Letters to the Editor

Boys and girls

Editor, the Journal,

I am just so dismayed at the Shelton School District latest notification in the Community Link mailing that everyone in Mason County received last week. In the section on gender-inclusive schools, I just can't fathom what these people are thinking.

The Shelton School District has acquiesced to the liberal mob logic now affecting and destroying many communities. They have made it a policy now to allow persons of one sex to identify as a person of another sex so as to be given the right to force this on others. They are being allowed to enter the other sexes' bathrooms, showers, dressing facilities and to peep at the other sex and to cause sexual harassment of the other sex. Imagine grown men showing off their "package" to all the underage girls in the locker room. They have been given the right to commit fraud and change their true biological sex designation so as to participate on teams of the other sex. This has now been coded into the rights of all students in the Shelton School District. This abomination has been perpetrated by the district administration and the school board. They are committing fraud. Where have all the rights for women gone? The men will be taking over their places on the teams. They have already done this on many individual sports competitions, robbing the women of their rightful victory and success. To all the female libertarians out there, where have you gone? Is it because liberals and Democrats are spearheading this crime against humanity? I call for the resignation of all school district leadership personnel and all of the school board members. You should be run out of town. Please show up at the next school board meeting to address this disgusting direction that we are going in this county and town. And for those out there that agree with the school district, don't choke on your Bud Light.

Jerry Sparks, Shelton

Judging judges

Editor, the Journal,

I have been practicing in Mason County for the last five years and have appeared in front of every judge on the Mason County bench that served during that time. I can say beyond doubt that Judge Ferguson-Brown is one of the smartest, most thoughtful and fairest judges that I have appeared in front of. She is patient with pro se litigants (people who appear without an attorney), ensuring that they have the same access to the judicial system as those represented by counsel. Serving as a judge is a difficult job. There are no "right" answers, and no judge is going to get it "right" 100% of the time. Partly because we, as citizens, do not agree on what "right" is when it comes to many of the discretionary rulings a judge must make. At the end of the day, Judge Ferguson-Brown has dispensed justice that was fair and equitable each time I and my clients have appeared in front of her. It certainly was not always what I, or my clients, wanted to hear, but her decisions have been well thought out, supported by the law, and seemingly contemplative of the multiple facets of the issue before her. As our country and community seems to get further and further apart, I believe we need someone on the bench who looks at and considers all sides. Who is motivated by a sincere interest in finding justice. Someone who can help bring us together as a community, even when our values and interests differ at times. I believe that person is Judge Ferguson-Brown. It is for these reasons that I wholeheartedly endorse Judge Ferguson-Brown to retain her position in Mason County Superior Court.

Sunshine M. Bradshaw, Port Orchard

Thanks for Pride

Editor, the Journal,

I'm a regular reader of the Journal and have been hoping to read a report about the news-worthy first-ever Pride and Diversity Celebration held Aug. 13 in Belfair. I'm still waiting, so here's my thank you to all the generous people and businesses of Belfair for their support of the event.

"Thank you" to the near dozen local businesses who provided support for the celebration. As a member of the car parade, I send another "thank you" to the drivers on state Route 3 who paused in the long line and allowed me and my Pride-flag festooned car back into the line of traffic. Hats off to the more than 50 marchers who walked (in hot weather) for a stretch of the highway. At the end of the parades, nearly 100 people of every color, gender and age gathered for free food, song, rainbow dessert auction and prizes. My husband and I enjoyed the whole event and look forward to participating next year.

Special thanks to the Mason County sheriff for the support of two deputy vehicles along the parade route and to Randy Neatherlin for his facilitation and communication skills.

Donna Branch-Gilby, Port Orchard

Experience matters

Editor, the Journal,

I wrote in July about David Stevens and his lack of experience in most of what he would be called on to do as a judge. Mr. Stevens wrote in his defense and listed out all the things he studied. Well, I hope he did. After all, those are the topics they teach you in law school. But his response did not list actual experience in the areas of civil law that superior court judges deal with.

The superior court is a court of general jurisdiction. All manner of cases, from commercial lawsuits to family law cases come through the superior court. Here is the actual distribution of cases from 2022. A total of 1,489 cases were filed in Mason County Superior Court. Of that, 449 were criminal. The other 1,040 were civil. Criminal filings were just a hair over 30% of all filings. 

Many of you are basing your claims of experience solely on Mr. Steven's criminal work as a lawyer. Yet that is less than one-third of what the superior court does. Moreover, Mr. Stevens will almost certainly be conflicted out of hearing any criminal matter involving cases filed up to the date of his taking office. That will leave him hearing civil matter pretty much exclusively for his first year. Instead, Mr. Stevens will be left with dealing with all the things he never dealt with since law school. And these things could involve you. Do you have a family member who died and have to probate an estate? Or family law issues? How about a nice property dispute? Or perhaps a contract that went south? Well, if you draw Mr. Stevens, then you will have a judge with no experience handling the case.

If you want experience, you should vote for Judge Ferguson-Brown.

Andrew Makar, Hoodsport

Vote Ferguson-Brown

Editor, the Journal,

There is only one candidate for the Mason County Superior Court that makes sense: Judge Cadine Ferguson-Brown. There is only one candidate who has the depth of education, the knowledge and application of the law, and the ability to remain fair in doing so: Judge Ferguson-Brown. During the past several years, Mason County has benefitted from the expertise of Judge Ferguson-Brown. I have witnessed her deliberate manner in reviewing and researching her cases. I have seen first-hand her thoughtful and thorough rulings. Her ability to remain balanced and fair within her cases speaks to her efforts at ensuring that all sides of a matter are heard. This level of skill takes years to attain.Why is that important? It is important to any litigant: a child, a youth, a mother or a father. Whereas some may disagree with an outcome, it is more easily understood and accepted best, when based upon the analysis and consideration of such a judge.

By contrast, there is an opponent for the same superior court judge position who can lay claim to very little of what Judge Ferguson-Brown has accomplished in Mason County. It makes a tremendous difference for a county which faces many challenges, to have the most competent and capable of judicial officers on its bench. Judge Ferguson-Brown's service to Mason County is not a mere passing. Her efforts are evidence that she has all that it takes to remain a superior court judge for Mason County.

J. Anne Redford-Hall, Hoquiam