Low voter turnout the true disappointment of primaries

According to the most-recent election data, only 24 percent of registered Seattle voters bothered to vote in the primary election. How pathetic is that?

All of the constant whining one hears on the streets and on talk radio, in editorials in our local papers and blabbed in blogs represents only one quarter of the potential voting public.

Seattle residents should be ashamed of themselves for being so cavalier about this city's future and the issues that will make an enormous difference in the day-to-day lives of its citizens, such as the viaduct replacement and consumer taxes.

Unless you bothered to exert the extreme effort of mailing in your absentee ballot, please refrain from polluting our air with your complaints and opinions regarding the direction of this city -- one of the finest in the country, no thanks to you.

-- Brent Stavig, Seattle

Times editorial elitist and patronizing

The Seattle Times published an editorial headlined, "Partisans Move On" [Opinion, Aug. 19]. Since I live near Lynnwood, I have absolutely no dog in this hunt as it were. But after reading this rather pointed editorial, it appears the editorial board of The Times not only has its collective nose out of joint, but also must be at a right angle to its face.

I'm not sure whether the board believes the peasant masses of Seattle to be stupid or foolish or both. How dare Seattleites disregard the editorial board's collective wisdom and guidance and act on their own?

As I said earlier, I don't care who the folks in Seattle elect for dogcatcher much less mayor. However, I find the attitude of The Times editorial board to be both patronizing and elitist.

-- Phil Bate, Lynnwood

Seattle needs a mayor who can build that tunnel

There may be reason to be against the way the tunnel situation has played out, but the tunnel is the right answer, and it needs a mayor that knows how to do it properly.

-- Hugh Coleman, Kelso