Non-residents of school districts writing against levies?

Who is Jeff Heckathorn, and why did he feel he needed to write statements opposing 14 of the 23 school and fire district levy propositions on the Feb. 8 special election (“Voters to decide fate of critical school funding measures,” The Herald, Jan. 16)?

Obviously he can’t be a resident of all those districts. Another levy opponent, Kathy Gill, wrote against levies in two different school districts. Look at your voter’s pamphlet and you can see.

Reading through the various statements, it seems like the opponents freely plagiarized from one another. “McCleary should have solved this, and until these levies are always voted down, the Legislature will never get the message.” “The districts are trying to sneak taxes in by using a legally established date for the vote.” “The district will find a way to pay for expenses if we take the money away.” “They should pay for replacement roofs from capital funds, not from operations and maintenance.” “Everett should have kept on using 40- to 90-year old buildings, with computer cables stapled to the walls, instead of bringing the central administration together in one place.” And, so on.

It would seem that being a resident in a taxation district should be required in order to submit a statement against. The pro-statements all appear to have been written by concerned citizens who are involved and knowledgeable concerning their districts’ needs. They are the ones to listen to.

And, yes, I remember the dark days after consecutive levy failures in Snohomish, when literally every sheet of colored construction paper had to be counted by parent volunteers helping with class projects.

Joel Niemi

Snohomish

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, April 25

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

FILE - This Feb. 6, 2015, file photo, shows a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine on a countertop at a pediatrics clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. Washington state lawmakers voted Tuesday, April 23, 2019 to remove parents' ability to claim a personal or philosophical exemption from vaccinating their children for measles, although medical and religious exemptions will remain. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
Editorial: Commonsense best shot at avoiding measles epidemic

Without vaccination, misinformation, hesitancy and disease could combine for a deadly epidemic.

Schwab: Who saw this coming? said no one but Senate Republicans

Take your pick of agency heads; for those who advise and consent, there was no sign of trouble ahead.

LifeWise program is taking time from student’s studies

As a former educator fpr the Everett Public Schools, I was alarmed… Continue reading

Courts must push for Abrego Garcia’s return to U.S.

The role of government is not to cancel or break things but… Continue reading

Comment: Ukraine holds no cards because Trump dealt them away

The U.S., more interested in a reset with Russia, is calling Ukraine to take a deal designed to fail.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, April 24

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Local artist Gabrielle Abbott with her mural "Grateful Steward" at South Lynnwood Park on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 in Lynnwood, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Earth Day calls for trust in act of planting trees

Even amid others’ actions to claw back past work and progress, there’s hope to fight climate change.

Why should there be concern over LifeWise Bible study?

Wow. Front page, massive headline, two days before Resurrection Sunday, and The… Continue reading

Religion, schools should be kept separate

Thank you for your coverage of LifeWise Academy at Emerson Elementary (“Everett… Continue reading

Edmonds PFAS treatment plans raises safety concerns

The Sunday Herald article about new technology at the Edmonds Waste Water… Continue reading

Stephens: The daily unraveling of President Face-Plant

Recent events show the stark absence of the adults in the room who saved Trump in his first term.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.