Dear Friends,

Yesterday, the AP sent a press release of the governor’s announcement of a vaccine mandate as a condition of employment to the state. The mandate captures other groups as well. The article stated only religious and medical exemptions would be allowed for opting out.

The purpose of this e-letter is to clarify a discussion that occurred in yesterday’s Council Study Session regarding the “mandating” of the covid-19 shot. The Chair noted support of such a mandate and questioned the effectiveness of the Executive’s announcement of offering extra time off for county employees who had not received the shot, as an incentive to choose to get the shot. Executive Dammeier has always clearly articulated the importance of individuals making that choice of their own free will. I support his stance.

In the meeting, I questioned the authority of a government to mandate such a medical procedure. To me, injecting an experimental drug against a person’s will, and as a condition of employment, requires ownership of that person’s body.

A citizen asked to be informed if discussions of this magnitude occurred. I shared that such a discussion had occurred. I shared that it is possible for a member to introduce an emergency ordinance, such as was done for banning legal fireworks. I shared that a member could introduce a basic ordinance to mandate the vaccine.

I shared that no legislative introductions had been made, but telling your elected leaders if you do or do not agree with such a mandate can and should be done through email or at the county’s open public forum scheduled at the end of the council meeting on Tuesday.

Apparently, there was a misunderstanding about an emergency vote in the messaging; however, that misunderstanding doesn’t change the intent of the message from citizens, which has been overwhelmingly do not mandate a vaccine to our public employees or anyone else for that matter.

There is no shortage of pro and con research sites. We have too much mixed messaging, such as described by this doctor at a public forum (hopefully it isn’t taken down) in Mt. Vernon. It is preferable to me that we focus on the successes of doctors who have treated this virus and protect our medical freedoms, but this isn’t about me...it’s about you!
 
Sincerely,