Ridgefield resident R. Myles Dickason attempts to get Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez to address an important issue
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
I am an emergency physician who served in Gaza in August, 2024. For over one year, I have repeatedly requested a 15 minute, in person meeting with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez to share my firsthand experience of the humanitarian catastrophe paid for by Southwest Washington’s tax dollars. I have attended her fundraisers and made requests by email, video, and in person — I even offered to fly to Washington, DC to meet with her there. Despite my multiple requests her campaign has explicitly and repeatedly refused to meet with me.
This matters. Our Southwest Washington tax dollars, approved by Rep. Gluesenkamp-Perez as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, are being used to fund the starvation of children. Even the Israeli physician organization B’Tselem has described the actions of the Israeli state and military as genocide. Rep. Gluesenkamp-Perez’s votes to send $17.9 billion dollars of American tax-payer money to a foreign government are troubling enough; however, it is even more disturbing when we understand that she has accepted over $190,000 from the pro-Israeli lobbying group American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Indeed, AIPAC is the number one largest donor to her campaign!
As constituents of Rep. Gluesenkamp-Perez’s district we deserve transparency, moral leadership, and votes aligned with the funding priorities of Southwest Washingtonians—schools for our children, jobs for our workers, and infrastructure to support economic growth. If the congresswoman will not reject money from foreign interests and stop funding foreign militaries that starve children to death, then those of us who believe in decency, justice, and domestic economic priorities should reconsider supporting her campaign — financially and at the ballot box. I urge her to take this moment to lead, to stand against genocide, and to ensure our tax dollars are invested locally—where they belong.
Sincerely,
R. Myles Dickason, MD
Ridgefield/Clark County
Also read:
- Opinion: ‘Seeking might over right destroys representative government’
Retired judge Dave Larson argues that prioritizing political power over constitutional principles has undermined representative government and calls for renewed civic responsibility. - Letter: ‘Immigration’ resolution scheduled for this Wednesday at Clark County Council Meeting
Rob Anderson urges residents to closely watch an upcoming Clark County Council meeting where an immigration-related resolution and proposed rule changes are expected to be discussed. - Opinion: The 1700-square-foot solution to Washington’s housing crisis
An opinion column arguing that Washington’s energy code has driven up housing costs and outlining how HB 2486 aims to limit those impacts for smaller, more affordable homes. - Letter: Public school vision
Clark County resident Larry Roe urges a deeper community discussion about public school priorities, levy funding, and the long-term affordability of education for local families. - Opinion: House Bill 1834 would create a regulatory nightmare and restricts parental control on social media
Mark Harmsworth argues that House Bill 1834 would undermine parental authority and create sweeping regulatory and legal risks under the guise of protecting minors online.
