credit – that is the least of my concerns.

I write to you because I want to reaffirm to this community that we will always do our best to protect people and ensure their safety. While I felt horribly for the plight of this young lady, I am glad she felt she could approach a border patrol agent for help. I think this is important during a time when “big media” rakes my agency over the coals relentlessly.

Jonathan Oman

Blaine

The Editor:

When it was first announced that golf carts were going to be accommodated on the streets of Birch Bay, I was pleased at the prospect. I didn’t even mind the adjustment of speed limits on streets where their use was expected. Nowadays, however, I am a little dismayed at the rigidity of those same speed limits on roads that rarely (if ever) see such mini-vehicles rolling along.

In my humble opinion, it would seem far more practical to employ the caution used at many school zones. Namely, when golf carts are present on the streets, the limit allowable is 25, but when none are in view, the limit remains what it was prior to the adoption of golf cart speeds.

Speed limits, sadly, are considered optional by most drivers, but I choose to believe that the presence of kids and golf carts serves as a forceful reminder that safety and caution are a priority.

David Ingulsrud

Birch Bay

The Editor:

From the August 11 Spokane Spokesman-Review:

“Late fines ... eliminated at Spokane public libraries ...

“The Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously in May to end fines for all materials turned in after their due dates, joining Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which went fine-free June 1.

“The decisions follow a national trend set by the American Library Association in January, when the national board adopted a resolution calling for an end of the monetary punishments that they said ‘present an economic barrier to access of library materials and services.’”

Ray Cushing

Blaine

The Editor:

Many thanks go out to the four volunteer agents of Blaine’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency for their fine research, diligence and astute observations in finding the perpetrators of the vicious dog attack on an elderly bicyclist at the south end of the Blaine Municipal Airport a month ago. Because of your valuable help and input, the matter has now been turned over to the Blaine Police Department for further actions and prosecution. We hope for the swift removal of an aggressive and dangerous dog from our community and the reimbursement of the victim’s mounting medical and rehab bills.

I applaud you ladies: it takes a village to solve a crime! Due to the ongoing investigation, I am unable to honor you by name, but you are indeed Blaine’s finest. Miss Marple would be so proud of you!

Elisabeth Angell

Blaine

The Editor:

From Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet, and everything in between, the Blaine Community Theater delighted the audience last Saturday (me included) with three actors playing countless parts (I didn’t count) in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). The problem is, the delighted audience filled just a wee fraction of the seats in the new Black Box Theater at Blaine High School. Why, Blaine, why?

Does the play offer partial nudity? Yes! Is there blood, gore and mayhem? Yes! Are there cookies at intermission? Yes! What was missing? Butts in seats! Get thee to the theater this weekend, Blaine, and learn how you too can become a pre-eminent scholar of the Bard in just 90 minutes, while supporting your local community theater.

Merrilee Harrell

Blaine

The Editor:

As the start of the 2019-2020 school year approaches, the Blaine school district’s Family Service Center, as in previous years, would like to provide backpacks full of school supplies to our low-income, foster and homeless students. This service is provided only by the donations from our amazing community.

If you would like to donate supplies, note that backpacks, composition books, USB drives, highlighters, dividers and scissors are most needed at this time. If you donate money, this allows us to buy supplies in bulk at a lower price.

For monetary donations, please mail a check to: Blaine School District Family Service Center, 765 H Street, Blaine, WA 98230. Please make checks out to Blaine Family Service Center (this is tax deductible and a receipt will be provided.)

If you would rather drop off monetary donations or supplies, you may do so at any time between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Blaine school district office located at 765 H Street.

We appreciate your continued support of resources that the Blaine school district’s Family Service Center is able to provide to families and students who are in need. We are always in awe of this community and its continuous generosity and giving spirit. Thank you so much to all who contribute.

The school supply distribution to students will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 22 at the Family Service Center. The Family Service Center is located on the corner of Mitchell Avenue and H Street, behind the middle school gym. It shares the parking lot with the Blaine Elementary School.

To qualify, your student(s) must attend Blaine schools, be on free/reduced lunch, be homeless or in foster care or qualify by other district means.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Potts by email at rpotts@blainesd.org or you may leave a message at 360/332-0722 (summer hours are limited, so a phone call will be returned within the week).

Rebecca Potts

Blaine

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