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LETTERS, continued from? page
What would Jesus do?
Editor, the Journal,
Is the far religious right really right?
Does the Bible support these warriors
for God?
What does the King James version
of the Bible have to say about forcing
your beliefs on others?
First off, it seems there is a stark
difference between the God of the Old
Testament and the God of the New
Testament.
Jesus, the, son of God, is the main
character in the New Testament. He
had little or no respect for the corrupt
Jewish religious leaders who take con—
siderable pride in their Old Testament
beliefs and laws.
More importantly, he had much to
say about how we should treat our—
selves and others. There are too many
references to that end than can be
pointed out here.
However, as an example in Matthew
chapter 7, the first five paragraphs.
Also, John chapter 8, the first 11
paragraphs. Of particular interest is
the conversation between Jesus and
the woman.
T 0 those of us who read but don’t
see, it is important to note why theSe
self—righteous stone—throwers slowly
faded away.
I have yet- to meet a Christian who
did not freely admit that all of us are
sinners in the eyes of God and that we
also have what is commonly described
as free choice to sin or not to sin.
So, is it biblical (based on the above
bit of biblical information) for a sinner
to sit in judgment over another sinner
and deprive them of free choice when
Christ repeatedly refused to condemn
orjudge? At least for the time being,
but that is another story.
Are these people, “these followers
of Christ” placing themselves above
Christ by actively forcing beliefs on
others?
Just curious, I am no expert in these
matters but fundamentally they don’t
seem to be right.
Scott Peterson
Shelton
Check-assessment
Editor, the Journal,
Assessed value for the 2024 year is
unsustainable for the average home—
owner/ taxpayer. I am challenging my
30% increase through the board of
equalization; I’m waiting for the comps
used in my new assessed value. Con—
tacted our state Mason County repre—
sentatives, and it was explained to me
the state’s Growth Management Act is
applied to all counties equally and this
hurts our rural counties like Mason,
Lewis, Grays Harbor and Jefferson.
People are buying in north Mason and
Union and commuting to Seattle. Their
ability to pay more than an average
worker making average pay in Mason
County increases our assessed values.
The 2022 census for Mason County
states 24.5% are over the age of 65.
In 2022, we only had 240 building
permits listed. Over the period 2016
through 2020, 12.6% of Mason
County’s population was living below
the poverty level.
We have one county analyst ac-
credited through the Department of
Revenue. One person who does all the
statistical math for all of Mason. How
is this humanly possible to accurately
evaluate the whole county every year?
Contact our state senators, consider
that California Proposition 13 provides
three very important functions in prop-
erty tax assessments in California. Un-
der Prop. 13, all real property has es-
tablished base year values, a restricted
rate of increase on assessments of no
greater than 2% each year, and a limit
on property taxes to 1% of the assessed
[;
value (plus additional voter—approved
taxes). Mason County needs to live
within our means and budget. Next
time you vote to increase taxes or for a
levy lid lift, remember the postcard you
got in the mail and that you need to pay
the increase until you prove their math
wrong. Every year.
Terri Pressly
Ka mi lche
God and country
Editor, the Journal,
As Americans, we celebrate many
great and joyful holidays from New
Year’s Day to Dec. 31.
But all these days in between we
have forgotten a very important one.
The signing of the Constitution of
the United States on Sept. 17, 1787. It
has been forgotten, ignored and some—
times not mentioned publicly. How sad.
The document that gives all Ameri-
cans rights and freedoms we take for
granted. The original signers realized
we needed a good strong and proper
document to make our country strong
for all Americans.
I feel that without the Constitution,
the 4th of July would have been for
naught. Without all these freedoms and
rights in the Constitution, our country
would not be here today.
As an American, I am thankful for
the Constitution every day I am free to
speak and think and live free.
For God and country.
Bob Stone
Shelton
Assessment
questions
Editor, the Journal,
This is copy of a letter mailed to
County Assessor Patti McLean.
The fact is Ms. McLean, that real es—
tate housing prices are produced artifi-
cially for capricious reasons. In the case
of Mason County in particular, there
was no local economic basis for the re—
cent rise in real estate housing prices
that has driven your roller—coaster-like
increase reflected by your 2024 prop
erty tax assessment notice.
No, the economic basis was realized
because neighboring counties were able
to add job—enhancing industries that
created Mason County as a bedroom
community. Why? Because of our coun—
ty’s reputation of much less-expensive
costs for land and housing.
So why must our residences, occu-
pied for the long term, be subjected to
the monetary gains afforded only to an
artificial supply and demand market
created by developers and real estate
agencies? Does the mass appraisal pro—
cess apparently used by your office re-
ally reflect the reality of our county’s
economic situation?
Or is it a temporary cash cow for
governmental use to raise services
and employee levels only to find that
in time and lacking further neighbor-
ing economic endeavors they will find
themselves short of adequate operating
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
calendar 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, Sept. 14, 2023 — Shelton—Mason County Journal Page 5
Journal Letter Policy
tax funds? My? Because the future .
will have reverted back to more realistic
real estate sales pricing assessments.
There is absolutely no reason prac-
ticality cannot be employed by elected
officials to arrive at practical solutions.
So, why harm the economic situa—
tions of constituents with such as the
abnormal property tax assessment in—
creases put upon your community Ms.
McLean?
And why aren’t those necessary costs
absorbed by the profits realized only
by the developers and Realtors? There
certainly was no 28% increase (my tax
assessment) in my salary level or the
profit I may have realized if I’d taken
advantage of that silly artificial market.
Only to find a new residence will cost
me as much.
G. Owen Ray
Allyn
How to judge a judge
Editor, the Journal,
I am writing to urge the people of
Mason County to retain one of the
most professional and competent judg-
es 1 have ever met, and thatjudge is
Cadine Ferguson—Brown.
Many people ask what do you want
in a judge, if you were the litigants? By
far, the responses are educated, com-
petent, professional, even—handed, and
a judge willing to look at both sides.
That is Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown.
Cadine’s legal education consists of a
high honor law degree from the Uni—
versity of Wolverhampton, and numer—
ous certifications in various areas of
law, including mediation, guardianship
and civil procedure. She has received
the Mark Hansen Pro Bono Award in
recognition of outstanding service to
her community. Her life education
revolves around her family and her
community.
She and her military husband are
raising four boys. Cadine is active in
parent—school activities with her chil-
dren and various community activities
such as church outreach, youth men-
torship, and other legal and judicial
outreach focusing on giving a voice
to small rural areas such as Mason
County.
THIS IS A
NON-BULLY SCHOOL
. AND INTERNET IS
ALSO OUT, GET
IT?
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 St, or mail it
to PO. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Due to time
constraints, the publication of handwritten or typed
letters may be delayed.
She has been one of our judicial of—
ficers since 2021. and has presided over
hundreds of civil and criminal cases.
She has a proven track record as being
a fair and impartial jurist for over two
years.
Cadine Ferguson—Brown is an out—
standing jurist and an asset to our
community. She is my choice and
hopefully yours as well.
Christine Pomcroy
Belfair
Statistics can
mislead
Editor, the Journal,
I was talking with a student recently
who just finished a college statistics
class, and it reminded me of my grad
school professor talking about how to
lie with statistics. That led to thoughts ,
about the upcoming election on Nov. 7.
I encourage each of you who are
eligible to vote to do so. At the same
time, the former teacher in me would
encourage you to do your homework
before voting. Consider reading about
candidates in public records and voter
pamphlets, observing them in action
when possible, talking with others who
have worked with them, and talking
with them personally at events and
candidate forums. Please don’t base
your vote on who has the biggest or
most memorable sign, name recogni»
tion nor party affiliation alone.
This brings me back to my comment
about statistics. If a candidate says that
s/he has experience, find out if it’s rel—
evant to the position for which they are
running. If they say they have the sup—
port of a certain segment of the popu—
lation, determine the nature of that
support. For example, if I have three
friends who are educators that support
me, it is not untrue that 1 am “endorsed
by educators.”
The few weeks before the election
will go by quickly. 1 suggest you don’t
return to those school-day habits of
waiting until the last minute to do your
homework.
Leah Clarke
Shelton
I DON'T
LIKE THIS
PLACE, YOU
CAN‘T HAVE
ANY FUN.