Dear Editor,

I am very frustrated by the highly partisan political environment, both locally and nationally, where it seems each party's goal is to make the other fail, while forgetting all about us. When did it become okay to put political gamesmanship above doing what is right?

As the mother of an eight-year-old and the daughter of an eighty-year-old, I care deeply about the future of education, our nation’s economic health and that of our environment as well as the need for providing financial security for our older population. I worry about the national debt and possibility of handing over this enormous debt to our children and grandchildren. This is not a legacy to be proud of.

As a child, I received an excellent public education and was able to go on to UCLA. It was attainable and affordable. Through hard work and study, I was able to get a good paying job that I loved.  When the opportunity arose, I was able to move to a place that I believe is the best place in the world! This is the dream that I have for my child. This is the legacy that I want to believe is possible for future generations.

I've always known that the people of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties are good, hard-working and kind. That's why, when I was just a kid, my family used to vacation here and why, as an adult, I decided to make this my home.

In the past year, I've had the opportunity to meet hundreds of people in our community. With my son and my husband, I've been knocking on doors, asking our neighbors’ opinions— listening to their stories and their concerns. This experience has given me an even greater appreciation for this place I’ve known since childhood. I believe that each of us deserves a representative who is hard-working, who will listen to our concerns and who will work for our best interests.

That is why I am proudly supporting Tim Allison for Congress.  Tim is my husband.

Vickie Allison
Newbury Park, CA