Guest Commentary

``DAYTON–The Columbia County Board of Commissioners signed a letter to Governor Jay Inslee expressing concern with the lack of involvement local government has in decisions affecting our community. The BOCC request an in-person meeting to discuss the continuing state of emergency and mandates set forth by the governor. The letter reads:

Dear Governor Inslee,

As elected officials, we are reaching out with dismay and concern with your mandated vaccination orders and the lack of respect for local involvement when it comes to decisions affecting our communities.

We have major issues with the mandates you are forcing upon the citizens and the negative consequences they will have on our communities.

For example, not allowing our health care workers and those in our medical facilities to choose whether to be vaccinated is taking away their freedom of personal choice when it comes tot heir health care decisions. It will likely decrease our capacity to respond to this epidemic as people unwilling to be vaccinated quit. Forced vaccination is nonsensical as this workforce has demonstrated for well over a year the ability to do their jobs and contend with this virus in a safe manner. We are at a critical time when we need the medical capacity they represent as hospitalizations continue to reach record levels. The same need for response capacity holds true for our first responders, law enforcement, firefighters, state employees and countless volunteers serving communities across Washington State. The vaccines have not proven to be 100% effective and by mandating them you are fueling the frustration and anger many are feeling.

The ongoing state of emergency is wearing on us and our constituents. What is happening in our hospitals is critical. However, businesses are open, many have returned to work, students are back in school, sporting events are taking place and yet we continue to operate under an “emergency” declaration–which has exceeded more than 550 days. It feels like the only reason we are continuing under this declaration is so the executive branch of our government can continue to make decisions without the input of legislators, local elected officials, and communities. This is where our frustration and disappointment come from and the citizen’s animosity is growing, because of this lack of involvement. We all want what is best for our communities and state, but the perception is only one person is making all the decisions.

As far as we can tell there is no public plan to the ending of the state of emergency or goals set forth to achieve the end of this situation. The lack of hope leads to a feeling of a lack of respect for our authority and duties which we want to carry out and be part of the solutions.

Governor Inslee, we the undersigned elected servants of the people are strongly requesting an in-person meeting with you to discuss these proclamations and mandates immediately. We are requesting a response no later than September 20, 2021.

Most sincerely,

Ryan Rundell, Columbia County Commissioner

Marty Hall, Columbia County Commissioner Dist. II

Chuck Amerein, Columbia County Commissioner Dist. 3