VOTE: Issues favor these four

Voter apathy and misplaced allegiance to friendship or social ties are of a critical concern. Now is the time to consider where the candidates stand on the issues and values, and should be weighed carefully before casting your vote. Once a candidate is in office it’s too late to wish things had turned out differently.

To the best of my knowledge, all candidates are nice, well intentioned people, yet they vary greatly in their political values. I am a conservative and vote accordingly. I have done Bible study with Marie Widmyer and I grew up next door to Kiki Miller, but that does not mean that I share the same political values. Issues worth examining are the large budget decisions that affect tax dollars, voter approval for large spending projects that indebt all future residents including our youth, the recent anti-discrimination ordinance, the issue of who will best represent the entire city — not just the downtown, and who will work to bring in year round, family supporting jobs that don’t rely on tourism.

Recently at the Democrat Forum, candidate Amy Evans stated she is “not running on issues.” This concerns me as we have no idea how she will govern if she will not run on issues. Please check the candidates’ websites and make an educated decision.

I understand that good people can have different views and opinions. Just make sure you know where your candidates stand on issues rather than relying on social ties or the views of your friends in making this important decision. Your vote matters, so make it stand for your personal and political values because elections do have consequences.

I have done my homework and I support the political values of Mary Souza, Chris Fillios, Sharon Herbert, and Noel Adam.

MARY JO FINNEY

Coeur d’Alene