The Political Smell Test article implies that Bill Driscoll – a candidate in the 6th Congressional District that encompasses the Olympic Peninsula – is dishonest. The paper states: “Driscoll says his Democratic opponent (Derek Kilmer) supports ‘Wild Olympics’,” a forest preservation proposal that contains more than 100,000 acres that adds to hundreds of thousands of acres already preserved on the Olympic Peninsula.

Later, the paper states that Kilmer supported the Wild Olympics concept. Still later, without documentation, the article stated the preservation would contribute to clean water and jobs dependent on clean water.

Undoubtedly Kilmer and The News Tribune writer have not driven around the peninsula to read the proliferation of signs decrying the Wild Olympics proposal. The property owners who have lived on the peninsula for generations desperately need Driscoll to represent them – not a career progressive politician.

My great-grandfather settled on the Olympic Peninsula in 1859, and the family has depended on the forest resources for several generations. In the 1890s, the progressives begin to take the land away from the local citizens by small or big pieces until the citizens dependent on a productive forest are endangered.

The progressives are converting a resources productive region into a pensioner-retiree region.

Why not hold everyone to the same standards? In this article, Democrat Derek Kilmer’s quote against his Republican opponent in the 6th District, Bill Driscoll, stood out: “There are 253 millionaires in our Congress, and he would like your vote to make him No. 254.”

His argument can be used against his fellow Democrat running in the new 10th District, Denny Heck, as well. Heck is a millionaire, as is Bill Driscoll; however, Kilmer has endorsed Heck, despite the fact that if elected, he would add to the numbers of millionaires already in Congress.

It seems that Kilmer does not apply the same standards when it comes to his own party. If Driscoll should be counted out because of his personal finances, then so should Heck. Let’s play fair.

In an effort to remain competitive with Derek Kilmer, Bill Driscoll dumped another $500,000 into his campaign, which, amounts to a total of $1 million in personal spending in this race for the seat of retiring 6th District Congressman Norm Dicks. Driscoll’s campaign consultant, Alex Hays, stated that this action proves the seriousness of Driscoll’s campaign to PACs.

This trend demonstrates how the democratic process has been hijacked by money. The  Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. The Federal Election Commission marked a shift in politics by showing politicians that limits on campaign contributions by corporations and unions are no longer an issue. This directly upsets the system by which elected officials are held accountable. Voting becomes obsolete if the system allows larger personal and corporate contributions to determine elections.

When it comes to the success of any campaign, money is the main determinant. Money buys votes. In this political climate, it has reached the point where Americans must ask themselves, are these the best politicians – or simply the best politicians that money can buy?

A review of the Republican Party platforms of 6th District counties illustrates that the parties of most counties want marriage only between a man and a woman and agree that life is precious from conception to natural death. Curiously, Kitsap County Republicans removed the word “traditional” from their platform plank on marriage at their recent county convention.

The national Republican Party platform holds that: “Because our children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it.”

The Washington State Republican Party platform holds that: “Government’s responsibility is to uphold and respect traditional institutions, such as marriage between one man and one woman … and to defend the unalienable right of human life, from conception to natural death.”

Yes, Driscoll served his country in uniform. I served in uniform, as well. Yet service alone qualifies no one for public office. Nor does being a nice, wealthy person, born with a silver spoon, qualify anyone.

I have attended three debates, and he failed to show up to two of them. The one that he did attend was disappointing. His ideas weren’t particularly original or inspiring, and he had a hard time even articulating some of those ideas.

We need someone in Washington, D.C., who can clearly speak to the unique needs of the 6th District. Jesse Young can communicate these needs with passion and knowledge.

This is our opportunity to really make a difference in our federal government. If Driscoll makes it through the primary, we might as well say, “Hello, Congressman Kilmer” – another career politician in the making. Is that what we want for the 6th District?

I want someone who really understands this district and will be accountable to it. Young is that candidate.

In addition, concerned with the hardships undergone by young men in the military serving multiple tours, at the age of 40 he volunteered to rejoin the Marines and served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a congressman who can speak the language of both business and military? Driscoll fits that description, as well as being intelligent, personable and firmly committed to supporting the Constitution and the values of our country.

I have heard that Driscoll’s opponent is “very likable,” but so is Driscoll and I prefer to have this election based on concrete qualities and accomplishments rather than just be a personality contest. I encourage voters to support Driscoll for Congress.