KP News Must Maintain Balance

In the August edition, you published a column by Bruce Cook that strongly supported Rep. Jesse Young and trashed Sen. Emily Randall.*

The column then reappeared as a paid political ad in October.

I think it is important to note that the KP News is the primary, often the only, source of local information and discussion of issues for most of us on the peninsula and that you are supported and read by folks with a very wide range of social and political views. As such, it is imperative that you provide a balance of views.

There are several important things about Jesse that Bruce neglected to remind us of. We could start with his intimidation tactics, with his openly armed buddies, toward local high school students during a peaceful and very local BLM protest. Add that to his participation with right wing militia groups and his open support — unlike most everyone else in his party — of now former Rep. Matt Shea, who was accused of domestic terrorism by a state House investigation and removed from his caucus by his Republican colleagues.

Don’t forget about Jesse being disciplined by both parties in the state Legislature for abusing his own staff members or his extreme anti-abortion views. Jesse is about as far right as anyone you can find in Olympia.

Bruce also ignored several accomplishments of Sen. Randall. Let’s start with her successful spearheading of legislation that just reduced the Narrows Bridge tolls or any of her other accomplishments. On a very local level, she has worked to increase healthcare access in partnership with Peninsula Community Health Services and the Key Peninsula Fire Department, prioritized rural broadband, and invested in affordable housing for seniors at The Mustard Seed Project.

Emily clearly works hard and effectively for those of us who live on the peninsula. I strongly urge you to vote to re-elect her.

Rod Mitchell, Vaughn

*Editor’s Note: A reader’s guest opinion column endorsing Sen. Randall over Rep. Young appeared in our July edition (See: “Emily or Jesse?” by John Pat Kelly). The guest opinion column in the August edition was a reader response by Bruce Cook. KP News was unaware at the time of publication that Cook is the Chair of the 26th Legislative District Pierce County Republican Party. We regret the omission.