A week ago, with the support of testimony from two Citizens for Better Schools committee members, Lynn Goebel and Joe Mosolino, the House Education Committee voted 9 to 1 in favor of a resolution to place an amendment to the state constitution on the ballot to allow school levy and bonds to pass with a simple majority. Presently it takes a 60 percent supermajority to pass levies or construction bonds.

The measure will need a two-thirds majority in both houses in order to be put before the voters for approval. Currently our district has two legislators, Barry Sehlin and Kelly Barlean, who have not promised their support for this measure. Every vote is crucial in order for this to go to a vote of the people. We need to let them know that they represent us, and we would like them to vote for this legislation.

Please spend just a few quick minutes e-mailing Barry Sehlin at sehlin_ba@leg.wa.gov and Kelly Barlean at

barlean_ke@leg.wa.gov to let them know how important this is to you and to the community of Oak Harbor. There is also a legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 where you can leave a message with your name and address and it will be passed on to your legislators. Time is crucial. Please act now.

Here are some talking points. Feel free to use them if you do not have time to write your own statement.

l Currently hospitals, police and fire stations, jails, sports stadiums, and transit measures only need a simple majority. It is only fair for schools to have to follow the same rules.

l We in Oak Harbor have had to spend countless hours working to pass levies that would have been better spent contributing directly to our schools. If the simple majority had been in place, the last maintenance and operation levy would have passed on the first try and we could have spent last year donating time and money to kids rather than campaigning. If the simple majority had been in place, we would be working on building a sports complex right now. That ballot measure got 56 percent, certainly a strong majority showing.

All we are asking is that the measure be put on the ballot for the voters to decide. All this bill does is send the question to the voters. Let the people decide.

Thank you as always for your support of kids. If we can get the simple majority legislation to pass the difference it will make for our schools and our community will be immeasurable for years to come.

Lynn Goebel and Kathy Chalfant are co-chairs of Citizens for Better Schools, P.O. Box 2038, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.