On the front page of the 10/23 Leader was a graphic showing the spending for the district 1 commissioners race which showed a very drastic difference in both funds raised and spent. I love that Ben Thomas didn’t give into the political machine that thinks we are lemmings and are going to judge the worth of a candidate by the number of signs we see along the side of the road. I first met Ben when I attended a Growth Management Steering committee meeting where they were working on the 2025 GMA update, then I would see him on social media, on the local Facebook pages. I was so impressed that he was engaging with people where they gather to share a good deal of their information. He would answer questions and respond to posts with what I have come to see as typical Ben, thoughtful, engaging and always with a little humor! That is the kind of candidate we need for county commissioner! If you want more of what we have had, vote for the hand-picked candidate of the machine. If you want a commissioner that listens, does his own research, thinks outside the box, puts people together and doesn’t count on yard signs to win an election you will vote for Ben Thomas, I am!

Shellie Yarnell

Brinnon