Letters to the editor: Voting, Mathias, Vandermaas
Voting
Are you one of the people who love the tradition of going to your polling place to vote in person and walking out the door proudly wearing the “I voted” sticker? I’m with you, but still I’m so thankful that we citizens of Idaho will vote by mail for the spring primary. Did you go ahead and request absentee ballots for the August and November elections, as well?
Sure, when the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, I and others will delight in showing up in person at our polling sites to cast our ballots, but for now I appreciate Gov. Brad Little’s proclamation stating that Idaho’s primary election will be conducted exclusively by absentee ballot (vote by mail).
I send my heartfelt thanks to the people in the elections offices who have worked their butts off to get ballots out to citizens of Idaho so our voices can be heard safely this spring as we vote by mail. Request your absentee ballot by May 19 and make sure to have your ballot returned by June 2.
Kayla Dodson, Boise
Mathias
I’ve had the immense pleasure of knowing Chris Mathias for 10 years. I’ve known him to be incredibly bright, uncommonly skilled, and exactly the type of person I want representing District 19.
Chris isn’t the kind of person who will brag about his own accomplishments, but I’m happy to do so on his behalf. Chris and I met while he was finishing up his dissertation, and we bonded over the challenges and isolation of graduate school. I discovered that he had been one of Boise State’s first Honors College students, had served in school leadership, and never backed away from a challenge. Chris is the person you admire from afar because he follows the beat of his own drummer and has an inner spark that leads him to do the hard, right thing, over and over. You can trust that he will labor over every vote, and ultimately come down on the side of what’s right for Idaho’s citizens.
I’m thrilled to elect Chris to the Idaho State Legislature; he will always make a stand for our values, he will be a fierce defender of higher education, and he will find ways to build bridges.
Jen Stevens, Boise
Vandermaas for Senate
The headline said, “Statesman endorses Democrat Paulette Jordan for U.S. Senate,” but the body of the endorsement sounded like an endorsement of Jim Vandermaas. The editorial board said, “Vandermaas, of Eagle, a retired law enforcement officer, has mounted a strong campaign, has thoroughly researched the issues and has racked up a string of endorsements…” The board also said, “Vandermaas hits the right notes of compromise, commonsense solutions and knowledge of the issues.”
The board’s comments about Jordan included, “Our biggest hesitation about Jordan is that she doesn’t spend enough time on substantive details and instead turns her attention to personality and vague ideas…” In contrast, “Vandermaas’ website has a page dedicated to several specific, detailed policy proposals…Jordan’s website lacks depth on policy proposals…”
The endorsement concluded, “…if a Democrat has a chance of beating the incumbent, that candidate will have to be a strong voice on the issues that matter to Idahoans and show that the incumbent is not delivering on them.”
I agree, personality and vague ideas won’t cut it. Jim Vandermaas is the stronger and more knowledgeable voice. He will not be intimidated by Senator Risch or Washington, D.C.; he is clearly the more prepared candidate.
A.J. Balukoff, Boise