As one of millions of citizens of the United States, I believe what the Constitution says. We are the electorate. It is not just the elected officials, the president and his cabinet, the corporations, labor, the wealthy or "powerful." It is all of us.

I want to be informed before I vote, and then take action to contact my elected officials. I know it is impossible to look at all sides of an issue, or know all about the candidates, but information is out there - much one sided, but there still are newspapers, magazines, public radio and television and some groups who give different points of view.

(Some) citizens say, "What good does it do to vote, express one's opinion, or write letters to our Congress people, the government is going to do what it wants, anyway, so I am not going to vote, or contact may elected officials. Moreover, my vote won't make much difference, anyway," or, "I just don't have time, my life is too busy," or, "I don't know what to say, etc."

When registering voters before the presidential election of 2004, I heard all these comments, and I can understand why they say that. However, I believe it is a cop out. It is interesting that many of the cynical ones are often those who do not vote or communicate with their elected officials, yet are often the ones who complain the most. We know that most of the elected officials want to remain in office. They pay most attention to the ones that contact them. In recent history, as we recall, just a few votes make a different who gets into office.

With strong motivation, but other priorities, too, I tried to do as much research about issues and candidates as time would permit. This included listening to public radio and television, reading political news in some newspapers, and other publications.

I also went to several forums that gave opportunities for both candidates to speak, and both sides of issues to be heard (and) I also read the 2005 Ballot Issues Guide put out by the Seattle League Of Women Voters. . . . With this limited research, the following is how I plan to vote on three hotly contested issues on the Nov. 8 ballot:

Initiative Measure 330 "concerns claims for personal injury or death arising from health care services."

I vote no because after reading most of over 13 pages of the pro and con arguments, I found the initiative, as written, much too confusing and not clear. I also am in concert with many of the groups that oppose this initiative.

Initiative Measure 336 concerns "medical malpractice, including insurance, health care provider licensing and lawsuits."

I plan to vote no on this initiative mainly because it is unnecessary, as the State Insurance Commissioner (whom we elect) already has the authority to reject or approve all insurance rates. Also, it is not likely that I-336 would remove the few physicians from practicing who do severely injury patients. Also, it would be very costly to enforce this.

Initiative Measure 912 " would repeal motor vehicle fuel tax increases of 3 cents in 2005 and 2006, 2 cents in 2007, and 1.5 cents per gallon in 2008, enacted in 2005 for transportation purposes."

I plan to vote no on this measure, as gas tax funds are needed for maintenance of our highways, bridges for our safety, and to improve traffic congestion on state and local highways. The Puget Sound area is subject to earthquakes with volcanic eruptions, and slides; The Alaska Way Viaduct and the 520 floating bridge are in need of immediate repair. Repeal of this (tax increase) measure could endanger many lives, particularly in this region and also those who come to this region.

Seattle City Council

My votes go to Richard Conlin, Jan Drago, and Richard McIver, the incumbents. I have experienced, from my contact with them, that they have the knowledge, and background, know hoe, from their experience as Council members in Seattle, to genuinely want to work for all us to make this as livable a city as possible for those of us who live here, who work here, and for those who do both. Nick Licata is unopposed, but I would vote for him even if he was.

Port of Seattle

My votes go to: Lawrence Molloy, Pat Davis, both incumbents, and to Richard Berkowitz. I am voting for all three because I believe they have a better knowledge background and experience with the Port than their challengers. It does not mean that I agree with all their positions.

King County

Executive - Hands down, I vote for Ron Sims. He has proven that he has a way of bringing groups together; the passion and sincerity to be sensitive to the people in the county who are more vulnerable when adversity strikes; to see that there is public open space and public waterfront as density increases. He has a good record of doing the above and more.

King County Sheriff - I support Sue Rahr, the incumbent. She has proven herself as knowledgeable, fair, and especially able take positive action relating to drug crimes, domestic violence for the safety and security of King County residents.

Monorail

I will vote against the Monorail, for the following reasons:

- Debt. I don't want to dig us more into debt with this monorail than we are already. I do not feel comfortable with the past history of the board and the staff that we are not going to dig the hole deeper.

- No extra provision for parking in the Alaska Junction, for those who drive to get the Monorail. The Monorail will benefit those who walk, bike, or bus to take the Monorail, but many will drive, need to park their car, find a parking place. Will this really save time, and where is there enough Parking?

- Real efforts from the monorail board and staff to work with the other transportation systems: (Sound Transit, the ferries, the bus system), toward a coordinated transportation system in the Seattle area. We have a congestion mess. The different transportation systems need to give up some of their territorial jurisdiction to solve this mess. It would help if more people used public transportation, walked, and there was more low-income housing in Seattle with amenities for families as well as individuals.

I am not ready to spend more money on the monorail until these three issues are really looked into. This takes more time than just a month or two. I do realize the board did not have much time after we all found out this summer that the monorail had incurred about an $11 billion deficit.

Alexandra Pye

Alki