Donald Trump: making America not so great

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Source: Google images.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president this year, visited Washington State Saturday. State Sen. Steve Litzow (R-Mercer Island) of the 41st Legislative District (Southern Sammamish) took a strong stand against his own party’s nominee. So did Rob McKenna, a Republican, the former attorney general and candidate for governor here and then Chris Vance, former chairman of the state Republican Party and candidate opposing incumbent US Sen Patty Murray (D-Washington).

Sammamish Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama, running as a Republican for the State House in the 45th District (northern Sammamish), as yet hasn’t taken a position supporting or opposing Trump.

I’ve been following presidential elections since 1968 and voting in them since 1972. I’ve seen George Wallace, then the Alabama governor, run against “pointy-headed” liberals, appealing to racist instincts. I’ve seen then US Sen. George McGovern (D-SD), a former World War II US bomber pilot in Europe, run on a far-left campaign. I’ve watched the two major parties go in wrong directions (by my standards). I watched outsider Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996. I like outsiders who are squeaky wheels (hence, supporting Valderrama for City Council last year).

But I’ve never seen anything like Trump. His destructive approach to everything and everybody is mind boggling.

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State Sen. Litzow slams Trump; Valderrama ducks and weaves

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Valderrama

Ramiro Valderrama

With the certainty that Donald Trump will be the Republic nominee for president, State Sen. Steve Litzow (R-Mercer Island) was quick to denounce the billionaire in no uncertain terms. Litzow, of the 41st District (the southern half of Sammamish), is targeted by Democrats in this election. The 41st trends Democrat. Litzow’s full comments are below the jump.

Former State Attorney General Rob McKenna, a Republican, said he’ll write in John Kasich’s name for president. But Sammamish Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama, who is running for the State House as a Republican for the 45th District seat held by Democrat Roger Goodman, ducked and weaved when Sammamish Comment asked whether he supports Trump or not. The 45th trends Democratic. The north half of Sammamish is in the 45th.

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Give Sound Transit an earful May 2 over ST3

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Sound Transit 3: Parallel rail lines, two stations from Issaquah/Bellevue and Seattle/Bellevue along the South Bellevue corridor.

Sound Transit will hold a public intake meeting Monday, May 2, at Sammamish City Hall beginning at 6:30m to receive comments on Sound Transit 3 (ST3), the $27bn tax hike for $50bn in projects over the next 25 years.

This is on top of tax increases approved for Sound Transit 2.

Sammamish citizens should attend this meeting to make it clear to Sound Transit and King County officials that ST3 is poorly conceived, ill-timed, extends over too long a period and short-changes not only Sammamish and the Eastside, but also Everett City Center and the Boeing Everett plant, where so many people from our local environs work.

Our citizens also need to urge the Sammamish City Council to opposed ST3.

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The Greenies fight back: the 2001 Sammamish City Council election

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After being routed in the 1999 City Council elections and licking their wounds for the better part of two years, the environmentalists in Sammamish—the “greenies—“ began a comeback.

All seven Council seats were up for election in 2001. This was because that as a new city, two- and four-year terms had to be established. The largest vote-getters in 2001 would get four year terms. The three lowest vote getters would get two year terms.

As it happened, only three Council members were challenged by people backed by the Greenies, and by SHOUT officials (see the post of March 28 to understand who SHOUT was): Ron Haworth, Ken Kilroy and Phil Dyer. Don Gerend, Kathy Huckabay, Jack Barry and Troy Romero were unopposed. By default, they would receive the most votes and four year terms.

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Polar bear, wild mustangs photography exhibit at Sammamish City Hall begins April 16

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There is a special photography exhibition opening April 16 at the Sammamish City Hall, focusing on threatened polar bear and wild mustangs.

  • Sammamish Comment has provided reporting and commentary throughout its existence. Today it’s some shameless promotion for the photography debut of an exhibit by Gail Twelves, my wife.
Momma Bear

Photo by Gail Twelves. This will be on display at the Sammamish City Hall April 16-July 8. Meet the photographer at a reception 6-8pm on April 22. The polar bear photos were made in the wild in Kaktovik, Alaska.

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