I live near Salish Coast Elementary School, and walk past it every day. 

There, during this pandemic, whether students have been physically present in the classrooms or not, I have seen dedicated school employees handing out meals to children whose families cannot afford groceries. 

Then I read in the pages of The Leader that Eric Hood of Whidbey Island took $12,500 of our tax money, during a pandemic, that could have been used to feed those children or buy supplies that the school district needs to educate them. 

The problem is that Hood technically operates within the law.

The only way to stop him and anyone encouraged by his example is to change the law. 

I urge all of my fellow citizens of Jefferson County (and in all of Washington State, for that matter) to read the story about Hood in the Leader on Jan. 27, 2021, then write our state representatives and request that the law be amended to stop people like Hood.

Our state representatives: Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger. Our state senator: Kevin Van De Wege. You can write to Governor Jay Inslee as well. All of these people have websites with their contact information. 

The law should be a shield that protects us all, but Hood beat that shield into a sword and drove it through not only our hearts, but the hearts of our children. 

Please write our representatives and urge them to beat the law back into the shield that it should be, and take the sword out of the hands of people like Eric Hood.

Michael Buse
PORT TOWNSEND