I think this is my first letter to the editor. The 3rd District has had a tradition of elected moderate representatives. From 1999 through 2011, it was Brian Baird, and since 2011, it has been Jaime Herrera Beutler. I voted for both in the past and voted for Jaime in the last primary.
I watched the debate between Joe Kent and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. In my opinion, Kent came off as arrogant, condescending, with extreme ideas, conspiracy beliefs, and all the talking points. I believe he assumes just because he is a Republican he deserves to be elected.
On the other hand, I felt Gluesenkamp Perez, while not as polished as Kent, came off as thoughtful, moderate and without a series of talking points.
She is not an AOC, she is not a Bernie Sanders, she is not an Elizabeth Warren.
I would hate to see us elect a person like Kent, who is in the mold of radicals like Josh Hawley, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Kent has spent a lot of time on fringe programs such as Newsmax, OAN, and Steve Bannon’s War Room, as well as cable Fox News with Tucker Carlson this year. And while he denies it, Kent has been associated with members of Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys in a number of local news articles. He denies the election. He is an anti-COVID vaxxer. He wants to defund the FBI.
I believe Gluesenkamp Perez would be a good, sensible, moderate representative for our district.
Steven Zimmerman,
Brush Prairie
