Re: “Builders spend big on McCarthy ads” (TNT, 10-9).

We all know that money and politics go hand in hand, but can nearly $111,000 in political action committee donations influence the Pierce County executive race to support the developers’ favored candidate?

We all know that special interest groups such as developers and builders have had a stranglehold on Pierce County government for decades. Neighborhoods like Spanaway, South Hill and Graham are still dealing with runaway residential growth. This has happened at the same time that we have no effective planning and no commitment to significant transportation improvements. The result is no balance in our quality of life.

Sadly, the Master Builders Association and its lobbyists are the winners and the citizenry are the losers.

So it should come at no surprise that if the developers’ hand-picked candidate, Pat McCarthy, does not win, the developers might lose power. There must be a lot at stake or the developers would not be bankrolling such huge political action committees to defeat those candidates who are not in their back pocket.

Thank goodness that Gov. Chris Gregoire and County Councilman Calvin Goings are not afraid to stand up to those who want to trample our government and our environment.

I think its time for the citizens in big numbers to stand up on Nov. 4 and loosen the developers’ stranglehold on Pierce County government and its elected officials.