I agree with Mr. Villleneuve (“We need a county executive…” The Reporter, Oct. 16, 2009) about the need for a county executive who will level with us, but he is off-base with his comments about the need for a candidate to express a preference to/for a particular political party.

As a 5-time winner of non-partisan campaigns and after serving more than 18 years with the City of Issaquah, during which I never publicly identified a partisan political view, I think I have some standing on this issue.

There is a valid reason why local elections — including the current county executive’s race — are, and should be, non-partisan. Local races involve issues such as land-use; public utilities (sewer, water, and streets, etc.); and public safety.

These issues commonly reflect local views not easily identified as Democrat or Republican – labels used to define positions on the higher state or national level.

As such it is counterproductive to push those labels at the local level; and, if anything, Mr. Constantine’s clear identification of himself as a Democrat is unfortunate in that the implication is that he is not interested in Republicans and working with anyone without knowing where s/he stands politically.

I think this is in opposition to the key reason the position was recently made non-partisan.

Regardless how you look at this issue and this race, please vote — if you don’t vote, you shouldn’t complain!

Rowan Hinds

Issaquah