Editor,

As this is the first day for candidates for public office to file, I wish to give a word to the wise.

If you are a traditional, fiscally conservative, law-abiding Republican and wish to run for office either state wide or locally, you should consider running as an Independent.

The local, state and national Republican Party has been taken over by an authoritarian clique who is against free and fair elections, against the rule of law, and against the United States Constitution. They are defended by armed mobs who I call The Loud Boys and Oaf Keepers, though they may use other appellations.

Patriotic citizens will not be able to bring themselves to vote for candidates of the Republican Party on any level as it is now constituted.

John Stone

Coupeville