Editor,

The 10th legislative Senate primary election results inspire hope for positive change. I am honored to move forward to the general election and sincerely thank all who voted for me and my colleague and friend, Nick Petrish.

Elections are about what is best for communities. As such, they should be grounded in our stances on issues. I ran a clean and respectful campaign and was disappointed to see that Barbara Bailey’s big corporate backers, a group deceptively named Good Government Leadership Council (GGLC), engaged in a vicious and unsubstantiated smear campaign. I welcome an open and honest forum to expose the facts behind their bogus allegations. This is the same group that spent half a million dollars on hit pieces against former Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen on Bailey’s behalf during her 2012 campaign.

Sen. Bailey stated that she was unaware of, and does not condone, such attacks. Legislators should exemplify accountability regarding their campaign finances. So far in this election the GGLC spent nearly $40,000 on hit pieces against me while Barbara has accepted nearly $30,000 from the entity’s special interest groups. This includes maximum contributions from payday lenders, Big Tobacco, pharmaceutical and gas companies, and big insurance corporations. To earn our trust, Bailey should return their donations and stop her underhanded campaigns.

I look forward to a robust conversation on the issues, and commit to government service that prioritizes local people and the places they call home, not big out-of-state corporations. I’d be honored to have your vote this November.

ANGIE HOMOLA

Oak Harbor