Writing a guest column in this morning’s issue of the Central
Kitsap Reporter, Bremerton WA resident Tamara Gordy offers up her
rationale for registering a ‘No’ vote on the current CKSD
Capital Projects Levy.
(Ms. Gordy had previously submitted a similar Letter
to the Editor for the Kitsap Sun).
For a number of reasons, I’ve been following this proposed levy
very closely. I am a resident/homeowner in Central Kitsap; all of
my kids have attended Central Kitsap schools (my youngest son Luke
is a junior at CK High); and my wife is a teacher at Brownsville
Elementary. So obviously, the health and vitality of our local
school district is of major concern to me and my family.
And, as such, I am always interested and intrigued with the
arguments that local residents offer in opposition to the proposed
CKSD Capital Projects Levy. Times are tough, and I can greatly
respect/appreciate the fact that people aren’t overly enthusiastic
about having more of their hard-earned money taken away, even if
it’s for a worthy expense, like public school facilities.
However, in her letter, Tamara Gordy states that, even though
she has supported school levies in the past and believes that
healthy schools are an investment in our community, the reason she
is voting ‘No’ on this Capital Projects Levy is because the Kitsap
County Elections Division decided not to mail a printed voter’s
guide along with the ballot.
So, if I understand her correctly, the reason Ms. Gordy wants to
deny our kids a safe and healthy classroom environment is because
the County failed to provide a printed Voter’s Guide pamphlet along
with her mailed ballot?
Excuse me? You want to disapprove badly needed repairs and
improvements to our local classrooms because of something the
County did or didn’t do? You want to jeopardize $31 million dollars
of Federal matching funds because you didn’t get a Voter’s Guide?
Really?
I don’t know about you, but I rarely vest much of my voting
prerogative based on what I read in the Kitsap County Voter’s
Guide. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that the County puts it
together for the general election. But the ballot issues are
normally more complex and can’t be easily explained/presented in a
short paragraph or two.
Fortunately, the school district has done an admirable job of
providing very detailed information on the Capital Projects
Levy and presents a very compelling and prudent case for
supporting it’s approval.
Whether or not the County should have provided a printed Voter’s
Guide along with the mailed ballots is up for debate. But to
penalize the safety and welfare of our students and teachers as a
result is nothing short of ridiculous.
