After listening to each of the three original candidates running for the open Jefferson County commissioner seat, and reading many letters from their supporters, I feel certain that we need all three.

Each of these brilliant, dedicated, compassionate women has a different set of skills and talents that, combined, could bring Jefferson County out of the dark and into the light of the 21st century.

Our critical times demand cooperation and creative thinking on all levels to achieve solutions for knotty problems threatening our species and all life on earth. Why should we limit our choice in these desperate times to only one candidate?

Our choices are limited only because our thinking is limited. It is time to think outside the box. Patriarchy forces us to think in terms of “either/or.”

This is only one style of thinking — it leads to competition, antagonism, win or lose, winner take all, and the sense that there is not enough to go around. That thinking is embedded in our county government and all other levels of our government. We can change it.

Over 15 years of residency in Jefferson County I have watched important decisions, affecting thousands of lives, being made by three people. Some of these decisions have not been in our best interests. Let’s start thinking outside the box, and elect five commissioners to guide county government!

In order to increase citizen representation and democracy in our antiquated county governmental system, I ask the two remaining candidates, “Will you, as a commissioner, actively support the following two changes?

• Increase the number of county commissioners from three to five.

• Foster the necessary changes to our county charter so that citizens have the right to place important measures on our ballot through the petition process.

Alea Waters
PORT TOWNSEND