Elections: Talbert a poor choice for county executive

Re: “Dammeier, Talbert for Pierce County executive,” (TNT editorial, 7/10).

Tacoma and Pierce County desperately need real jobs and economic development. Rick Talbert has never created a job; his only experience is holding public office. What are his real accomplishments in all his years in office?

Talbert tried to suppress your right to vote on the $230 million former administration building by supporting the lawsuit against a citizen who legally filed a referendum. Tacoma followed Talbert’s lead and recently sued its own citizens. We must stop electing anyone from any party who shows disrespect for his own people, uses the courts and your taxes to silence democracy and invalidate certified petitions that you signed with the intent to suppress your right to vote.

Do you want another county executive who sues the people she swore to serve and supports voter suppression? Talbert has also failed the Lincoln District and blames others for the old hospital still standing. His solutions for the Health Department and Pierce Transit are service cuts, increasing fees, higher taxes or deeper debt.

I understand the TNT wanting to endorse the only Tacoma resident on the ballot, but Talbert’s D-plus record had to make their endorsement a stretch that many will question.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 11:58 AM with the headline "Elections: Talbert a poor choice for county executive."