It is easy today to be against all politicians and government at all levels. Certainly, the federal government has been a real circus lately. Most people are much more interested in faraway government than they are in local government. However, what goes on in local government often has a much more direct impact on our lives. In Everett we will have an opportunity in the upcoming election to get a fresh, people-oriented face onto the city council. I have known Jackie Minchew for six years, and I know that he asks the questions we need to answered in the 21st century.

Jackie’s favorite question is, “Do you really believe we can have infinite growth on a finite planet?” We know that we are facing severe climate change in this century. Ninety-five percent of scientists agree on this, and they agree that it is human caused and can be halted by human actions. Even sooner, we will face severe shortages of fossil fuels. The oil and coal companies want to extract every last drop and ton before they will admit this, but observers of both industries tell us that we should be worried. Jackie knows that we need to change and he will help Everett make the changes we will need to make to survive these problems.

Did you know that most of our city council live in North Everett, are lawyers and accountants and do not really represent the population of Everett? Jackie lives and works in Lowell. He teaches music in the elementary school there. You can often see him riding around town on his electric bicycle, ringing door bells mostly these days. Jackie talks to lots of common ordinary people and he listens. He also spends many, many hours attending city meetings and keeping up on what is going on. He will get the job done for all us ordinary folks.

Dean Smith

Everett