During its last session, the Washington Legislature passed Senate Bill 5974 establishing standardized eligibility rules and professional conduct standards for law enforcement leaders.
I questioned the need at first. Then I thought, “What a great idea!” We need to establish some eligibility rules and professional conduct standards to be elected to political office in Washington state!
I suggest the following minimum standards:
1.) Must have run a retail business for a minimum of five years. A retail business or service, no attorneys, no doctors — people seek out those services generally during times of necessity and stress. Not a government or union employee. A business where you are competing for people’s discretionary spending. Must hire and manage staff; produce a product; pay rent and utilities; make payroll; pay B&O, Employment Security, L&I and other business-related taxes. The business must be your sole sort of family income for a minimum of five years.
2.) Must have successfully completed courses of study on economics, constitutional law and ethics presented by an accredited college or university in the state, but preferably one not located in the failing city of Seattle or the state Capitol.
Just saying.
Kahle Jennings
Centralia
