By Judith Shattuck
October 19, 2006
I was surprised to read Nathan Jelovich's comments regarding Roger Goodman. Perhaps Mr. Jelovich is unfamiliar with Mr. Goodman's qualifications for the State House seat in the 45th Legislative District because, being from Bothell, he resides in a different district; probably the 1st.
Roger Goodman is, in my opinion, a highly qualified candidate for this seat. Roger is a graduate of the Harvard University J. F. Kennedy School of Government, has studied and worked abroad on fellowship to the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, amongst just a few of his educational accomplishments.
Roger brings considerable professional experience from his legal practice, from serving in federal and state government positions and from working in the non-profit world. Roger trained in environmental law, and has a good working knowledge of the laws that protect our air, water, species, habitat and other natural resources. He also has developed expertise in energy policy, especially in alternative motor fuels. Roger served in Olympia as Executive Director of the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission, where he became an expert in sentencing policy and was elected to the board of the National Association of Sentencing Commissions. In this capacity, he steered a bill through committee that toughened sentencing on domestic violence, helped to increase the amount of treatment available to drug addicts in prisons; shepherded 14 other sentencing-related bills through the State Legislature and published major reports on prison capacity and sentencing policy.
When I asked Roger about his top issues he told me issues related to health care are important to him; as is water and the infrastructure to deliver the water we will require in the near future. Children are also a top priority for Roger. Hardly a one-issue candidate, Roger Goodman is a good man for the job.