• I don’t know many people who are excited to cast their vote for president this year. We are one and a half weeks from the general election and yet nary is there a bumper sticker or yard sign declaring a person’s candidate of choice for the Oval Office. I’m not sure I can stomach watching or even listening to one more presidential debate. To all this I say “Bottom’s Up!”
When you open your ballot, think of the closest form of government that affects your daily life (water district, state reps, judges etc.) and work your way from the bottom of the ballot on up! These elected positions affect your tax base, your emergency services, your local schools and your courtrooms.
In the 45th Legislative District, we have the opportunity for real change by electing Ramiro Valderrama as our state representative. He currently serves in the closest level of government as deputy mayor of Sammamish, ranked the safest city in Washington state. Ramiro pushed for all first responders to carry Narcan to treat heroin overdoses (a sad realism in Eastside cities). He knows, from ground level, all about our emergency services. He is a board member of Eastside Fire and Rescue and helped them develop the strategic plan for new services. He understands the concerns in our area we have for public safety as vice chair of the Regional Justice and Public Safety organization. Furthermore, he has ideas to improve these services.
Don’t let your ballot sit on your kitchen counter and get buried in the weekly coupons. Just say “Bottom’s Up!,” grab your pen and vote for those positions that affect you and your children on an everyday basis.
Cheers!
Cassandra Sage
Kirkland
• I hope 45th Legislative District residents will vote for Ramiro Valderrama this year.
Ramiro just received the following endorsement from Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico — one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world:
“Ramiro is a dynamic new community leader focused on solving today’s problems. His background and record of business, community and elected service make him uniquely qualified to help lift others up and make real change for people.”
I’ve been personally blessed to meet Ramiro and get to know him these last few months. He is a beautiful person. He’s helped me so much to be a better mental health advocate, understand how ST3 is “taxation without transportation.” and why it should be put on hold; in short, he prioritizes student education.
Ramiro was awarded the Muni League’s highest rating — “outstanding.” No wonder! Please vote “yes” for Ramiro Valderrama in his race for the 45th District seat.
Bob Yoder
Redmond
• With the presidential election taking center stage, local elections have fallen by the wayside. This is frightening, as who we vote into office in our Washington is every bit as important as who we vote into office in that other Washington.
I feel compelled to write in and recommend Ramiro Valderrama for state representative, 45th Legislative District. As a registered Democrat, I have always blindly voted for the Democratic nominee, but this time around I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Valderrama is the best hope we have for controlled, responsible growth and fiscal responsibility.
Mr. Valderrama has fought for the city he loves and whose character he wants to maintain. He consistently battles for a stronger infrastructure, even when that determination puts him up against his colleagues on the Sammamish City Council. He was the lone voice in a two-year battle on behalf of citizens against both county and state governments, to preserve the lake and tree environment on East Lake Sammamish Trail. He also led the fight to address stormwater retention and drainage issues in the Sammamish area, as well as culvert replacement and Kokanee salmon preservation.
Mr. Valderrama consistently advocates for the people through his actions, not just his words. He is actively fighting against the $54 billion ST3, which he correctly calls “taxation without transportation.” While both candidates say they want fully funded schools, the incumbent has failed to take action and our schools remain sadly underfunded and overcrowded. Mr. Valderrama will fight for the future of our children as hard as he fights for transparency in government, a strong infrastructure for our cities and security for an increasingly endangered environment.
Mr. Valderrama represents common sense. He will be a new and clear voice to help resolve the critical issues we are facing today: health, education, mental health and homelessness. I feel confident that he will ensure that all have access to quality services, as he does what it takes to ensure that our corner of Washington retains its character, beauty, safety and appeal.
Kimberly Wolf
Sammamish
• At a recent town hall, the incumbent in the 45th Legislative District laughingly reported that he is “firmly undecided” on the ST3 ballot issue. Challenger Ramiro Valderrama, on the other hand, explained the reasons he opposes ST3, the largest tax increase in the history of the state.
Ramiro understands that ST3 will give Sound Transit a blank check but will not provide relief for road congestion. ST3 has a 25-year projected timeline with a cost of $54 billion, but what government project has ever come in on-time and on-budget? ST1 came in 87 percent over budget and 10 years late. ST3 will be obsolete before it is even completed.
Mr. Goodman, you have been in office for nearly 10 years. Don’t we pay you to research issues and have an opinion? Ramiro Valderrama has done the research. He describes ST3 as “taxation without transportation.”
I have done my research and unlike the incumbent, I am not “firmly undecided.” I will vote “no” on ST3 and I will vote for Ramiro Valderrama in the 45th race.
Ann Streit
Woodinville
• I want to wholeheartedly endorse Ramiro Valderrama for the 45th Legislative District position opposing Roger Goodman. As a 42-year Kirkland resident and City of Kirkland councilmember for 12 years, I recognize and respect the solid local leadership displayed by Mr. Valderrama. He received a much deserved “outstanding” rating from the Municipal League, unlike his opponent. He has proven to be an outstanding leader on environmental issues as deputy mayor of Sammamish and has consistently advocated for limits on government taxation.
As importantly, the Democrats have shown terrible results the last 30 years our state has been under their leadership. Higher education has been decimated in our state and they have been unable to properly fund basic education where 25 percent of students in Washington state do not even graduate from high school.
It is time for the voters to give proven leaders such as Ramiro the chance to improve the results in state government.
Santos Contreras
Kirkland
