Letter to the editor (Courier-Times) from Rep. Dan Kristiansen

By Rep. Dan Kristiansen
March 9, 2010

Dear editor,

I would like to thank the Courier-Times and Skagit Publishing for allowing me to write a weekly column in this newspaper for the past three years.

Since the first guest column was published in January 2007, my goal has been to educate readers about the Washington State Legislature and state government issues that affect their lives, and to encourage involvement in their government. Through the years, we've covered such topics as education, transportation, public safety, budget and taxes, health care, jobs and the economy, protecting our freedoms, and saluting our veterans. And we've answered your questions such as, “Where does my lottery money go?” and written about controversial, common-sense views, such as “It's time to put people ahead of fish.”

I've appreciated the enormous feedback from constituents who regularly read the column and have become engaged in the issues we discuss. Government works best when citizens are informed and involved. I think we've helped to do both.

The March 9 guest column was my last one in this paper for a while. With an election season approaching, the newspaper's editors have decided to discontinue my weekly Courier-Times column.

For regular readers, I invite you to visit my Web site and sign up for my e-newsletter, which will continue to offer articles for several more weeks until the election-year legislative cutoffs for communications. Back copies of my guest articles are also available from my Web site at houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.

If you've enjoyed these columns, please join me in thanking Ralph Schwartz and Dick Clever, editors at Skagit Publishing, for graciously allowing me the opportunity in this newspaper to communicate with you.

Let me close with a quotation from my guest column of June 30, 2008, in which I discussed the importance of citizens' involvement in their government to ensure lasting freedom. It comes from John Quincy Adams, who said: “You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”

Thank you for your loyal readership and support. Please stay in touch and keep involved in your government!

Rep. Dan Kristiansen
39th Legislative District