Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Council races are nonpartisan, but parties are involved
Please take a very close look at whom you vote for in the Gig Harbor City Council and Mayor races and for the state positions. The City of Gig Harbor claims that these positions are non-partisan but many are heavily endorsed and influenced by the majority party of this state (https://26d.org/june-5-2025-endorsement-recommendations/). Under our one-party rule in Olympia, Washington State passed the biggest tax increases in our state’s history. Additionally, we are in the top three nationwide for highest gas prices. The national average is currently $3.07 yet Washington prices are consistently above $4.00 and often are close to $5.00. These outrageous prices are directly due to the policies and regulations passed the last several years in Olympia.
State regulations and taxes recently passed in Olympia have caused business after business in our state to permanently close and many have moved out of the state. Just this week in Gig Harbor the owners of Heritage Distillery announced the closing of all its tasting rooms and a restructuring of their business because the State of Washington makes it so difficult to operate in this state. And, the state is not done—they are looking at robbing local governments of even more of their local sales tax to support their wild-eyed programs.
If you want Gig Harbor to remain a vibrant and profitable city where businesses flourish and add revenue to the local community, please do not vote for candidates who support and are supported by the state’s majority party.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Kuemerle
Gig Harbor