readers' opinions

Readers' Opinions: County Commissioner Candidates

Related to the November 7, 2023 General Election in Thurston County

Posted

County Commission – District 4

Supporting Wayne Fournier

Submitted by Jon Ceazan, Olympia

Is Vivian Eason an Independent or a Republican?

In a cynical ploy to present herself as a moderate to the electorate, Vivian Eason has registered to run as an Independent in her bid to become County Commissioner in District 4.

In 2022, she ran unsuccessfully as a Republican against Tye Menser, losing the vote by over 10%.

So, is Vivian Eason an Independent or a Republican? The evidence suggests that she is still far to the right on the political spectrum. According to the Public Disclosure Commission at least 25% of her campaign funding has come from the Republican Party. The evidence also suggests that not only is she a Republican, but that she is also a MAGA extremist. In a comment responding to a letter to the editor after the vote in the House of Representatives to impeach Trump over the January 6th insurrection, she was critical of Jaime Herrera Beutler’s vote to impeach, accusing her of being “a Democratic puppet.”

I think that Thurston County voters deserve a County Commissioner who they can trust, not a politician who tries to hide their real identity. Don’t be fooled by Eason’s attempt to portray herself as a moderate. Vote for Wayne Fournier, a Democrat, and the real moderate in this race, when you cast your ballot for County Commissioner District 4 this November..

County Commission – District 5

Clouse the Sane Choice for County Commissioner

Submitted by Madeline Bishop, Thurston County

Attention, Thurston County voters. This is a red MAGA hat alert. Your choices for the new District 5 County Commission seat couldn't be more clear. Emily Clouse is a builder who envisions fair and equitable government. Terry Ballard is a destroyer who wants to tear down county government.

Mr. Ballard shows up for weekly County Commission meetings to speak and frequently yell at commissioners. His three favorite themes are as predictable as they are insane. He usually advocates for jailing county managers for unspecified crimes, dismantling the LOTT wastewater treatment plant, and ending the county's racial equity program.

Like the indicted former U.S. president whose red MAGA hat he regularly sported at commission meetings until he became a candidate, Mr. Ballard is not only unqualified, he has no interest in governing. He calls himself a “JFK Kennedy Democrat,” yet he is running as unaffiliated, and offers zero policy proposals.

What's more, he has chosen as his campaign manager an even more divisive individual, Jon Pettit. That's right, the same Mr. Pettit who twice attempted to have Commissioner Tye Menser recalled, tried to remove Commissioner Carolina Mejia from the ballot claiming she was not a U.S. citizen (sound familiar?), and tried to have them both thrown in jail through the courts with a “citizen's criminal complaint.“

This is the same person Mr. Ballard proposes to hire as his executive assistant! Mr. Ballard and Mr. Pettit are clearly not interested in actually governing — can you imagine the damage those two could inflict on county operations?

Mr. Ballard would be a destructive force and a disgrace to the office of county commissioner.

Luckily, you have a competent, caring, hard-working alternative in Emily Clouse.

Do the sane thing and vote for Emily Clouse!

Rather make up your own mind?

The League of Women Voters of Thurston County recorded a live forum last month with candidates for both Thurston County Commissioner positions.  Click here to watch. 

Editor's Note:  Yesterday we called for letters of up to 300 words for publication today.  We'll publish any additoinal such letters once again this Friday, October 27.  Send these to danny -at- theJOLTnews dotcom or use the "Contribute your news" form above.  

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  • Yeti1981

    Here's something. People are allowed to rethink their positions on things. That is a sign of intelligence and growth. I will not venture to question how much of a "R," an "I," or a "D" Vivian Eason is. What I will look for is whether she has a history of making good decisions or not, and whether she seems to have learned anything along the way. All the advice I would give to others is to first use your brain, and then use google. Just search these candidates names. You might be surprised by the interesting things that come up.

    Friday, October 27, 2023 Report this