Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

I am writing this letter in regards to what is happening in our city and county and throughout the state and country.

The divisiveness I am seeing is heartbreaking and non-productive. There are so many amazing and great people in Dayton that have the ability to work together to ensure Dayton and Columbia County remains a wonderful place to live.

This is not an “us” and “them” letter. This letter is a plea to stop the craziness, the attacks, and the divisiveness. There are several leaders, organizers, and citizens of Dayton who have a lot to offer our great city. There has been a lot of hours put in by so many, regardless of their political beliefs, to make this a better place to live and I am encouraged by these individuals and entities.

We are human and make mistakes, I know I certainly have. But we can do better. Let’s try.

If I am elected to Dayton City Council Position No. 1, I promise to do everything in my power to work towards cohesiveness and accomplish great things together!

Laura U. Aukerman

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

Are we content promoting homosexuality…promiscuity?...Perversion? This seems to be the premise of Washington State.

The Superintendent of Schools (not education) and our Dayton School Board and superintendent are following in his steps. This is WRONG! We are being “numbed down” … to accept evil. NO!

God calls this SIN. It is time to vote in opposition. NO!

Let’s welcome a conservative school board candidate…

You may not as yet met Korinda Wallace but she is a neighbor in town, active in church leadership (deaconess), a graduate of 4-H club work (and leadership) and is currently serving as Financial Manager of our Soil Conservation office. She is also an Oregon State University graduate.

Korinda would like to be the position 1 school director.

We need new direction. It’s time to take back our school system, folks. I am trusting her judgment, integrity, and leadership in helping making wise decisions for out FUTURE adults.

I ask you to vote with me for Korinda. The Korinda Wallace voice will be an honorable, positive direction for our schools. She has what it takes to guide Dayton’s children’s futures.

Voting is your privilege AND RESPOSIBILITY. Let’s allow her power to do what is right. It’s YES to Wallace.

Change is important! I’ve seen change here now for fifty years and we need more change NOW.

I respectfully thank you to join me!

Johnny Johnson

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I am writing this letter in support of Teeny McMunn, who is running for Dayton City Council Position No. 3.

I have known and been a good friend of Teeny’s for over 15 years. Not only has she been a competent business owner and manager, but also one who listens to her customers and their needs. Since her arrival in Dayton in 2001 she has immersed herself in community and church involvement. This includes many roles she plays, being a team leader with Cancer Relay for Life for several years, and creating and facilitating an ongoing grief group. Teeny always gives 110% to her committee and duties, staying with tasks until the job is done. I have witnessed her quiet listening in groups, working hard, even in difficult situations, to communicate and be a team player.

With confidence, I highly recommend voting for this competent candidate for City Council, Teeny McMunn.

Roslyn L. Edwards

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

Your community is very fortunate to have Dr. April Biggs. I am willing to drive from the Tri-Cities to see her. She is an excellent doctor and actually listens to her patients. You don’t find a great doctor very often. I highly recommend Dr. Biggs.

Brenda Wegner

Kennewick, Wash.

To the editor,

We are most fortunate to have Jack Miller running for Port Commissioner District 3. With over 30 years of working within the political system, effective change has been sustained. The Coeur D’ Alene Tribal Farm hired him as a Farm manager. The challenges he began with were no money, an enormous debt, and their farm skills were lacking. When his job was completed, the picture was changed to an enormous amount of money in the bank and they were self–supportive. He is willing to share his experience, expertise of business and agriculture knowledge, and his time. His track record speaks volumes.

DeWayne and Teresa Straube

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor:

I am writing with my concerns about Vicki Zoller running for Dayton City Council Position No. 5, as a write-in.

I do not believe that Ms. Zoller is a good fit for this position. I recently read a letter circulated, and written, by Ms. Zoller that attacked another individual who is running for a separate Dayton elected position. In this letter Ms. Zoller took it upon herself to accuse this individual (and the group they are affiliated with) of not displaying “Christian kindness towards their fellow man” because they didn’t wear a mask indoors at a school meeting. She also stated that these individuals “profess to be followers of Jesus Christ yet cannot seem to perform the simplest act of loving”.

Putting all mask arguments aside, what gives Ms. Zoller the right to attack anyone’s relationship with God? Ms. Zoller is running for an elected position as a city council member, how will she handle someone at a meeting that does, or says, something she disagrees with? Will that individual have their faith put in question? We have separation from church and state in our Constitution for a reason.

Ms. Zoller runs a public community page on Facebook titled “All Things Dayton, Wa”. Ms. Zoller has gained quite the notoriety for removing people, blocking people and censoring posts she doesn’t agree with. How is this type of behavior going to translate to being on city council? How is this showing “the ability to tackle issues in a positive way”?

Ms. Zoller quotes herself as saying “I am a Republican, not an idiot”. So, tell me, Vicki, who exactly are the idiots? What gives Ms. Zoller the right to determine who is a “good” person and who is an “idiot” within any party? And again, how will this type of behavior translate to an elected position in our small town? It doesn’t match with the positive slogans Ms. Zoller is using.

On the surface, the promises Ms. Zoller make sound great, she indeed boasts wonderful things; but actions speak much louder than words. Religious shaming, censorship, name calling, and exiling are not what this little town needs.

Today more than ever, we need to be supporting each other in action, not just words.

Felice Wiens

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

My friend Teeny McMunn has decided to give up some of her retirement time to become a member of Dayton’s City Counsel. I’m endorsing her to fill position No. 3 because I know she will work to benefit Dayton.

Teeny will seek ways to solve the challenges that our beloved Dayton faces. I assure you she will listen to your concerns gather information and viewpoints to find solutions. She does not have a preexisting agenda nor an axe to grind. She will be our energizers bunny working to solve problems for the best economic and community outcome

I’ve known Teeny since 2003. We both joined a group that’s purpose was business success. The group of business owners and managers went on to elect Teeny as President, they were able to see her skill at bring folks together to work for the common good.

As our interactions increased over the years, we became friends. I have been amazed at her willingness to give her time to community activities all in the effort to make Dayton a good place for all of us.

Here are a couple of examples of her efforts. If you or someone you know about was the recipient of a pink care bag after you received an unwanted nasty diagnosis of breast cancer then you were the recipient of a thoughtful program Teeny she started years ago. She is a long-term survivor, she knows that pain that diagnosis brings, she had walked that path and decided to help ladies she did not know but fully realized they would benefit from acts of kindness.

She has also provided our community with a grief recovery program. She has walked beside many when each step is difficult and painful. None of us want to be in need of this kind of help and it takes a special person to give of their time this way.

Teeny has also been our churches energized bunny taking on many tasks. One of those tasks has been our involvement with the Third Street yard sale that she spearheads you might even of handed her money for your new-to-me treasures.

I hope that in reading these examples you understand Teeny’s generous heart and commitment to our community. She is stepping up an offering to do what she can to help Dayton She has business skills in managing and a history of volunteering that make her the best option to fill Position 3 on City Counsel, I urge you to vote for Teeny.

JoAnn Poolman

Dayton, Wash.