To the candidates running for local, state and federal office, especially Jim Kenny (Snohomish County Prosecutor – D), Derek Stanford (1st Legislative District – D), Luis Moscoso (1st Leg. Dist. – D), Dave Griffin (1st Leg. Dist. – D), Vince DeMiero (1st Leg. Dist. – D), James Watkins (1st Congressional District – R), Jay Inslee (1st Cong. Dist. – D) and Dino Rossi (U.S. Senate – R):

When putting up campaign signs along area roads, please be sure to fully read, understand and follow all laws regarding sign placement. Under Washington state law, it is illegal to post signs on any state right-of-way. Area state roads include: State Route 527 (Bothell-Everett Highway/Bothell Way), SR 524 (Maltby Road/208th Street/Filbert Road) and SR 522 (Bothell Way). Each of the candidates listed above has at least a dozen signs along these roads, with James Watkins topping 50 illegal signs and Vince DeMiero approaching 100 illegally placed signs.

I ask these candidates who wish to be selected to write or uphold our laws to first be respectful of all laws currently in place. Politicians should follow the rules just like ordinary citizens, as no candidate, even a many-term incumbent, is above these laws.

The use of signs in illegal places is also not fair to the candidates who do follow the law, as they miss out on prime locations with high traffic and visibility while others get their name out by shirking all responsibility to be law-abiding citizens.

To voters, please take respect of the law into account when voting and do not reward these candidates with your vote. Does a law breaker truly deserve your support? Will a candidate who so blatantly ignores the law follow other rules if we send them to Olympia or Washington, D.C.? Please think carefully about what kind of person you want representing you.

Eric Allan

Bothell