Letters to the Editor

Editor's Note: Steve Duenkel is a candidate for Mason County auditor. This letter is being published as a rebuttal to a previous letter. Letters by candidates for public office in Mason County will generally not be published except in response to previous letters.

Rebuttal to Ericson's column

Editor, the Journal,

I would like to respond to several points in Journal columnist Kirk Ericson's column in the Sept. 22 edition of the Journal.

Washington state law mandates use of U.S. Elections Assistance Commission (EAC) standards as the primary means to ensure that certification testing validates voting machine integrity and reliability in election operations. The law also states that the secretary of state cannot approve a voting device unless it has been tested and certified by an EAC-designated independent testing authority.

In March 2020, Secretary of State Kim Wyman issued a certificate designating ClearVote 2.1 as a certified system. The secretary of state website claims that this system completed testing at an EAC-approved testing lab, though provides no copy of the test report. The secretary of state's designation is also at odds with the EAC's own statement that ClearVote 2.1 "is not an EAC Certified system." The EAC provided this statement in a recent response to a Freedom of Information Act request. With that, there are no certification test plans or test results for ClearVote 2.1 from any EAC-approved testing lab posted on the EAC's website where all certified voting system machine test data is archived.

Mason County upgraded its Clear Ballot voting system machine with ClearVote 2.1 software in December 2020, and ran the elections in 2021 and the 2022 primary with it. Mason County will be running the November general election with this software as well. Clear Ballot offered to upgrade the Mason County voting system machine with EAC Certified ClearVote 2.2 in April 2022, but the current Auditor refused the upgrade. Why is the auditor conducting our election operations with software that has not met EAC certification requirements rather than EAC Certified ClearVote 2.2?

While KING 5 News and the current auditor attempt to discredit the canvassing work done by Mason County Voter Research Project, it is important to note that both ultimately admit that there are unresolved anomalies in our voter rolls. Our voter rolls are not current or correct. No one should be happy about this.

One of my priorities as auditor will be to educate voters on every aspect of our election system, so that the people understand what works well and where there are breaks in the chain of custody of ballots and other vulnerabilities where bad actors can influence the outcome of an election. Then, we will work together to make the system better.

Steve Duenkel, Republican candidate for Mason County auditor

No on Rhodes, Duenkel

Editor, the Journal,

Steve Duenkel is a liar; he is trying to stoke a revolution with fear, and he has no basis for his claim that there is any illegitimacy or valid concern for the integrity of any election that has ever occurred here in Mason County.

He lies when he says that he does, and he refuses to answer any questions about his lies. He also lacks literally any qualifications for the job that he is seeking. Duenkel is a danger to our democracy and to the peaceful status quo of our nation. His cohort, Charles Rhodes, is running for county clerk against the experienced, esteemed and supremely qualified incumbent, Sharon Fogo.

Mr. Rhodes was a failed candidate in 2018 for auditor, which is the office Mr. Dunkel is seeking now.

Rhodes, like Duenkel, is a buffoon and a danger to our form of government and way of life; like lying Steve Duenkel, Rhodes also lacks any qualifications for the office that he seeks.

These peoples' agenda is clearly nothing other than the overthrow of our existing government. They are both traitors to our state and federal constitutions, and they are either stupid or wildly dishonest. I believe that they are both delusional. Regardless, neither one is credible, trustworthy or reliable.

Vote against both of them.

Eric Valley, Mason County

The Duenkel I know

Editor, the Journal,

I am writing on behalf of Steve Duenkel, Republican candidate for Mason County auditor. I have had the honor of knowing Steve for over 35 years, eight years in a business capacity and the past 27 years as a personal and valued friend.

Steve has always displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility and ambition. He is articulate, open-minded, innovative and a proven leader, rather than a follower. During our working years together at the Boeing company where I was a factory superintendent, we worked on many corporate endeavors. One of these is a perfect example of his proven leadership. It was a program he helped implement called CQI, or Company Quality Improvement. He is someone who was and always is looking for a way to improve existing conditions, methods and how to create a better tomorrow.

Steve is an individual I know to be dedicated in both his personal and professional life. I wish him the very best on Nov. 8, and encourage the residents of Mason County to consider him the best candidate for the position of auditor.

William R. Richards, Camano Island

Watch for baloney

Editor, the Journal,

The truth is out! It is great that the voters of Mason County can now see what the "Voter Integrity Project" is all about thanks to Kirk Ericson's column and KING 5 News.

What is really going on, is that the ultraconservatives didn't like the last election results for president, so they are working up their "Voter Integrity Project" to convince the public that there were almost countless moments of voter fraud with "research" that is so bogus that a junior high science teacher would be embarrassed. The back story is that these same people don't want old, young, progressive and persons of color voters to be voting.

Mason County residents should be very suspect that Steve Duenkel and his ultraconservative friends have an ulterior motive in disenfranchising many people they disagree with politically. Especially when you look at the number of blue Duenkel posters around the county that look like they cost more than the Mason County auditor's salary would be. Please keep your baloney detectors on high sensitivity.

William Busacca, Shelton

Biden, Murray, Kilmer

Editor, the Journal,

We used to say I'm getting groceries and I'm filling the gas tank. Now we say, should I buy groceries or fill the gas tank? What happened? Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer aren't helping us; they're busily supporting President Joe Biden's policies.

What are Biden policies? He has none, but he does have a record; inflation rate on inauguration day: 1.4%, today: 8.3%. 

The stock market has dropped about 9%; 100,000,000 Americans who are saving for retirement, education, home ownership now have 9% less savings. The mortgage rate has climbed from 3.29% to 6.33% since the start of the Biden presidency; a 3% gain in mortgage interest prices. Sellers will have a harder time selling their houses and buyers will have a harder time getting a loan, which will cost more. These financial reports, stock market results, rising interest rates show the failure of Biden/Murray/Kilmer policies.

Now they tell us the border crisis is Republicans' fault. Democrat candidates think we're stupid (and) lie to us. Watch the voter response in the November Journal. We'll see how many fell for their lies. Should be interesting.What does Patty say? She had a re-election commercial all about unlimited abortions; then she had another, different abortion re-election commercial. Neither commercial bragged about her success in Congress. No wonder, because she's done nothing. We need a stable economy and lower inflation; Patty's priority is killing the unborn. After 30 years of doing nothing, let's term limit Patty Murray. Support Tiffany Smiley. She's a great candidate while Patty's a do-nothing politician with screwed-up priorities. Vote Tiffany Smiley for U.S. Senate. What's the political history of Kilmer? Derek Kilmer has never been a good representative. Other than naming a post office and having photo ops, can you name one thing he's done? Is that what you sent him to Washington, D.C., to do? Derek's been in office too long without doing anything. If he did do something great, how come we haven't heard about it? Let's retire Kilmer and elect Elizabeth Kreiselmaier to Congress.  

Inflation, high prices, high mortgage rates, border crisis, crime across the U.S. tells you the truth about Biden/Murray/Kilmer policies. Keep your eyes on the rising cost of groceries, gas, more expensive loans, the falling value of your home, your 401(k) retirement, and your paycheck as well as crime statistics to know the truth. Has either Derek or Patty promoted refund the police after their previous defund chants? These are the policies of Patty Murray and Derek Kilmer. Murray and Kilmer can't or won't fix these problems. Which is worse, can't or won't? Our only option to correct these broken policies and candidate lies is your vote. Let's elect Tiffany Smiley to the U.S. Senate and Elizabeth Kreiselmaier to Congress.

Ardean Anvik, Shelton

A voting first

Editor, the Journal,

As a fiscal conservative, a social Democrat, a Bernie Sanders socialist, an entrepreneurial libertarian and a secular freethinking independent, Randy Lewis will be the first conservative I will have ever voted for. Imagine that!

This Public Utility District commissioner position is actually nonpartisan and so what matters to me is not that he leans politically conservative, what matters is the smooth continuation of the most transparent, the best financially operated government entity that so many have said the government is incapable of.

Conservatives since Ronald Reagan have been besmirching government as "the problem," as inept, as ineffectual, as wasteful and nefarious. Yet, here we have in Mason County an award-winning operation that is exceptionally responsive to its citizens in all regards of efficient responsibility.

Lewis is a thoughtful actuary by trade and knows numbers where he is more able than his opponent to forecast the future financial health and viability of PUD 3.

I endorse Randy Lewis. He is the right human to guide PUD 3 in its continuation of competent excellence.

Oh, and Randy, when you get voted in, can you do something about 65+ limited-income seniors who own their homes by approving property liens for payment rather than shutting off their electricity on cold winter nights?

Darrell Barker, Shelton

Let's go Washington

Editor, the Journal,

When you see people out and about these days with the list of 11 Let's Go Washington Initiatives please consider adding your signature, especially on I-1474 Restore Police Pursuit and I-1510 Make Hard Drugs Illegal.

Due to the current police reform laws, the transient, addiction, mental health situation in Washington is really wild and while I was at work last week in Shelton, I experienced the twisted circle that is happening here.One of these transient, addicted, mental health individuals was across the street with all of her belongings on the side of the road (state Route 3) clearly high on drugs, yelling up a storm, crossing the highway (almost getting hit), harassing our customers and so on, for hours. Law enforcement had been there three times to address the situation and the woman was trespassed from the property, but she kept coming back. The officers came again and let us know that even though she had been trespassed and keeps coming back there is nothing they can do because she is on drugs and it is considered a mental health situation, which they cannot enforce due to current laws. I asked about getting someone like a social worker there to help her since it is a mental health situation and she is putting herself and others in danger by walking into the highway. While they weren't able to get someone there at that time the officer gave me a phone number to one of the services that helps with these mental health situations.

I called the number and spoke with a woman who told me they were understaffed and unable to help at that time. She also explained to me that since the woman I was calling about had already been trespassed from the property, it is now a legal issue and I needed to call law enforcement to take care of it. I told her that law enforcement had been there multiple times and said there was nothing they can do because it's a mental health issue and she told me this was all thanks to the current police reform laws.

Thankfully by the end of my work shift, EMTs had come to the woman's aid and got her to go with them to hopefully get her the help she needs. The whole circle is very sad to see, officers can't do anything because it is a mental health issue and the social worker can't do anything because it's a legal issue, and round and round we go. Please keep this in mind and help our law enforcement help us by signing these initiatives and the others to bring safety, law and order back to our community and Washington state!

Rebecca Bechtolt, Shelton

Letter critiques

Editor, the Journal,

In the Journal's Sept. 5 letters section, Katherine Price, a regular contributor here, fell into a swoon over the writings of Messrs. Bill Pfender, Andrew Makar and Roderic Whittaker. Like Ms. Price, these scribes are all dedicated Democrats, so her swoon came as no surprise.

Some observations on the writers: First, I'm guessing Mr. Pfender is a flat-earther who believes other writers should cite everything. I mean everything. For example, if you say, "Most milk we drink comes from cows," he might respond, "And just where did you get that information?" or "What's wrong with hemp milk?"

As opposed to Mr. Pfender, Andrew Makar presents as a polymath. He writes with clarity and certainty on a host of topics as diverse as medieval history, economic theory, religious philosophy and sewer systems. I admire Mr. Makar's cornucopia of knowledge but am left wondering what his major was in college.

Oh yes, a brief aside for Mr. Makar: he writes letters to us from Hoodsport. Not long ago, some contributor to the uber-liberal Seattle Times called the area around Mr. Makar's home "Dogpatch," a fictional hillbilly village created by the late cartoonist Al Capp and home to Lil' Abner, Daisy Mae and the rest. Perhaps this was a crude attempt to rhyme with "Potlatch."

Katherine Price was not stingy with her praise of her fave writers. She said of them that they "made their points clearly," and most importantly, "spoke eloquently." Imagine my surprise then, when the writer listed as third favorite, Shelton's own Roderic Whittaker, said that Donald Trump was "an insane sociopath." (Uh, where did you go to medical school, Dr. Whittaker?)

We can glean from Mr. Whittaker's letter that he has a virulent strain of TDS; his comments do not ease the rhetoric any more than those of President Joe Biden (The Great Unifier) when, in a recent speech, he called half the nation's voters "semi-fascists" or whatever the hell that means. We can do much better.

Perhaps when Katherine Price wakes and rises from her fainting couch, she will select a different triumvirate of literary heroes or, better yet, change the name of the contest altogether. I have a few suggestions.

Robert E. Graham, Union

Up with nationalism

Editor, the Journal,

People wonder what's tearing this country apart. I would suggest it's things like the lesson Mr. Dave Daggett tried to lay on us with his Sept. 15 letter, Klaus' story. That entire letter was focused on convincing us that nationalism is a dirty word and an undesirable objective.

Reality? Webster defines nationalism as: 1. patriotism, 2. the putting of national interests and security above international considerations, 3. the desire for or advocacy of national independence.

Up until recently, nationalism has been one of the bedrock principles that this greatest nation on earth has stood upon from the beginning. It is not a "rising threat" as Mr. Daggett would have us believe; it's embedded in this nation's very title – The United States of America. We fought our most costly conflict, the Civil War, over an attempt to divide us. Even our money carries the motto e pluribus unum (one out of many). That bugles to the world that we are proud of our unity – our nationalism. Some of us still go even further by actually pledging allegiance to our flag and what it stands for – "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I hope no one falls for Mr. Daggett's attempt to make nationalism a dirty word just because the National Socialist German Workers party, under Adolph Hitler, used the word national in the party's title. There is nothing to be ashamed of or avoid in the actual meaning of the word nationalism. Don't get sucked into Mr. Daggett's attempt to label us Nazis, those who still view nationalism as one of the strongholds of this country. Unfortunately, we seem to have displaced our objective of nationalism with a societywide quest for diversity. While there is nothing wrong with respecting and protecting the cultural norms of others, the definition of diversity stands in direct opposition to nationalism.

And don't bother calling me a "white supremacist nationalist racist" either, because that assumption would be wrong as well.

Jay Hupp, Shelton

Gale vs. MacEwen

Editor, the Journal,

I want to talk about the state Senate race for the 35th District. There are two candidates on the ballot: Julianne Gale and Drew MacEwen. So let's do a compare and contrast. You will see it is Ms. Gale by a mile.

Mr. MacEwen presents me with priorities such as a strong state economy and affordable health care. Who doesn't? I have yet to meet people that want a weak economy and unaffordable health care. But, what has he really done for that? Well, he's backed vanilla GOP actions that make us dependent on fossil fuel and health care governed by Wall Street. But what has he been silent about? Has Mr. MacEwen spoken out against the antics of his party leaders? Does he condemn election lies? No. He keeps trying to make good deals with bad people. He keeps his head down and goes along. People like that will never have your back. The back that they have is themselves and their fellow travelers. And they tend to be light on the latter too.

Let me give you one example. On Dec. 6, 2021, he was a co-sponsor on a pre-filed bill to repeal the long-term care program the state is trying to implement. Now we can argue that the plan does not provide enough. The answer to that would be making the plan a more meaningful service. But there is no positive solution offered. Basically, the bill notes that those who have the money are taking care of themselves. So, why have people pay into a less-than-perfect program? Translated, if you have the money, you are fine. If you don't, well too bad. His solution is to take what you do have and give you nothing. Nada. Zip point squat. Bupkis. Well, he's shown me his colors.

Ms. Gale really does care. She is not just looking out for a handful of people who can take care of themselves. She is looking out for all of us. Julianne Gale will not back ideas like sewer projects that will lard unearned benefits on the Mr. Potters of the world. She is one of us. She works for a living. Ms. Gale is smart enough that she will understand the legitimate needs of the business community. But she is honest enough that she won't give them everything that isn't nailed down. And she wouldn't decide that an imperfect program is remedied by giving you nothing. She will come to the obvious conclusion that the imperfect can be made better. Mr. MacEwen is fine with taking what little you have and giving you nothing. Don't believe me. Just look at his actions.

Andrew Makar, Hoodsport

An eye-opener

Editor, the Journal,

Tuesday afternoon of last week, I had the opportunity to attend the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum that featured six candidates running for three Mason County offices. The candidates were County Clerk Sharon Fogo and her challenger Charles Rhodes, County Auditor Paddy McGuire and his challenger Steve Duenkel, and County Assessor Patti McLean and her challenger George Blush.

At the end of the forum, I was very impressed by the three incumbents. I felt that they stood out as having a good grasp of their offices and had good plans for things they expect to accomplish with a second term. It was also obvious to me that the challengers didn't know much about the positions they are running for.

But the scariest candidate of the six in my opinion is election denier Steve Duenkel, who is running against Auditor McGuire. During the forum, Mr. Duenkel talked about leading the Mason County Voter Research Project which was looking for voter anomalies for the 2021 and 2020 elections. He went on to insinuate that there are voter anomalies in our voter rolls in Mason County, and that our voter rolls aren't current and not correct. He also said that his findings were confirmed by KING 5 News.

Well, it just so happened that later that same day on both the 6:30 and 11 p.m. KING 5 News, they featured their investigation into Mason County Voter Research Project claims of voter anomalies and fraud here in Mason County. This story lasted about eight minutes. News anchor Greg Copeland started the story by saying, "they consider themselves foot soldiers in the effort to uncover fraud in local elections. Maybe they have shown up at your door asking questions about your voter registration."

KING 5 reporter Chris Ingalls came to Mason County with his camera crew and investigated several of Duenkel's group's claims. The first voter fraud claim Ingalls investigated was the group's claim that on Coulter Creek Road there were four registered voters with listed addresses on vacant land. Ingalls quickly found out that Duenkel's group turned left onto Coulter Creek Road when they should have turned right onto Coulter Creek Road South. All four of these voters and two more were correctly listed on Coulter Creek Road South, and Ingalls spoke to two of them. Ingalls investigated several other claims made by Duenkel's group. He didn't find any fraud.

Ingalls interviewed McGuire at the County Administration Building, and Paddy answered all of Ingalls' questions. Duenkel refused to be interviewed by KING 5 News. I also understand Mr. Duenkel refused to be interviewed by the Seattle Times when they ran a story about his project and his claims of voter fraud back in June. The following day, I asked Duenkel about why he refused these two interviews. I mean it's free advertising. Mr. Duenkel told me he was worried that the news might twist his words, and that he prefers to talk directly to the voters. Well Steve, it's easy to make innuendos about problems that don't exist, and cause people to mistrust their institutions. But when you give interviews to newspapers or news channels, they have fact-checkers.

Greg Sypnicki, Shelton

Consider the assessor

Editor, the Journal,

We will soon be receiving ballots for the November election. On it will be two critical Mason County positions – assessor and auditor.

I am writing from my perch as an unpaid volunteer for the Port of Grapeview and responsible for writing grants that resulted in the magnificent boat launch complex in the Fair Harbor area completed in 2020. I am currently in the process of seeking a grant to improve the auto/boat trailer parking lot.

The grant process requires accurate property legal descriptions. To that, I turn to the county assessor, Patti McLean, who supplies the required documents to substantiate ownership of lands to be developed.

The port is directed by three commissioners, one for each port district and in place for six years. Replacing any one of them requires an election. To that, I turn to the county auditor, Paddy McGuire whose election department imparts what the port and candidate must accomplish to be placed on a ballot.

With the current turmoil of who won the last presidential election, now in its second year, it is imperative that we, the citizens of this republic, use our votes to put in place those that will do the best for us.

Nothing upsets me more than politicians and hopeful politicians who try to twist the truth. Incredibly, the assessor wanna-be implied that the recent uptick in assessed values was Ms. McLean's doing; somehow he missed RCW 84.40.030, which is titled: Basis of valuation, assessment, appraisal - One hundred percent of true and fair value- Exceptions - Leasehold estates - Real property - Appraisal - Comparable sales.

The assessor is bound by this RCW to appraise a property at 100% of fair market value. And the assessor gives you the opportunity to challenge that appraisal. And, as we all know, the increase in our property values is the result of a super red-hot seller's market.

At this point I'm going to get personal. Thank you Ms. McLean. Your status as a Washington state-certified appraiser and letter to me regarding the value of 15 acres I donated to the Port of Grapeview in 2018, subsequently survived a 2021 IRS audit with a "no change determination." I thank you for that.

Next week I'll get into the auditor candidates.

Robert A. Pastore, Grapeview

'What's on your mind?'

Editor, the Journal,

I have had the opportunity to meet Julianne Gale, state Senate candidate for the 35th Legislative District on several occasions. I have found her to be smart, energetic and honest. She is laser-focused on local and state issues. In individual or group settings, she always asks the voters, "what's on your mind?" And then she listens and discusses.

People want their politicians to listen to their needs and act to make their lives better and fairer. On her website she clearly states her platform and policy priorities, something her opponent doesn't. One of the planks on her platform is to reduce reliance on long-distance supply chains. What does that mean for us locally? Inflation reduction, more local good-paying jobs, better products on the shelves and more money into the local economy, boosting everyone in our neighborhood economically. She wants the community to work together with no one left behind.

People become apathetic and uninterested in their elected leaders when they feel they can no longer hear their voice in the conversation. Julianne engages with the voters, listens, and does not run from the questions.

When we elect Julianne Gale to the state Senate, I guarantee that she will carry your voice to Olympia and you will be able to hear it in the conversation.Vote Julianne Gale.

Donna Wessel, Hoodsport

American coyotes

Editor, the Journal,

American coyotes, ex-President Donald Trump, Republicans and Mexican coyotes have partnered up as human traffickers. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, (he wants to be president), and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott are America's coyotes. Coyotes is the derogatory slang term for human traffickers - you know, the ones that fill up semitrucks of immigrants, and then let them die in the back of the trucks. Yep, that's the MAGA. To be a good MAGA Republican you must promote the big lie - that Trump won the election, and condone a deadly seditious coup to overthrow our democracy and then pretend it did not happen. Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the insurrection, is the date the Republican Party revealed its true agenda - to stop those nasty constitutional free and fair elections not only nationally, but locally too.

Also, you must exploit and deal in human trafficking for political profit and gain. The party has lost all credibility as a political organization. It's just a Jim Jones cult. Trump tells us to inject ourselves with poison to cure COVID. "Cleans your lungs," he said. OMG! Everything they do is disgraceful, nothing is too low.

Please vote Democratic. Vote for truth, justice, sanity and the American way, and for a meet-in-the middle government, and a government for the good of all. Michelle Obama said, "When they go low, we go high," To protect our country, it is time for all good men and women to come to the aid of our country and get involved. It's all of us, we the silent majority have sat by and let this malignant political cancer grow and attempt to overthrow the republic. The sleeping giant has woken up, and she is mad. President Joe Biden said the Republicans do not have a clue to the power of American women, but they sure going to learn.

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired, about this political stuff, so is my family and everyone else is tired of this BS too. Well, that's in our past; we have a new bright future ahead for this country. Stop listening to all the red herrings, Q's, and shiny objects that are out there - those people are nuts. Forget about the whackos, and I am done with all the glum and doom. I am going high like Michelle Obama.

I have a nice family story to share with you about the American Dream, if I am fortunate enough to get in the paper next week. Or this week. My father joined the Navy in 1939 and served for 20 years. He was a pilot and flew at the Battle of Midway, he never ever discussed any of that with me. When I was very young, 8 or 9 years old, he did tell me though about a proud moment of his service and showed me a treasured family memento of the event. His ship was stationed off the Chinese coast, picking up boat people fleeing the communists. Believe it or not, his story has a direct link to this November election for the 35th District Senate seat between Democrat candidate Julianne Gale and Republican candidate Drew MacEwen.

Roderic Whittaker, Shelton