I just wanted to share some thoughts with you on the current Mayoral campaign. In the heat of politicking, we sometimes lose our vision of the real goal – the actual reason we candidates are running. It is this original mission that drives us, that motivates us. And this cause is Children’s House.

Here are a few tidbits about Children’s House to remind everyone what is actually behind this election. Did you know that Children’s House:

• Is the oldest preschool on Orcas Island.

• Is licensed to care for infants six weeks and older.

• Is eager to help families of all income ranges, family structures and unique needs.

• Is an early learning center where each child has a learning plan.

• Serves only organic food prepared in their kitchens daily.

Children’s House serves a number of constituents:

• Working families who need care for the youngest children.

• Families who want some socialization experience for their children.

• Single parents who need contact with other singles and families.

• Community members who have a place to refer neighbors and friends when family and children issues arise.

• Individual family members who need advice, support, and counseling to assist them during difficult times.

• Orcas Island, by providing an essential social infrastructure component to ensure physically, socially and emotionally healthy children who will grow up to offer contributions, rather than challenges, to their community.

Children’s House offers early childhood education services, not just safe babysitting. It brings children, families and the community together to resolve issues in a caring, immediate, enduring, confidential and effective way.

Children’s House tenaciously holds to its mission, guided by the principles of excellence, perseverance, compassion and accountability.

It accepts the challenge of providing the highest quality of childcare to a large number of its families who are in the lowest economic categories. An October 2003 front page “Islands Sounder” newspaper article revealed that San Juan County has the greatest gap between the haves and the have-nots in the country.

So the bottom line is, who wins this election is secondary to the benefits of your vote. Yes, each dollar contributed for each candidate equals one vote. But every dollar benefits our own children, our families and our community. So while I appreciate your votes and support, the real factor is just that you get out and vote.

Clara

Labra-tarian candidate for Mayor of Eastsound