On Jan.12, my name was called to give my community input at the Mercer Island School Board meeting. I gathered up my papers, took a deep breath and stumbled through three minutes of a prepared speech about the school district’s bullying policy on the Island. As a student myself and a martial arts instructor, I felt concerned that our policy was too vague as to what the victim of a physical attack can do, in the moment. This is a complicated issue and my stance on it requires much longer than three minutes to be explained cohesively, and as I returned to my seat, I feared the board would miss my message completely.

Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano spoke on the issue, and eventually directed me to the district’s anti-harassment and bullying coordinator, Erin Battersby. Many of the board members who spoke expressed clearly to me that bullying is a very important issue to them, and that they are very concerned about it.

Among them was Dave Myerson, who remained silent on the issue besides to note that a previous state senator, who he believed may have been watching the meeting on TV at the time, voted against the first iteration of anti-bullying legislation in Washington state, citing that “boys will be boys.” This seemingly useless tidbit of information about the history of the issue in politics proved to me more that Myerson truly cared about the issue. He understands our state’s stance on the issue and knows where we need to go. As much as any other board member, I trust him to handle the issue going forward.

Our community needs more representatives like Myerson; people who care deeply about the issues that affect our school system most, and are determined to do something about it. I turned 18 in December, and I know that my vote for Myerson will be one for a man who listens to the community, and shares my core values. I implore everyone to re-elect Dave Myerson in 2017, and allow him to continue to fulfill his duty as a member on our board.

James Bellitto

Mercer Island