To the editor:

By accusing Democratic Washington legislators of scheduling one in a series of Senate Ways and Means Committee meetings being held around the state as a “staged campaign event” for

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser is speaking against open government. (“GOP still mulling complaint against Sen. Haugen,” www.southwhidbeyrecord.com, June 29).

If Sen. Haugen’s presence at a public meeting held by her peers is evidence of misuse of public funds, what does Mr. Esser say about the presence of Sen. Val Stevens, a Republican candidate for re-election, at that meeting? Was this meeting not a legitimate opportunity for everyone present to be seen and heard speaking to the issues? What better use for public funds than to support local public participation in our government?

If we, the citizens of Washington, are to be denied formal access to our elected representatives because election campaigns are underway we will rarely see them in this era of the continuous campaign.

Let’s stick to the issues at hand. They are important enough to consume our attention. We can do without baseless attempts to distract us.

Hal Seligson

Langley