Opinion

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Honoring heroes goes beyond lowering flags to half-mast | Brunell

Lowering our flags to half-staff seems to be an all too familiar sight these days. It is a solemn act that recognizes our fallen heroes,… Continue reading

  • Nov 17, 2021
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Public safety takes centerstage in local elections | Roegner

In Seattle and most suburban cities, the overwhelming message was that the public was scared and wanted to feel safe. That was most obvious in… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Washington’s secretary of state leaves big shoes to fill | Roegner

Secretary of State Kim Wyman recently announced she will leave her state job to go to work for President Joe Biden’s administration as senior elections… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Dr. Jayendrina Singha Ray serves as Faculty of English at Highline College. Her research interests include postcolonial studies, spatial literary studies, British literature, and rhetoric and composition. Prior to teaching in the U.S., she worked as an editor with Routledge and taught English at colleges in India.
Jayendrina Singha Ray

What the Afghan wants to say: A story of resettlement | Guest column

The wind is strong. It carries the colored leaves of fall to our doorsteps — leaves that bear the first creases of winter on the… Continue reading

  • Nov 5, 2021
Dr. Jayendrina Singha Ray serves as Faculty of English at Highline College. Her research interests include postcolonial studies, spatial literary studies, British literature, and rhetoric and composition. Prior to teaching in the U.S., she worked as an editor with Routledge and taught English at colleges in India.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

The rest of the story: Sound Transit, Rolovich and Lambert | Roegner

All of the reporters I know are ethical and trustworthy. But I have learned frequently there is more to a story than what you read… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

When it comes to power, Washington may be falling behind | Brunell

For years, Washington state masked its high business and regulatory costs with low priced, reliable electricity — lots of it. However, Tennessee packages low cost,… Continue reading

  • Nov 3, 2021
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
tsr

Domestic violence victims need more housing options

Column: As a result of stay-at-home measures from the pandemic, domestic violence rates have worsened in King County.

  • Oct 28, 2021
tsr
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Why should the threat to Taiwan concern us in WA? | Brunell

Unfortunately, what happens in Taiwan doesn’t just stay in Taiwan — it impacts us. So, when President Xi Jinping announced China’s plan to step up… Continue reading

  • Oct 16, 2021
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Election 2021: Closer look at King County races | Roegner

The race for Mayor of Seattle will dominate the regional media, but for most of the suburbs, it is the King County Executive and the… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Our economy works when consumers pick winners | Brunell

Poland and America are like two trains passing each other in opposite directions. That is becoming increasingly clear as President Biden rolls out his progressive… Continue reading

  • Oct 9, 2021
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Big-time politics: Redistricting for 2022 elections | Roegner

Based on new census data, which shows Washington state has grown by close to 1 million people, the Redistricting Commission is at the beginning of… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Dr. Jayendrina Singha Ray serves as Faculty of English at Highline College. Her research interests include postcolonial studies, spatial literary studies, British literature, and rhetoric and composition. Prior to teaching in the U.S., she worked as an editor with Routledge and taught English at colleges in India.
Jayendrina Singha Ray

What the Afghan wants to say: Arezo’s journey to America | Guest column

In our little Zoom room, I hear my interviewee break into sobs. Her part of the Zoom room is engulfed in darkness, and I have… Continue reading

  • Oct 3, 2021
Dr. Jayendrina Singha Ray serves as Faculty of English at Highline College. Her research interests include postcolonial studies, spatial literary studies, British literature, and rhetoric and composition. Prior to teaching in the U.S., she worked as an editor with Routledge and taught English at colleges in India.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Questions surround vaccine exemptions for state workers | Roegner

With about 4,800 state employees in 24 agencies requesting vaccine exemptions, which is 8% of all state employees, and with the list growing, oversight of… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Can a Texas-style abortion law happen in Washington? | Roegner

If politicians really want to anger women voters, the easiest way is to attack their rights. Since 1973, Roe v. Wade has stood as a… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Reasons to ban Gov. Jay Inslee’s natural gas ban | Brunell

Column: Switching from natural gas to electricity is complicated and will impact everyone.

  • Sep 24, 2021
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Firefighters vs. the governor’s vaccine mandate | Roegner

We all thought we were in this fight with the coronavirus together, based on what the experts have been telling us are the rewards of… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.

Vaccinations improve our health and employment numbers | Brunell

It is not surprising that COVID-19, which ravaged the world, was disastrous for our country’s economy. Millions died from COVID complications. Offices, stores and factories… Continue reading

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He recently retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at thebrunells@msn.com.
Providence employees look at anti-vaccine mandate protesters as they cross the street outside of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Aug. 18, 2021. Olivia Vanni/Sound Publishing

Editorial: A message to the unvaccinated and unmasked

We know you’re frustrated with mandates and advice, but consider our frustrations and, yes, our anger.

Providence employees look at anti-vaccine mandate protesters as they cross the street outside of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Aug. 18, 2021. Olivia Vanni/Sound Publishing
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Inside Politics

Back to the classroom during abnormal times | Roegner

If it didn’t feel so normal, we might forget about the coronavirus and the impact it has had on our lives. Gov. Jay Inslee has… Continue reading

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is a former mayor of Auburn. Contact bjroegner@comcast.net.
Robert Toomey, CFA/CFP, is Vice President of Research for S. R. Schill & Associates on Mercer Island.

What’s up with the real estate market? | Guest column

As we all know, the residential real estate market and prices have been on a tear for several years, and this was only accelerated by… Continue reading

  • Sep 9, 2021
Robert Toomey, CFA/CFP, is Vice President of Research for S. R. Schill & Associates on Mercer Island.