Letters to the Editor

The Election is Coming
I confess that I have become more concerned about our election integrity. My concerns have nothing to do with non-citizens voting or fraud committed by election workers, but everything to do with the Trump Administration’s increasing efforts to usurp elections by restricting voting rights. From Trump’s executive order issued in March of this year to hinder the distribution of mail-in ballots, to the USPS rule issued on Aug. 25, this administration wants to make voting more difficult for everyone and could disenfranchise hundreds of thou- sands. President Trump wants the USPS to create a national tracking system by requiring states to redesign ballot envelopes in a few short weeks. Failure would risk having registered voters not receive a mail ballot. All of these efforts are unconstitutional. Elections are administered by the states. Because of my concerns, I went to sos.wa.gov to find news from our Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs. Under the “News” banner, I found encouragement: On Aug. 28, a federal court granted a temporary restraining order preventing the USPS's final rule on ballot mail from being implemented for the Nov. 3 General Election. The Spokane County Elections Office personnel reiterated that no changes would be made before our general election. Ballots will be mailed October 14-16. All of this information renewed my confidence in our election processes. I will place my ballot in the nearest drop box. Please cast your vote.

Gone Rogue
We have a president that has gone rogue. Worse yet, our congressman refuses to hold him accountable. Donald Trump is attacking our democracy. Michael Baumgartner has not upheld his oath of office to protect the Constitution. Constitutionally, states have the primary authority over election administration. Donald Trump has attacked that with his SAVES act, which Michael Baumgartner supports. Even though Donald Trump stumps that mail-in voting is filled with fraud, he repeatedly votes by mail. Donald Trump has gone as far as the Supreme Court to eliminate Birthright Citizenship from the Constitution. Michael Baumgartner has not challenged him. The Constitution is designed to change through amendments, not executive orders. Donald Trump is aiming towards an un-Constitutional third term. Michael Baumgartner remains silent. Our Founding Fathers purposefully developed a system of checks and balances to protect our nation from autocracy. Michael Baumgartner has relinquished his responsibility by rubber stamping Donald Trump’s agenda. We need to return to those checks and balances. By voting for Carmela Conroy and breaking this attack on our democracy, we will have the chance to hold this rogue president in check and return to what our Founding Fathers envisioned.

The SAVE Act
Michael Baumgartner doesn’t boast about many of his votes, but he actually wrote that he was “proud to vote ‘Yes’ on the SAVE America Act” and “Requiring ID to vote is just common sense.” If only implementation of the bill was easy to accomplish. The SAVE Act would require that proof of citizenship be presented when voters register in person at a county elections office. Currently, most voters register online, by mail, or at the DMV, and only 6% of voters register in person. Birth certificates, passports, or enhanced driver’s licenses would be the only valid credentials sufficient for registration with a few rare exceptions. Further, if the names on these documents do not match exactly, it creates a name discrepancy. Women who change their legal names through marriage or divorce would face additional steps to fix this discrepancy at considerable cost in travel, time, and money. The requirement applies any time a voter updates their registration, including after moving. A move as harmless sounding as changing units in an apartment complex would trigger the need to reregister. Noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare despite the best efforts of election skeptics. While Baumgartner argues the SAVE Act is necessary to prevent noncitizens from participating in federal elections, it would introduce severe logistical roadblocks for thousands of eligible American citizens who happen to live far from urban centers, such as right here, in Baumgartner’s predominately rural district. The devil is in the details which Mike refuses to acknowledge.

National Parks
I recently read an article on the National Parks in Washington state. Our parks are priceless jewels, and their beauty and grandeur are recognized throughout the Northwest and indeed the entire world. More and more people are hiking their trails, climbing their mountains, and enjoying their awe inspiring beauty. Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic Parks being in close proximity to densely populated Puget Sound attract many return visitors, supplementing those from other states and countries who inject significant dollars into area economies. Despite the popularity of our parks, DOGE slashed management budgets by 25% in January 2025 and ended the controlled entry reservation system designed to ease the overcrowding of entry roads, parking lots, and visitors centers. As predicted then, today there are long lines for restrooms, which can lack toilet paper and other amenities. In addition to the budget cuts, park entrance fees have been redirected to the other Washington (D.C. that is) to pay for gold plating fountains and other vanity projects. Who voted for these budget cuts? Our very own Representative Baumgartner did in the Big Beautiful Bill that cut funding for maintenance, interpretive ranger talks, children's programs, and public safety. Why would he vote to degrade our parks? Is it part of a plan to privatize or sell off these public treasures? We could ask him, but he refuses to meet with the general public, instead holding invitation-only events. To save our parks, vote Baumgartner out.

Our Time to Shine
The Washington state primary elections are coming Aug. 4, and ballots are in the mail. Elections are important because all eligible citizens can choose their representatives in local, state, and federal offices. We also vote on initiatives and other ballot measures. Citizens are stakeholders. Elections are our opportunity to make our voices heard to determine the path forward for our country politically, economically, and socially. Such is the power of our vote. First-time voters may still register. All voters may find sos.wa.gov/elections a valuable resource. Engaging with, and supporting, our community through protests and marches is visible, uplifting, and influential. However, voting is the key to affecting change; voting is our fundamental right and responsibility. If you support high gas and grocery prices, and shrinking healthcare, housing availability, and affordability, then you will vote to maintain the status quo. If you support an administration that is focused on retribution and self-enrichment while stealing from its citizens, then you will vote for the status quo. If you support a government whose goal is to destroy human rights and civil rights, then you will vote for the status quo. Current leaders violate the most basic pillar of government: to do for its people what they cannot do for themselves. However, if you envision a different government – one being of the people, by the people, and most importantly, for the people – then you must vote for immediate, transformational change.

Election Season
It’s the dreaded Election season and I'm in a constant “Don’t know whether to laugh or cry” mode. Most incumbents boast of how much they have accomplished and/or plan to accomplish if reelected, while “wannabe” politicians promise to be “good listeners” to our concerns, etc. That’s an easy “promise" to keep – just listen to voters’ requests and/or read their letters seeking their aid then simply refuse to even reply, much less lift a finger or a pen in any honest efforts to find solutions. Just two examples from the Tribune’s July 1 issue: Lori Larsen, Stevens County incumbent auditor, wrote, “My office has worked to increase transparency, welcome public observation, provide accurate information, and ensure that every statutory requirement is followed consistently.” Incumbent Stevens County Commissioner Mark Burrows reported, “Sometimes citizens call with complex civil issues they’ve been dealing with for years, they’ve exhausted all options, and we still take time to listen to their story. That’s an important aspect of our job because there could be a creative solution that no one has considered before.” Both of these (supposedly) “caring” politicians have re- fused even to reply to my letters containing proof in writing by Washington state that my prized dream land was “improperly seized and sold by Stevens County” many years ago. Sadly I don't know whether to laugh or cry over politicians’ “promises.” From sad personal experience, the crying part takes precedence.

AI and Wealth
If some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet tell us AI and its associated data centers are so hugely beneficial to mankind, why would they seek to maximize profits when they already control a disproportionate amount of the planet's wealth? In the late 1800s, the so-called “robber barons” accumulated vast wealth, often by exploiting the citizenry. Then, to buy public tolerance and polish their images, ruthless 19th-century industrialists pivoted to massive, high-profile philanthropy. Their strategies to manufacture public goodwill included Carnegie's libraries and Rockefeller's donation of land to the parks system. They and others founded and endowed universities such as the University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, and Stanford. They donated to the arts and museums of the time. Carnegie wrote influential essays arguing that the rich were merely trustees of their wealth and were obligated to use it for the betterment of society, painting their fortunes as a societal benefit rather than a result of exploitation. This current crop of robber barons (Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos, et al.) just want to bleed the public dry. Musk tweets white supremacy; Bezos buys super yachts. Wouldn’t they be better citizens if they "donated" AI/data centers for the public good? In the early 20th century, it took Republican President Theodore Roosevelt to finally say ”Enough is enough,” paving the way for monopoly-busting and subsequent wealth redistribution from the greedy few to the many. If the country is to survive and thrive, it’s time for that to happen again.

Eric Simpson for Stevens County Auditor
Eric Simpson is running for Stevens County Auditor on a platform of transparency, integrity, an open office, and in-person voting. Throughout his life, Eric has earned a reputation as a hardworking, dependable leader who works well with others and follows through on his commitments. I believe he will bring that same work ethic and dedication to serving the people of Stevens County. I encourage voters to learn more about Eric, his background, and his vision for the Auditor's Office by visiting his Facebook page and his campaign website, EricForAuditor.org. Then, make an informed decision when you cast your ballot.

Toxic Waste
We’ve known about the Hanford Nuclear Reservation being at the top of the list for Super Fund sites in the hemisphere. The work has been ongoing for years with efforts to contain the radioactive material and prevent its migration toward the Columbia River. In their infinite wisdom, House Republicans proposed an additional $55 million reduction from the Cleanup Fund on top of the $300 million reduction requested by the Trump administration. This is most likely a knee-jerk reaction to pay for the costs incurred by Donald Trump’s war of choice against Iran. When asked to oppose this, Michael Baumgartner replied with little more than platitudes. His commitment was to closely monitor any developments that might affect progress and to keep my concerns in mind. Given his voting record of toeing the Republican line, I doubt he will do little more than monitor this environmental disaster as it happens and then vote according to party mandate to cut funding. It seems as though Michael Baumgartner’s “concerns” are primarily supporting the current administration and continuing his political career rather than the health of his constituents. Please keep this in mind when casting your vote in November.

If you drive Southwood Shores Road at Deer Lake and enjoy the dust
free experience, I encourage you to vote for Mark Burrows as our County Commissioner. Mark was a strong advocate for this paving. His leadership demonstrated care for the over- all health of this beautiful lake.

Massive data centers that al- low for the rapid expansion of AI are in the news recently. Many communities are realizing that there are serious problems associated with them such as power and water consumption. Allowing data centers to pay industrial rates for electricity often causes rates to skyrocket for residential users. Data centers use gargantuan amounts of water to cool their servers, resulting in hot waste water that must be disposed of. Frequently sited in the arid West, they can run wells dry and raise water rates. Because expansion has been so swift and unregulated, 70% of all Americans are now opposed to data centers. And because some communities have given tax breaks to the AI companies, leaving taxpayers footing the bill for infrastructure, grassroots resistance to assess costs and benefits is now the norm, both in Seattle and more recently Spokane. Europe has gotten ahead of the planned expansion by regulating growth in advance. They realize that the social license to build is the most valuable permit a developer holds – once you’ve lost the public, you’ve lost the buildout. Among other things, European regulations require data centers to fully fund infrastructure, including electricity, water, and roads, rather than passing that cost on to ratepayers. Green energy is required, instead of building new coal or gas burning power plants. We should take a lesson from Europe. Whether or not we want AI, if we are forced to have it, the companies should bear the full cost of development.

Birthday Wishes
Today is my birthday. For some reason, I still hear that question, “What do you want for your birthday?” That memory causes me to wonder what my now older self wants for his birthday. Although that ’57 ‘vette would be nice, I’m thinking differently these days. First, an end to war. This current war especially demands my attention because of its cost, not only in dollars but in the rule of law. The impact on us Americans and citizens worldwide is mind boggling, especially when we realize that this is Donald Trump’s war of choice. He and the Republican Party, including Michael Baumgartner, have steamrolled this war down the streets of the world. Secondly I wish for health, education, safety, and a thriving planet for our children and grandchildren. By ending this and future wars of choice, we would have the funds to provide these and then some. There would be no call by Trump and Baumgartner to slash funding for Medicare, rural healthcare, the Department of Education, the EPA, and other programs to pay for multi-billion dollar attempts to overthrow sovereign nations. Thirdly, I wish for a return of our system of government, of the people, by the worldwide for the worldwide away from the abuse of power that Donald Trump and his enablers are trying to normalize.