To the editor:

The election is just weeks away. We have the opportunity and privilege to vote for men and women to represent us in Coupeville, Olympia and Washington. D.C.

Each of us will vote for the various candidates and initiatives for a wide variety of reasons. Some will vote Democrat or Republican right up and down the line; others will vote for the candidate regardless of party affiliation. But the point is, we each get to choose for ourselves who we will vote for to represent us.

I am choosing to vote for Sen. John McCain, Dino Rossi, Rep. Norma Smith, Rep. Barbara Bailey, Linda Haddon, Commissioner Phil Bakke and Commissioner Mac McDowell. Not because it says “prefers GOP or Republican” after their name, but because their individual principles and values are more in line with mine than the other candidates.

Attack ads, fear-mongering and grand promises are not the basis of an intelligent vote.

I will not bad-mouth or otherwise attack the opposing candidates. I will not try and make you change your mind.

But I will ask that each of us think deeply about our core principles and values and vote for the candidates that most closely reflect your own.

Our state and nation are at a crossroads. It is important that each of us makes an intelligent and informed vote.

Caig Buchanan

Freeland