Kennedy has courage for difficult issues

A few years ago, I didn’t know anything about Sheilah Kennedy except that she was a county commissioner. Since then, I have researched many issues that have arisen in local governance and have come to greatly respect her. In case after case, she carefully examines the questions and consistently makes decisions with the intent to benefit the citizens of the whole county. She has the courage to tackle difficult questions which need to be resolved. Despite lots of negative publicity, those who approach her about an issue find that she communicates willingly and in detail.

Politics can be an aggressive and even toxic environment. During an election, it is reasonable to point out concerns about candidates, but in the years between elections it is important that we all make a good-faith effort to work with our elected officials to find solutions to public issues. I am deeply concerned that small but vocal factions in our county, often with heavy support from outside environmental groups, have been working for the past few years to exaggerate problems in order to influence this election, rather than putting their energy into working toward collaborative solutions.

Such a partisan strategy is wasteful and polarizing. It violates the Golden Rule, which is at the core of any well-functioning society. I hope that Okanogan County does not reward that type of political strategy by electing candidates who claim to be non-partisan but who actually believe that more government is the solution.

Please join me in voting for Sheilah Kennedy and Andy Hover.

Kit Arbuckle