I don’t know many people who are excited to cast their vote for president this year. We are three weeks from the general election and yet nary is there a bumper sticker or yard sign declaring a person’s candidate of choice for the Oval Office. I’m not sure I can stomach watching or even listening to one more presidential debate. To all this I say “Bottom’s Up!”

When you open your ballot, think of the closest form of government that effects your daily life (water district, state reps, judges etc.) and work your way from the bottom of the ballot on up. These elected positions affect your tax base, your emergency services, your local schools and your courtrooms.

In the 45th District we have the opportunity for real change by electing Ramiro Valderrama as our state representative. He currently serves in the closest level of government as deputy mayor of Sammamish, ranked the safest city in Washington State. Ramiro pushed for all First Responders to carry Narcan to treat heroin overdoses (a sad realism in Eastside cities). He knows, from ground level, all about our emergency services. He is a board member of Eastside Fire and Rescue and helped them develop the strategic plan for new services. He understands the concerns in our area we have for public safety as vice chair of the Regional Justice and Public Safety organization. Furthermore, he has ideas to improve these services.

Don’t let your ballot sit on your kitchen counter and get buried in the weekly coupons. Just say “Bottom’s Up,” grab your pen and vote for those positions that effect you and your children on an everyday basis.

Cassandra Sage, Kirkland