Letter: John Ley ‘is a tireless worker on behalf of the people’

Clark County Republican Party State Committeewoman Anne O’Neill assesses the Republican candidates in the race for state representative in the 18th Legislative District

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

Politics is a dirty job. Nothing proves it more than the filthy mailer sent out by the PAC supporting Philip Johnson for the 18th representative. Philip is an establishment pick, funded by PAC donors who are establishment entities that control party bosses. We will never change this county, state, or country if we don’t stand up to the establishment. Their candidates are considered “electable” which is code for they will compromise with Democrats or will “reach across the aisle.” Compromise means Democrats take the cake then give us back the empty plate or if we are really good an occasional crumb.

John Ley is the real deal. Anyone that follows John and reads his columns knows his honest assessment of the I-5 Bridge replacement project. Philip Johnson voted to support the bridge with tolling and light rail! Now he says he is against tolling it. Believe a man on what he does not on what he says.

John has properties in multiple states. He still owns a townhouse in North Carolina that he purchased while serving 11 and one half years in the United States Air Force as a Captain in the Public Affairs office and a pilot. He also has a house in Camas and an apartment in Hazel Dell.

Per Greg Kimsey, the county auditor, John meets ALL residency requirements to run in the 18th Legislative District.

John Ley has done more than anyone to expose a host of flaws regarding the $7.5 Billion Interstate Bridge Replacement program, regarding tolling on both the bridge and in Oregon, and mass transit. Nobody wants to pay tolls, which are a regressive tax on hardworking low and middle income families.

Almost nobody wants the 3-mile $2 Billon MAX light rail extension that will travel only 14 mph and carry a miniscule number of people. Nobody in Washington wants to pay the “new taxes” for the Oregon TriMet operations and maintenance of light rail. Almost nobody favors the Vancouver Waterfront MAX transit station that will be 80 feet above the ground.

John Ley has exposed all of this and more.

Yet Philip Johnson has voted in favor of tolling as a member of the Washington C-TRAN Board of Directors. He voted in favor of Oregon TriMets’s MAX light rail, over Clark County’s C-TRAN buses, when he voted “yes” to support the $7.5 Billion IBR and the $2 Billion light rail extension. Do Philip Johnson’s votes represent you? Can we really afford any more of his votes? Literally!

The establishment supports this overpriced light rail boondoggle. This is in spite of the fact that replacing an over congested 3-lane bridge with another 3-lane bridge makes absolutely no sense. This sounds more like an episode of South Park.

Ask anyone who knows John. They will tell you his character is beyond reproach. He is a tireless worker on behalf of the people.

Vote for John Ley on August 6.

Anne O’Neill, state committeewoman
Clark County Republican Party