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Local connection lengthy

Don Barbieri’s recent letter (June 19) about state Senate candidate Michael Baumgartner attempted to paint Michael as new to Spokane. This is absurd. Michael attended G-Prep and WSU; in fact, his father has been on the faculty of WSU for 40 years.

It’s true that Michael has spent time away in recent years, but that’s because he was serving for our country’s State Department in the tough environments of Iraq and Afghanistan, not, as was offensively claimed, in Florida or the Cayman Islands. Mr. Barbieri needs to check his facts before attaching his name to mistruths. Anyone who, like me, takes the trouble to speak with Michael will have no doubt as to his local roots and his deep grasp of the challenges we face in Spokane.

Michael is a talented young man of high character who I am confident will make an excellent state senator and bring much needed change and new ideas to our Legislature.

Barbara J. Sweat

Spokane

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