Manweller unwilling to respond to constituents

I cannot support Mat Manweller’s efforts for re-election to the Washington State Legislature. He cannot identify what issues he considers important for the 13thDistrict and he did not respect me, as a concerned constituent, to answer my letters or phone calls.

He voted against allowing dental assistants to work in American Indian health clinics. No Washington state tax money would be involved. Federal law required the state legislature to give permission for Native Americans to receive help from dental assistants. Matt Manweller voted “no.” Why? I wrote him two letters to explain his vote but received no answer. Is he against dental care for Native Americans? I asked him if he has taken money from dental groups. He never answered my letters.

Washington State Public Disclosure Commission reports Mr. Manweller received donations of $3,740 from four dental groups and one dentist: $1,000 from Washington State Dental PAC, $1,000 from Delta Dental, $650 from Pacific Dental Services (Irvine, Calif.), $500 from the Association of Dental Support (Arlington, Va.) and $590 from a Moses Lake dentist. Without his clarification of the vote, I am left to decide if their contributions influenced his vote.

Sylvia Hammond is running against Mr. Manweller to represent the 13th District in the state legislature. I am impressed with her commitment to serve and her openness to communicate her reasons for her positions. Mr. Manweller could learn much from Mrs. Hammond about responding to constituents.

Danna Dal Porto

Quincy