To The Editor

One of the ways our children learn is by copying the behavior of parents and adults around them. So what are we telling our children when as parents we do not register to vote or don’t vote? Voting is not just a right in our country, it is a responsibility. Twenty-five percent of the parents with children enrolled in the Tahoma School District are not registered to vote in Maple Valley. Think of the message that is sending to our children.

Maple Valley is a community that wants the best for all of our children and that is a great responsibility. It means that every adult in Maple Valley who is eligible to vote must register to vote and then fulfill that responsibility by voting. It also means that every registered voter does indeed vote. With the upcoming school bond every adult who does not vote is telling our children that it is OK that they attend school in antiquated, inadequate, old rundown portable classrooms. It means that because of overcrowding we are willing to double shift the school day and extend the school term to year-around.

We talk about smaller class sizes but do not support that desire with our votes. We move to Maple Valley because of the excellent school district and then do not support that same school district with our votes. As a retired senior citizen with no children this bond is a tough one for me. But, when I think of the alternatives it is an easy decision for me to make. I want my example to our youth to be a positive one. I want our youth to know I care about them. I will be supporting the (bond) and the children of Maple Valley with my yes vote on Nov. 5. I invite you to join me.

Linda Johnson

Maple Valley City Council Member