Article by Robbie Soltz
This auspicious quote is widely attributed to Lotte Scharfman, a former League of Women Voters President and refugee who escaped with her family from Austria during WWII. She devoted her life to supporting democracy and helping citizens gain access to government. We, at your Kittitas County League of Women Voters (KCLWV) continue to honor her legacy and carry on this work. Although the data have not been entirely gathered and analyzed yet, Kittitas County overall welcomed about 700 new, qualified voters. The KCLWV was specifically responsible for nearly 100 of these new registrations. Further, your County League and Auditor’s office made dozens of nonpartisan presentations to high schools, college classrooms and other organizations throughout the County. These efforts, when combined with the Candidate forums hosted by the KCLWV and the Kittitas Chamber of Commerce helped people make better decisions about who they were (and were not) voting for.
These activities have all contributed to a transparent, legitimate and democratic process here that broke records in terms of citizen participation in voting, observing and counting ballots. We all can celebrate that, but democracy does not end when the election is over, and I am not just talking about the upcoming inauguration.
I share the opinion expressed by the League of Women Voters of the United States, Dianna Wynn and CEO Celina Stewart, that “Given the disturbing rhetoric made during this election season, we are deeply concerned about challenges we may face, particularly regarding the issues that disproportionately affect women, from health care and reproductive rights to economic security and equal representation.”
I know that the basis of fairness is deeply ingrained in all of us. Let’s hold on to that pre-election enthusiasm and examine key issues, seek positive solutions and help make the future for women better.
This article was co-published by the Ellensburg Daily Record Newspaper on December 7, 2024. Robbie Soltz is a retired University Instructor and a former State and National Executive Employee. She is currently President of the Kittitas County League of Women Voters and a Member of the Kittitas County Water Conservation Board. She relishes Water Resource Management, STEM education her grandchildren, horses, cats and beloved husband Dave in Northeastern Kittitas County, Washington.