Last night I attended the last(?) of the candidates forums for this election cycle. One issue was blatant and was not allowed to be brought up or just not enough time for the issue.

Only recently had I become aware of the attitude of candidate Lauren Berkowitz regarding police and public safety. Someone had posted a link to Lauren’s facebook in which she cursed the presence of a police swat team at a protest which she, Lauren, attended. Cursing in an obvious filthy way.

The issue of public safety was discussed by many of the candidates but no one mentioned Lauren’s scathing vulgarities toward police. Why not? I had even written a question dealing with exactly that comment but it was not asked.

During the Vietnam conflict I was in the Army as a Military Police officer. I heard many of those comments hurled at me but NOT in a public written record, as “facebook”, and especially not by an individual running for a city council seat. I am disgusted at Lauren’s attitude toward police.

Her post was not done “when she was young”. It was just last year. I cannot accept such an attitude would serve the public well each year when the budget is discussed. All of the candidates spoke of the need to ensure public safety. Now I am compelled to question everything she said last night against what it really means.

I hope that the people of Burien will view Lauren’s facebook and see for themselves what her attitude is about public safety.

People of Burien be careful for whom you vote.

Chuck Rangel