It was encouraging to learn two area mayors are running for the Legislature. David Steube, mayor of Washougal, is running for the 17th District representative seat now held by Paul Harris. Marla Keethler, White Salmon’s mayor, is running for the 17th District Senate seat now held by Lynda Wilson.
Unfortunately, both of them have now declared which party they will represent and that is concerning. I am afraid these two reputable public servants will get sidetracked and plunge into the ideological battles now raging in our country where Democrats and Republicans don’t see eye to eye on many important issues.
Frankly, I am sick of hearing how evil and misguided everyone on the opposite side of the political aisle is and projecting beliefs/intentions onto one’s political opponents that are often exaggerated or nonexistent.
Both Wilson and Harris have been doing this pretty regularly based on email updates they send me; they make it sound like Washington has become a dystopian nightmare. Frankly, having lived in this state for 33 years and in Camas for nearly 18 years, I have never experienced what they portray it is like to live here.
We will see what happens.
