I am tiring of the representation, or lack thereof, we are receiving from our 38th District Rep. John McCoy. The latest is his offer of the Tulalip Reservation as a location for a new state university. In fact, as general manager of Quil Ceda Village, two of the three sites just happen to be in Quil Ceda Village. Could this be a conflict of interest? Is it ethical for a state legislator to solicit a state project that directly benefits him in his business?

Rep. McCoy has also been quoted in another article saying if the state “wanted to give all tribal members free tuition, we’d take a look at that, too.” What about the many others in our community to whom higher education is important but also highly expensive? Should the rest of us work hard and pay taxes and fill out financial aid forms, only to watch as citizens who happen to be tribal members have higher education freely given to them based purely on race?

Make no bones about it – this isn’t the first time Rep. McCoy has been blatantly pushing preferential treatment and legislation based on race. Voters need to be sure elected officials are representing all citizens ethically and equally.

Gary Barnhart

Marysville