Readers express support for and opposition to the re-election of the state senator from Mercer Island.

Litzow puts bipartisan solutions before politics

As a soon-to-be college student, I am confident that Sen. Steve Litzow is fighting for me. He worked across the aisle to reduce tuition by up to 20 percent at public universities and community colleges for the first time in Washington state history. It is clear: when Steve Litzow makes a promise, he will work hard to get it done. I’m proud to see our senator putting bipartisan solutions before politics; that is why I am supporting Steve this fall.

Hannah Feller

Bellevue

Reporter’s endorsement of Litzow disappointing

The Reporter‘s endorsement of Steve Litzow was very disappointing. You seemed to base your endorsement solely on the fact that he managed to win an election six years ago by 194 votes. You harp on about how much experience he has, yet make no mention of anything he has accomplished.

He is a proponent of grading schools on an A-F system, which would put schools in impoverished areas at an even greater disadvantage. Honestly, this House bill looks like the worst piece of education policy since “No Child Left Behind.” But while I’m on the subject of A-F grading, it’s worth pointing out that NARAL has given Mr. Litzow a D grade, proving that while he does manage some bipartisanship on certain issues (I applaud him for crossing the aisle to vote down SB 6443), with regard to women’s health he chooses to play party politics.

You laud him for his service as chair of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, but fail to mention that he stalled HB 1541, an attempt to close the education opportunity gap, three times before finally letting it through in this election year. Take a second look at the education page on Lisa Wellman’s website. She has a solid plan to get our education system back on track.

Patrick Allcorn

Mercer Island

Wellman is just another bureaucrat

The last thing the Eastside needs is poor leadership — which is exactly what you get with Lisa Wellman. As a parent, I want safe, effective schools for my kids that afford them ample opportunities to succeed later in life. Why would I vote for a candidate who’s done a poor job in the private sector and is completely unready to solve our education problems?

Lisa Wellman isn’t a leader; she’s just another bureaucrat looking for a job on our dime. That’s why I will be voting next month to re-elect Steve Litzow, who has served us faithfully as our senator for years. In that time, Litzow has worked across the aisle, earned the support of local employers and parents of students and co-sponsored the bill to add critical education investments. That’s real leadership, not just talk. Steve’s got my vote.

Jody Mull

Bellevue

Litzow has been misleading voters

Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, has been misleading voters in the 41st Legislative District over his dedication to our kids’ education and should not be re-elected. I am referring specifically to an endorsement recently published by the Mercer Island Reporter Editorial Board. The Reporter mistakes political experience with an actual alignment with our district’s values; Litzow has demonstrated time and time again that education has not been a top priority during his time in the Senate.

I find it difficult to believe that a politician whose votes fell in line behind Republican majority leadership for 281 out of the 286 bills in 2016, and who voted to create tax breaks for aircraft maintenance facilities rather than to fund public education, will spend his next term and his political capital to suddenly focus on improving our kids’ education.

Litzow’s record as a “seasoned senator” in this case works not for him, but against him in the November election. In contrast, Lisa Wellman’s demonstrated commitment to education as a former public school teacher and experience as a member of the Washington state Public Works Board support her ability to both represent our district’s values and to make infrastructural improvements to our education system. Litzow does not merit the endorsement of the Mercer Island Reporter and does not deserve our vote.

Amanda Ng

Bellevue