After reading recent letters about the local ties of state Senate candidates Chris Marr and Michael Baumgartner, I would like to suggest that the issue is not whether Sen. Marr has been a local resident for 25 years, or whether Mr. Baumgartner has (arguably) only resided in the 6th District for five months. The real issue is what either has contributed to our region while here.

Though Mr. Baumgartner may have fine academic credentials and has worked at federal government jobs overseas, I haven’t seen him show the skills to grow jobs or solve the complex problems our state now faces.

On the other hand, I can see Chris Marr’s involvement in almost every significant local business and economic development initiative in Spokane over the last 20 years. As an employer, Chamber of Commerce chair, WSU regent, hospital board chair and community volunteer, Chris has played a role in creating the Riverpoint campus, building the north-south freeway, saving and redeveloping our downtown and growing Spokane’s higher education, health care and aviation sectors.

As a legislator he has fought for Spokane’s fair share of state resources and to protect Spokane’s working families and small businesses. To me, the choice is obvious.

Betsy Gelvin

Spokane