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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thank you
Editor, the Journal,
1 would like to say a big thank you to
the caretakers of our cemetery. When I
was there for the Memorial Day service
with the flags and flowers, it was really
heart—warming. The grass beautifully
mowed and not a weed in sight. A full—
time job Very nicely done.
Beverly Godwin
Shelton
Many thanks
Editor, the Journal,
Gold medals and friendship cer—
tificates should be awarded to Mason
County first responders, firefighters and
tow truck operators. A double portion
should be awarded to South Mason Fire
and Jim’s Towing.
Tom Aaron
Shelton
Anomalous news
Editor, the Journal,
Mr. Duenkel, our county audi~
tor, has been selectively transparent
about his efforts to secure our elec—
tion system from all the potential voter
fraud he ranted about during his 2022
campaign. But he has been purposely
opaque about any voter fraud that actu-
ally occurred. Apparently, his friends at
the Voter Research Project are suffering
from canvassing fatigue and haven’t un—
covered any “anomalous” votes deemed
fraudulent.
As a duly diligent public servant and
relying on his accounting background,
I think Mr. Duenkel should penform a
cost/ benefit analysis of-all the money
he has spent to protect against that
dastardly fraud and incidents of will—
ful fraud itself. Taxpayer dollars well
spent?
Craig Anderson
Shelton
An excellentjudge
Editor, the Journal,
I have known Superior Court Judge
Cadine Ferguson—Brown for several
years now and know her to be a com-
passionate and thoughtful leader that
calculates the weight and outcome of
any decision she makes.
Cadine Ferguson—Brown has a heart
for her community and I’ve witnessed
her compassion and care for those
within the community that many eas~
ily forget about, the elderly. While
balancing a new position in Mason
County, with an extensive commute,
she still made time in her schedule to
visit and run errands for some of the
The Shelton—Mason County Journal encourages
original letters to the editor of local interest. Diverse
and varied opinions are welcome. We will not
publish letters that are deemed libelous or scurrilous
in nature. We reserve the right to reject any letter for
any reason. When submitting a letter, please observe
the following guidelines: Writers are limited to one
original letter plus one rebuttal or counter-rebuttal per
calé‘ndar month; Letters should be no more than 300
words; Letters will be edited for grammar, spelling,
style, clarity and length. Priority will be given to local
opinion and topics. Letters about national politics
and topics will run on a space-available basis. The
Thursday, July 20, 2023 — Shelton—Mason County Journal — Page 5
JournalrLettA‘er Policy—-
weekly deadline is pm. Monday. Letters received
after that time will run in the following week’s edition.
All letters must be signed and include the writer’s
name, physical address and daytime phone number,
which will be used for verification purposes only.
To submit a letter, email it to editor@masoncounty.
com. Please type your letter directly into the email
or attach a Word document. Letters submitted via
external links or cloud drives will not be opened. You
may also drop it off at 227 W. Cota 8th., or mail it
to PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Due to time
constraints, the publication of handwritten or typed
letters may be delayed.
elderly people she knows. For others,
she sat and visited with them, or of— ‘
fered to do any cleaning they might
need help with, while still managing
time with her family as a priority.
Judge Cadine Ferguson—Brown is a
passionate, dedicated individual, one
who desires to see that good and right
are being done in the world. She takes
her role in seeing the right thing is
done very seriously. She has a strength
and determination that is inspiring
and leaves you feeling a level of confi-
dence in her commitment, dedication,
and care for you as a friend and a per—
son that holds value and Worth.
At a young age, Cadine knew that
she wanted to make a change for the
better in this world, each day she lives
her life with that at the core of all that
she stands for and believes in. She
desires to see others reach their full
potential and will challenge them in a
loving but firm way to reach beyond
their circumstances to see their po—
tential and how they can use it to help
those in their local community.
I would in full confidence vote for
Judge Cadine Ferguson—Brown, and I
would stand by that decision with the
conviction in knowing that her heart
is to see justice being served in every
situation to the extent that the law
allows.
Deanna Brennan
Port Olford,
ls candidate
quafified?
Editor, the Journal,
I have been following the upcoming
judicial election. Much has been made
of David Stevens’ qualifications based
on his criminal experience. In fact, he
runs on this according to his signs. But
does he?
Mr. Stevens has described him-
self as a criminal guy and appears to
have no experience in any other field
of law. When you look at his resume,
he doesn’t seem to have any other
experience. Nor has he shown interest
in it. This is an issue. For some reason,
people think that criminal cases are all
that judges do. It is about one—quarter
(possibly less) of what they do in supe—
rior court. I think it is safe to say that
judges hear more family law cases than
criminal cases. In fact, he might be con—
flicted out of many if not all criminal
cases for the next year. That means he
will have to listen to other cases.
Judges do a fair amount of probate,
commercial, juvenile dependency and
injury cases. Wouldhe know what to
do with a receivership or property is-
sue? Judge Ferguson-Broxm has prac—
ticed in these areas and has experience
as a couit commissioner. Mr. Stevens
doesn’t. At his booth last weekend,
he was pushing Referendum 101, and
I doubt that he has read the law and
there is no indication that he cares.
That is not the background experi-
ence we should be interested in. Be—
cause it isn’t just those people that will
appear before him. It might be you. And
if it is, it will be in an area of law that he
is totally unfamiliar with.
Andrew M akar
Hoodsport
Voted for a building
Editor, the Journal,
I voted for a building. On Feb. 14,
2017, I voted to double the Fire Protec—
tion tax levy for Mason County Fire Dis—
trict 12 in Matlock. The district sold the
levy as being for a building. I know it
was for a building because I donated my
equipment and time to clear the land
that the fire district bought from the
school district.
1 did not vote for one family to cre—
ate jobs for their family and friends. I
did not vote for that same family to buy
toys, side-by-sides and gardening tools
for themselves.
And 1 damn sure did not vote to dou-
ble my tax levy for that same family to
buy vehicles at the government surplus
for $5,000 to $7,000 of taxpayer dol—
lars only to gift or sell for $50 among
themselves and friends.
I voted for a building, and now I am
voting to recall the three fire commis—
sioners that allowed this blatant malfea-
sance of my tax dollars.
David Pei-sell
Elma
Give Vance a chance
Editor, the Journal,
It should be the end of the line for
the Vance Creek Train Trestle Bridge —
one ofthe two highest logging bridges
in the US. lustead, it’s time to start its
new life as one of Mason County's prime
tourist attractions: a spectacular histOric
landmark. It’s a pedestrian—friendly
bridge with an awe—inspiring 347—foot—
high steel arch soaring over a mountain
stream.
The trestle’s owner, Green Diamond
Resources, has agreed to give the bridge
and surrounding land to Washington for
a state park.
Please show your support for this
proposal by contacting your elected
leaders and encouraging them to nego—
tiate with Green Diamond to make the
Vance Creek Trestle State Park a reality.
This is a historic site we can be proud of
a breathtaking tourist attraction that
will bring visitors to see our corner of
the beautiful Olympic Peninsula.
Monte Ritter
Shelton
Local candidate
Editor, the Journal,
He’s local; he knows Shelton, George
and his family have lived in Shelton
for quite a while. His experience work—
ing with people and housing issues,
cleaning up those issues and work ethic
speaks volumes. George Blush Will un—
‘ doubtedly make a great City Council
Seat No. 1.
Vote Blush.
Pete Laserinko
Shelton
Journal letters policy regarding election season
The Journal does not publish letters to the editor from candidates for
public office
— including those running unopposed — or their immediate family
members,
including spouse/partner, parents or children during election season.
Election season is defined as from the moment a candidate declares for
public office
through the conclusion of the fall general election. This includes letters
endorsing
or opposing candidates in other races” and endorsing or opposing ballot
measures.
Thesole exception'to this policy allows a candidate to directly rebut a
point made
' in a previous letter. Attempts to introduce additional topics will be
rejected.