This is a recent letter to the editor by a 16 year high school student who recently attended a local forum. It was published in the Whidbey News Times Wednesday October 15th.

Haugen's Power not worth much.

I am a 16-year-old high school student who attended the League of Women Voters forum in Oak Harbor. I don’t know any of the candidates, but I had to go to the forum and listen to what they all had to say and then once I was done listening choose who I would vote for.

Mary Margaret Haugen said that she was the most powerful person in transportation in the state of Washington, but then said the ferry thing wasn’t her fault.

Now personally I think you shouldn’t point fingers at others when you know something was partly your fault. Instead you should admit you were wrong and try to fix the problem.

The audience asked a lot of questions about transportation and congestion and she kept saying that she didn’t have any solutions. And then she said that she didn’t know what the plan was for transportation in the future.

I left quite bewildered. I guess what I wanted to know is if she is the most powerful person in transportation how can nothing about the ferry failure be her fault? And also if she is in charge of transportation how can she not know what the transportation plan is? Do we not have a plan? That’s scary, because we only have two ways off this island.

Also, she has been in office longer than I have been alive and talks about all the changes she wants to make but she has had my entire lifetime to make them. What’s taking so long?

Anyway, she seems nice, but I would not vote for her because she doesn’t take responsibility for her actions, makes excuses with her answers, and doesn’t have a leadership plan. Plus she didn’t really seem to care or know about what is going on with people and what they need. And with everything that is happening in our government I want someone who knows what the plan is and someone who is honest when they make a mistake.

If I could I would vote for Linda Haddon. She is new and she said she wasn’t a career politician, but that’s OK with me because that means she wasn’t part of making all the bad decisions that got us where we are today.

Linda Haddon was honest, in fact, when she didn’t know something she said so, and she didn’t point fingers, she wanted to fix the problem. More importantly, she made a great effort to listen and answer the audience’s questions directly.

I hope everyone who wasn’t at the forum will read this letter, because if you heard what I heard you would want Linda Haddon too.

Rosa Escojido

Oak Harbor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


State legislative candidate Linda Haddon wins prestigious endorsement
Small business owners carry more than just their own votes into the polls

OLYMPIA, Wash., Sept. 30, 2008 – The representative group for Washington’s largest employer and biggest job-generator today gave its endorsement to Linda Haddon for election to the state Senate in the 10th District of the Washington Legislature. The seat is currently held by state Senator Mary Margaret Haugen.

The 10th District of the Washington Legislature includes parts of Island, Skagit, and Snohomish counties, and the principal cities of Coupeville, La Conner, Langley, Oak Harbor, and Stanwood. In making its endorsement, the National Federation of Independent Business Washington SAFE Trust, the political action committee of NFIB/Washington, the state’s largest small business association, praised Haddon for her impressive 100-percent score on the NFIB SAFE Trust candidate questionnaire. Earlier, the Trust also endorsed state Reps. Norma Smith and Barbara Bailey for reelection to their House seats in the 10th District.

Endorsements for senate incumbents are based on support or opposition to several key bills over the last four sessions of the Legislature that were important to small business. Legislative incumbents must have a 70-percent or better pro-small-business voting record in order to be eligible for an endorsement from the NFIB/Washington SAFE Trust. Haugen did not meet that level.

The political endorsement of small business is no small matter. According to a survey conducted for NFIB on and after Super Tuesday this year, NFIB’s own polling of its members, and prior surveys:

• Small business owners comprise 15 percent of all registered voters in the U.S., by comparison union voters make up 11.9 percent. When small business employees are added, the small business voting bloc swells to 43 percent.
• The most common public affairs and political activities in which small employers engage include initiating discussions with employees regarding the impact of a policy issue on the firm.
• Voters prefer candidates supported by small business by a margin of 3 to 1 over those supported by organized labor. (Winston Group). 75 percent trust small-business owners more than doctors, 66 percent, or lawyers, 25 percent. (USA Today/CNN/Gallup)
• 68 percent say small-business owners are more honest than labor unions, 7 percent; the federal government, 3 percent; or big business, 3 percent. (Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates)
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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small- and independent-business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.

Dear Friends,

Going door-to-door in the district has proven to be the most effective way to listen to the voters. It is personal, and time consuming, but I love it!

People are eager to share their concerns. They want to be heard. They want things changed in Olympia - and many, many issues cross party lines. Taxes cross party lines; transportation crosses party lines; education crosses party lines. Wouldn't it be great if the citizens of this state - Republican or Democrat - could honestly say they felt our Government had their best interest in heart?

One comment I hear over and over - "why would you be any different than the other politicians we elect who go to Olympia and quickly forget why they were sent there?"

My response is: "I am NOT a professional politician and I am not going there to stay!"

Hope to see you on the front porch some day soon.

Linda

They’re still counting votes, but the primary election seems to have held my opponent to just 53%.

Even with the early primary this year…remember, we are a month earlier than 4 years ago… our numbers indicate what we are hearing as we go door to door. The voters are ready for a change. They want to see a more responsive government – a government that “works for the people” – not the other way around.

Voters are looking for lower taxes, transportation solutions and a government that respects the taxpayer.

I am more confident than ever – on November 4th, I will be elected by the good citizens of this district to represent them in Olympia. We will increase our efforts, we will continue the fight and we will win!

Thank you so much for your support and for your continued efforts on my behalf.

I was extremely honored and humbled to be the guest of Ms. Marion Henny at her home this last Saturday. It was the greatest of events and I felt that I was among true friends.

I would like to also thank Iris Morrow, Anne Pringle, Kristy Miller, Barbara Saugen, and my husband Jim for helping prepare the decorations and meal. I couldn’t ask for anything better.

Thank You

Linda
P.S. The cake was as delicious as it looks!

Dear Friend,

Perhaps you have listened to some of the rhetoric being bantered about this election season. There are two words that keep appearing, “change” and “hope”.

I agree…we need “change” desperately. Washington State has been controlled by the same party for generations. The ruling party’s overwhelming majority in Olympia contribute to the fact that “things remain the same”. To quote a friend of mine, Dino Rossi, “do you think things are better?” Well, I don’t.

As I have been doorbelling– most people have told me they believe things are getting not better. I hear more and more about the high cost of living, the price of gas, the over regulated business climate and the general feeling that the economy is in a downward spiral. Absolutely, we need “change.”

The second word is “hope”; a word that focuses on tomorrow. “Hope” drives my campaign; “hope” that Olympia can “change” its ways for the betterment of our society. I believe government must “change” so our citizens can realize the tomorrow that we all “hope” for and that I believe it is very doable.

The direction of our state is frightening. Spending is out of control – up 33% in the past 3 years. That equates to $5,700,000 every single day in new spending – IF we provide all the “new” programs that have been promised to our citizens by the last 2 sessions of the legislature. In reality, there are only two choices; not to provide the things promised to the citizens; or to, in fact, provide the programs…if we provide the programs – there are two choices: cut spending in another area to afford to fund the “new programs”, or raise taxes. As your new Senator in Olympia – I will not vote to increase your taxes.

Our transportation system is also in shambles. It is shameful to have such a treasure as the Washington State Ferry System in such disarray. We need new vessels to replace the steel electrics AND we need a maintenance and repair system that is cutting edge. Definitely – we need “change”. As your new Senator in Olympia – I will push hard for an efficient and pro-active Transportation system through-out our state. We deserve no less.

Taxpayers need to be respected. Our Government should not take one cent more than they actually need AND they should spend OUR money wisely…there is way too much waste. The “spend it or lose it” mindset needs to be replaced with a “conserve” our resources and a “reward system” needs to be installed that rewards those in Government that save taxpayers dollars. Wouldn’t that be a “change” we could all support?

I promise you, I will go line by line through the budget and call-out the waste and unnecessary expenditures. I will fight to have the Performance Audits recommendations instituted. I will demand accountability in the different agencies and will expect YOU, the taxpayer, to hold me accountable if I can’t “get ‘er done!”

Your continued support is such a blessing. I ask only that you spread the word. If you have a yard sign location, if you have friends or relatives I need to meet, if you would like to walk in a parade, or write a letter to the editor – PLEASE – give our office a call.

As with everyone involved in campaigns – we always need money. This race will be very expensive – the low estimate is around $300,000. We need air time, we need mailings and we need advertising. We also need YOU!!! If you can help us out today, please do. Several of my Senior friends are finding it much easier to send a little every month. That works fine for us, our expenses are an on-going need.

We so appreciate your support and your vote!

See you on the campaign trail…

Linda

This is my first blog entry; I will be updating this blog on a regular basis to keep you informed about the campaign!