I worked in the public sector for over 18 years. We always had to advertise job positions, interview candidates, put together interview panels, and select the most qualified candidates.

I guess County Executive Dave Somers considers Snohomish County his personal fiefdom in creating $187,000 positions for the likes of the term-limited county council member, Stephanie Wright (“Wright resigns to serves as Somers’ senior policy adviser,” The Herald, Aug. 29). That’s a $62,000 increase from her County Council position! In her entire term, I never crossed paths once with her even though she’s my district representative.

I have a lot of places the money for her new position (plus benefit and retirement costs) could have gone.

Almost makes me want to vote Republican. So insular and so “taking care of your buddies.” And from a taxpayer’s perspective, so disappointing.

Cathy Reineke

Lynnwood