By Lorie Stewart / For The Herald
Election season television ads, mailers, and door-knocking can feel excessive to some of us, but we can’t lose sight of what our votes amount to collectively; and that together, we make the future.
Our responsibility to create a safe future, with shared prosperity for our children and grandchildren is perhaps greater than ever.
That’s why I’m voting no on Initiative 2109, which will be on Washington state ballots this November. It would repeal the state’s modest capital gains tax, slashing more than $5 billion from public education, child care and early learning to give fewer than 4,000 mega-millionaires and billionaires a tax cut. All retirement accounts, such as IRAs, small family businesses, farms, and all real estate, including businesses and vacation homes, are already exempted from this capital gains tax that supports safe and bright futures for our state’s children.
I have a granddaughter, great nieces and nephews, and I am an educator and childcare provider, so I am closely tied to the children who Initiative 2109 will directly affect. The futures of all of the children in my life are the primary motivators to encourage others to get out and vote. This is all to say, now more than ever, we must shake off any voting fatigue and join together to vote no on I-2109 resoundingly.
I grew up in a tiny, rural town in the Midwest. There is one traffic signal there that simply flashes red in four directions. All major employers in the area have closed down, with four bars and 11 churches remaining. We had so many churches and bars, but minimal effort was put into the schools and education we got. There was always little emphasis on the importance of voting or how important knowledge of what was on the ballot was. I mention this to tell you why I am so emphatic about using your voice to vote and to lift our voices for those who can’t use theirs just yet.
Despite being raised in a biracial home, with ancestors who fought and protested for the right to vote, I was not taught about the importance of voting at home either. So I am picking up a torch that has skipped a generation and passing it on to my adult children, I hope they too will be educated on the issues on the ballot and vote no on I-2109.
I was in my mid-20s when I first registered to vote. President George W. Bush was in office serving his first term, the internet was still somewhat novel and most of us had no cell phones. Marriage equality for the LGBTQ+ community was on the ballot that year in 11 states. My brother is gay and I am bisexual. I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to make my voice heard on this issue.
I voted for the first time with my values guiding the way, but marriage equality and my presidential choice did not see victories. Rather than feeling discouraged, I felt empowered to vote even louder next time; and bring my friends with me to the polls.
As a voter, I have grown to realize how important it is to be aware of who is running for the local school board, who is on my city council, what measures are on the ballot, and when those critical local elections take place.
It is empowering to know that as taxpayers and voters, it is up to us to hire the people who will represent our interests and well-being in state and local government. After all, we collectively pay their salaries and fund the budgets that they allocate to public agencies and projects.
When we vote, we are choosing to breathe clean air, drive on safe roads, invest in child care and a good education for our children, and level the playing field for working families. To honor my values as well as the sacrifices and legacy of my ancestors who fought for the right to vote as Black Americans, I will confidently cast my vote against Initiative 2109 this November. I hope you will too.
A Mukilteo resident, Lorie Stewart is a mom, a grandmother, a nanny, a house cleaner, and a proud member of MomsRising.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
