Dear editor:

I, like you, have been getting candidate cards in the mail that say they are redder or bluer than their opponent and that is supposed to be enough. In order to vote intelligently we need candidates who are willing to express their views openly on the issues that are actually confronting our state.

Here are a select few. As outdoor people, hunters, fishers, hikers, campers, etc. we need to know their opinions on public land. Farmers, truckers and we who commute need to know their views on all the issues that are raising gas prices and how to address them. Or why, when we consider our state to be the energy state, do we not support the development of alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind or nuclear, as well as gas and oil. All of these would create much needed jobs. Cut taxes? It’s not that easy. We need to know how and who and what it will affect; our roads, our parks, our schools, or public services like 911. And if we really want our young to stay or return, they need jobs that pay a living wage with healthcare that focuses on young families, as well as, our growing populace of the elderly. We all have mothers, some have daughters and wives, and we need to know who and why they are chipping away at women’s constitutional rights, etc.

We do not have to agree, but we do need to know how the people we chose to represent us are in fact representing us. Red or blue, we first and foremost need candidates who are working for our state and not some imposed external agenda. We need brown and gold candidates.

Martin Garhart

Powell