Priya Cloutier emerged this year to challenge incumbent council member Michael Plunkett. Why? She says: "I love Edmonds."
As seasoned voters, we know that any political figure can say "I love Edmonds!" especially during their election. So how do we know Priya REALLY loves Edmonds?
Well, we can look at how she participates in Edmonds elections. The auditor provides a clear public record of when folks cast ballots. In fact, we can compare Priya's participation in local elections to all the other council candidates that are running and presumeably love Edmonds too.
Here are the results:
Priya failed to cast votes in five elections in her three years living in Edmonds.
Priya did not cast a ballot in the Emergency Medical Services Election on May 20, 2008. This ballot also included a school levy.
Priya did not cast a ballot in the Edmonds school levy election on February 7, 2006.
Priya did not cast ballots in two primary elections and one general election.
So how did the other candidates for city council fair during the same period:
Michael Plunkett and Al Rutledge have perfect voting records.
Diane Buckshnis, Ron Wambolt, Lora Petso, and Adrienne Fraley-Monillas missed the presidential primary. No doubt they were protesting how state parties refuse to allow all of their delegates to be selected by the citizens. I fault nobody for missing this so called election.
Strom Peterson and Lora Petso missed the school levy election on February 7, 2006.
As you can see, Priya Cloutier's voting record is the absolute worst. No other candidate for any position missed 5 elections! Priya Cloutier is also the only candidate for any position that blew off the election to fund our emergency medical services.
I believe Priya has decided to love Edmonds because she is running for city council, not because she REALLY loves Edmonds. I mean, how can you say you love "Edmonds" when you can't make the time to check a box for paramedics and EMT's? How can you say you love Edmonds when you won't cast a ballot for the schools that our kids need? How can you say you know what's good for Edmonds, when you blow off a primary to elect Edmonds officials? If this is her idea of love, wait until she gets on the council.
5 comments:
It is my understanding that Mr. Plunkett and Mr. Orvis have made an issue regarding the length of my residence in Edmonds and my voting record to attack my dedication to Edmonds. I am responding to those issues.
My husband, Todd Cloutier, is a United States Naval Officer and is retiring this summer after 24 years of service to this Country. When my husband and I first lived in Washington, almost 15 years ago, we fell in love with Washington and more specifically Edmonds. In 1997, when the Navy transferred Todd to Connecticut, we agreed to come back to Edmonds and build our lives here when it was time to retire. And so, here we are.
Soon after moving to Edmonds I established my law firm downtown. I have two children, Pascal who will be entering Edmonds-Woodway High School this year, and Phoenix, who will be entering Westgate Elementary school as a kindergartener this year. Todd and I settled in Edmonds thinking that our children would go to school, get married, have children, and live down the block from us. My dream is that my children will join my law practice.
In the time we have been in Edmonds my family and I have ingrained ourselves in the community. Todd sits on the board of Sustainable Edmonds. I sit on the Board of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce. As a Board member of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce I have taken on the responsibility of being the Board Representative to the Membership Committee because my goal is to make all businesses feel part of Edmonds, not just the merchants in the bowl. I also sit on the Board of the Sno-King Economic Development Project.
I have volunteered time at my children's schools. I coached a Destination Imagination Team to Global Finals during the 2005-2006 school year. I have spent the last two school years establishing the College Place Middle School Music Boosters ("Boosters") . I provided pro bono legal service to establish the Boosters as a 501(3)(c) organization and spent time fundraising. While doorbelling for this campaign, I ran into a wonderful mother who has children at Westgate Elementary school who updated me on the problems that school is having getting a new playground. I hope to help on that project in the fall when Phoenix enters that school.
Last year, I volunteered to organize the Edmonds 4th of July Main Parade. It was a lot of work, but I’m thrilled to do it again this year. I spent many hours raising money to save Yost Pool this spring. I am a Precinct Committee Officer for Edmonds District 17 and I sit on the executive boards of various local political organizations. I believe my commitment to this community has been established beyond question.
I am pleased that Messrs Plunkett and Orvis believe that commitment to the community is important. However, I think that their hasty accusation belies not a true concern, but the kind of politics that this entire nation has so clearly shunned. It is a shame that Mr. Plunkett and Mr. Orvis are so quick to jump to a matter that is distracting from the real issue that our community faces: economic sustainability.
While Dave has indicated that I did not vote on the primary, I will look into it as my husband and I have an argument over my voting for Hillary. So, I know I voted and will check it out.
Washington State Democratic primaries involve more than simply dropping a ballot in your mailbox. We use a caucus system that involves having a conversation with members of the community on a Saturday morning in February.
You would have to check, but I believe Ms. Cloutier was a delegate to the state convention and was invited by the Obama Inaugural Committee to fly to DC for her efforts in the Edmonds community.
Priya,
Thank you for voicing this, I also just separated from the Navy and have often times been very frustrated with the inability for service members to vote in primaries and local elections. For example our vote in the primaries is marginalized because we are unable to attend the caucuses!! I sincerely hope that serving my country does not somehow equate to me not loving Edmonds, I think that would be a severe error in judgment.
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