To The Editor
October 27, 2009
By Administrator
School board election
Marnie Maraldo’s understanding of the position she is seeking is the clearest
Over the past several years, the Issaquah School Board has experienced a fairly high level of turnover of board members part way through their terms. Each time this happens, the board’s focus and effectiveness is set back as it regroups with new members needing to acclimate to the position and for the group as a whole to come together on district business.Most of the early departures have been from board members who cite family and business reasons, and the need to recover time from their schedules. What is unquestionable about these situations is a general misunderstanding of what the job really entails and its demands for time, attention and presence.
Talk to any long-term school board member and he or she will tell you that the commitment is extensive. More than participating in board meetings, our elected leaders participate in study sessions and in a whole host of other arenas necessary to being successful in the role. There is the immediate local work within the school district, but there is also work with the community, overlying elected officials at the city, county and state levels, and numerous education-related groups and other groups interested in education, youth and taxes.
Of the two candidates running for Position 2, Marnie Maraldo has the clearest understanding of the position she is seeking. In addition to spending the past few years as a highly involved leader and advocate for the Issaquah School District locally and in Olympia, she has attended board meetings and is current on the board’s procedures and work. Marnie has indicated that she expects to commit 15-20 hours per week in fulfilling the role, including one area that is often lost when time is short: making time for her constituents.
Conversely, her opponent has stated a figure he estimates to spend in the position that is far lower than history shows to be typical and will likely face challenges balancing home, work and school board demands. I don’t believe he has observed district business long enough or closely enough to understand the connections between local board business and the complex layers of outside factors that affect a local school district.
Marnie Maraldo understands these complexities more fully and is best prepared to succeed and last on the Issaquah School Board. Please vote for Marnie on Nov. 3.
Marianne Kersten
Bellevue
Wright Noel would bring comprehensive experience, not agenda, to position
Wright Noel’s comprehensive experience, background and unique perspective make him the best candidate for Issaquah School Board. As a father of five children in all levels at Issaquah schools and a longtime wrestling coach at Liberty High School, Mr. Noel is very well acquainted with the happenings in our schools. As a partner at an Issaquah law firm who hires Issaquah high school graduates, he possesses important insights on the quality of education that our students receive. As an attorney, he also knows the myriad issues facing our district (i.e., employment, union contracts).
Mr. Noel also brings no agenda. He has no interest in using the school board as a stepping stone for future political runs. He has no beef with Issaquah schools. And he has never considered private schools for his children, as his dedication to public schools dates back to childhood when his father was a public school teacher. Mr. Noel proudly credits public schools for providing him with the opportunities that allowed him to excel athletically and academically. Mr. Noel’s only agenda is to serve with integrity.
I know Mr. Noel personally and professionally. He is a passionate, honest, intelligent and loyal family man who gets my vote as the best candidate for the job.
Stacy Goodman
Issaquah
City Council races
Joan Probala would bring pragmatic thinking style from years of experience
I am writing you this letter to show my full support for Joan Probala’s candidacy for Issaquah City Council — Joan is a fellow commissioner on the Issaquah Planning Policy Commission.
For more than three years, Joan and I have served together on the commission, and I have always found her input to be of the highest value.
She has a very sound approach to all of Issaquah’s issues, driven as much by her many years of experience as by her pragmatic thinking style. Joan understands that a vibrant Issaquah is the best Issaquah, one that is an attractive and desirable place to live, to locate your small business in and a community that leads in environmental prudence.
Joan is also a loyal friend, who has never said no when I asked for her time to listen and provide help to any issues I am facing.
The best way I can describe Joan is balanced. All of my interactions with Joan highlight a person who has a centrist approach to policy issues - (1) fiscal prudence, never spending taxpayer monies before understanding the true value of the services provided, (2) concern with transportation and traffic congestion issues, focusing on infrastructure development, while incentivizing folks to walk and use alternative forms, and (3) a deep sense of community.
Joan is a passionate citizen of Issaquah, and understands deeply the key issues our city deals with daily. I would encourage all your readers to vote her into the City Council.
Sajal Sahay
Issaquah
Maureen McCarry would keep a needed level of stability in city’s leadership
Issaquah residents get to hear my opinions frequently in council or committee meetings, so although I read others’ letters each week, I am rarely inclined to add my own. But in this election, I must encourage your support of Maureen McCarry.
During the past two years, I have often sought guidance from fellow council members with longer tenures; but in a few short months, David Kappler and John Rittenhouse will leave office. While change is sometimes good for new ideas, too much upheaval at once can cost us valuable legislative knowledge and regional prestige. Maureen’s experience as council president, her service to the Eastside Fire & Rescue board and her commitment to the Swedish Hospital Advisory Committee cannot be replaced.
Because Maureen’s opponent chose to run against her, rather than for an open seat, she may believe Maureen has not served the community in a manner justifying another term. Such reasoning, however, is not defensible given Maureen’s record of positive accomplishments. She worked hard to encourage business growth, refused to raise taxes, and promoted our city’s interests on many levels.
If you have not already mailed in your ballot for the Nov. 3 election, please remember to do so, and cast a vote to re-elect Maureen McCarry.
Joshua Schaer
Issaquah
Tola Marts has worked hard to understand the issues
I was appalled to discover how little Nathan Perea knows about current issues. At the council candidate forum, he answered almost all the questions by saying he’s new at this and he’ll have to learn. Even more astounding, when facing similar questions at a later debate, he still excused his ignorance with being new. He did not bother to inform himself in the interim.
Also, when asked by The Issaquah Press where his campaign funds come from, he avoided answering by saying “from many of my neighbors.” In fact, public records show Nathan’s largest contributors are developers.
His opponent, Tola Marts, is also new, but Tola has done his homework. He knows the issues inside out and he’s ready to hit the ground running. Nobody “owns” Tola. He doesn’t represent the developers; he’ll represent the people.
Tola focuses on four primary issues:
1. How to transition Issaquah from explosive growth to slower growth, emphasizing quality of life, strength of services and bringing in large employers. He lived in towns where unbalanced growth led to “boom and bust.”
2. Housing for all income levels, with medium-density construction in the commercial Central Area, preserving those parts of town we feel are “special.”
3. Protecting our natural environment by really enforcing existing city ordinances.
4. Fiscal prudence, with oversight of city finances published quarterly, instead of annually.
Nathan still has a lot to learn. Tola’s worked hard to understand the issues and knows what Issaquah needs. He can get it done. And he has got my vote.
Barbara Royce Extract
Issaquah
Referendum 71
Vote ‘approve’ to respect the rights of everyone
Our founding fathers stated in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Those asking us to reject Referendum 71 would exclude the pursuit of happiness to a segment of our society by not allowing them to have the same financial security, support, protections and benefits guaranteed when two people make a lifetime commitment to each other with state recognition of their partnership.
Domestic partnerships are not marriage. Domestic partnerships are not a steppingstone for gay marriage, because our Supreme Court has already ruled against gay marriage, so these claims otherwise are pure nonsense.
Vote “approve” on Referendum 71 and demonstrate that Washington state is the home of reasoned people who respect our rights, freedoms, the rule of law, and the separation of church and state.
Michael T. Barr
Sammamish
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