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In its Jan. 13 editorial, The Spokesman-Review was too easy on Mary Verner’s change of heart on her salary. When it comes to promises that affect only their own personal gain, the most important thing an elected official can do is keep their word. That’s who an elected official is, their word!

Back in 1994, George Nethercutt ran against House Speaker Tom Foley on the pledge that he was for term limits, and that he would stay in office for only three terms. When the time came to leave office, he (like Mary Verner) changed his mind. “I changed my mind” on these personal pledges, is nothing more than candidate-speak for “I told them what they wanted to hear, only so that I could get elected.”

Candidates should be able to lower their own salaries (including the option of no salary at all), but whatever salary promise they do pledge as a candidate should be looked upon as a contract with the people. Voters weigh this information in deciding who will get their vote. That’s the contract: The candidate pledges in print what they will do; the voter signs it with a vote.

Larry Vandervert

Spokane