I recently had the opportunity to attend a neighborhood coffee for Steve Sundquist, a candidate for the Seattle school board. It is my belief that a well-funded, well managed, public school system is a critical component of a successful democracy. It is also my biggest concern these days. Our short lived experiment with democracy is tenuous at best these days, and when I learned that somewhere in the neighborhood of 23 percent of those voting (not an impressive percentage, either) even bother to vote for school board candidates, I felt a need to make my voice heard.

The qualities that I observe in Steve Sundquist that have convinced me to support his campaign are several; a calm determination to see a big picture for the district, a commitment to develop a common vision that identifies goals to work toward, instead of issues to fight about, and a deep concern that has caused him to step into a job that no thinking person would take on without serious consideration.

Many find it easy to complain that the school district is constantly asking for funding, and that there is a lack of accountability for how the money is spent, how many of those folks have taken the time to study the candidates' qualifications and support the ones whose commitments and values match their own?

I applaud anyone willing to rise to the challenge of working the diverse and difficult problems facing our educational system. Steve Sundquist deserves at least the opportunity to put his shoulder to the wheel; we should return the favor by participating in what's left of our free and open society.

If we do not actively support and maintain this vital system, our children and their children will reap the scant harvest of our neglect.

Kathleen Wilson

Gatewood Hill