PUBLIC LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY

In the US Supreme Court ruling United States v. American Library Association, Inc,

2003, which upheld the use of library internet pornography filters, Chief Justice Rehnquist stated for the plurality that "to fulfill their traditional missions, public libraries must have broad discretion to decide what material to provide to their patrons. Although they seek to provide a wide array of information, their goal has never been to provide 'universal coverage,'" and "most libraries already exclude pornography from their print collections because they deem it inappropriate for inclusion." In addition to pornography, lately libraries have been used for promote Drag Queen Story Hours, where gender confused adults read stories of the same to children, facilitating gender confusion in them. Will you appoint and confirm only library board candidates who oppose the inclusion of pornography in public libraries, and who oppose the use of libraries for Drag Queen Story Hours, or promote related charter policy? That is my strong personal conviction; however, this area of public discussion is not likely within the purview of the Charter.

REGULATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES

The U.S. Supreme Court in Young v. American Mini Theaters, Inc., (1976) and Renton v. Playtime Theater, Inc., (1986), concluded that municipalities have "substantial governmental interests" in protecting and preserving the quality of life for its community against the adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses while allowing for "reasonable alternative avenues of communication." Land Use Studies from cities around the United States were cited in both U.S. Supreme Court cases documenting the harmful secondary effects including 1. Increased Crime - rape, sexual assault, prostitution and illegal drug sales; 2. Decreased Property Values - both residential and commercial; and 3. Urban Blight - people and businesses fleeing the community. Will you support municipalities that diligently seek and maintain zoning ordinances, licensing procedures, permit requirements and operational regulations which serve to minimize the adverse secondary effects of Sexually Oriented Businesses, or promote related charter policy? Yes.

  

 

RANKED CHOICE VOTING (RCV)

In RCV, voters are required to rank candidates instead of simply choosing one. This can eliminate the primary/general election process, and does greatly increases the difficulty of informed voting. Voter confusion with the system due to its complexity can lead to reduced participation and ballot errors, the latter resulting in rejected ballots. Further, ballot exhaustion undermines the "one person, one vote" principle. Ballot exhaustion occurs when a voter's preferred candidates are all eliminated in earlier rounds of counting. Their ballot becomes "exhausted" and will not contribute to the final outcome. This is especially important when there are many candidates for an office. This can lead to a winner who doesn't have a majority of the total ballots cast. What is your position on Ranked Choice Voting?

          Support

      x  Oppose Very Strongly and am gathering information to convince voters if it comes onto ballot, and even before, in discussions of the Charter Review Commission

          No Opinion

          Other:

 

 

REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington State in 2012 by Initiative 502. The drug though is considered dangerous by many, including the FDA, the AMA, and The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The White House Office of National Drug Policy opposes the legalization of the drug for public health

reasons. Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) states "The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana in our communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society." The Alaska Association of Police Chief describe some of the negative aspects of legalizing the drug here. For additional dangers see here, here and here. What is your position on the legal production, processing and sale of recreational marijuana in Washington State?

          Support

          Oppose Very strongly and have columns and public testimony going back to the initial debate on recreational sales in the county, and some more recent columns. See below for my June, 2024 column in The Columbian.

           No Opinion

          Other:

 

 

COVID-19 SHUTDOWNS

Using a pro life standard of protecting life and minimizing harm, do you believe the sustained shutdown ordered by Washington Governor Inslee achieved that goal?

  Yes, Covid deaths were reduced with lower infection rates. The negative impacts on society (suicides, delayed medical treatment deaths, job loss and family stress, no school) are of less significance.

  No, the negative impacts on society (suicides, delayed medical treatment deaths, job loss and family stress, no school) were of greater significance than additional Covid deaths due to shorter or no shutdowns.

    Not Sure

_x  Other Opinion: In hindsight, it appears more harm than good was done with the shutdowns, especially to children missing school. But at the time, the deep concern, justified at the time, over the deadliness of the virus and our ability to stop its spread, given the high rates of hospitalization and death, explains in my mind the decisions of those in positions to do so, to enact shutdowns. We now know different, but that is in hindsight.

 

 

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

"Religious communities are the largest and best-organized civil institutions in the world, claiming the allegiance of billions across race, class, and national divides. These communities have particular cultural understandings, infrastructures, and resources to get help where it is needed most" (World Conference of Religions for Peace). Southwest Washington has a broad range of religious communities that contribute substantially to the welfare of families, children, seniors, the homeless, sick, and refugees. They are a highly valued part of our community which respects and defends human life at every stage. Are you an active member in a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or other religious assembly?

 

If so, you may state here where at: St. Joseph Catholic Church

 

 

Faith-Based Partnerships (FBP)

The White House Faith Office seeks to ensure that religious and other community organizations are able to compete on an equal footing for participation in Federal programs without impairing the character of such organizations and without diminishing the religious freedom of those served. Do you agree that the federal Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, in keeping with the First Amendment free exercise clause, lawfully ensures fair treatment of faith based charitable work and is it good for our community? It is a step in the right direction and as such is essential for our community. Thankfully, the Trump administration is paying substantial attention to putting teeth into the federal rules. The Biden admin was the very opposite.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMMENTS

What office (district and position) are you running for?

I am running for Charter Review Commission, District 1, Pos. 2.

 

 

Please state your qualifications for office such as professional, educational, family and community accomplishments. You may also add any any further comments regarding the relationship of your candidacy to respect life issues.

Biographical Information

Elected experience: Precinct Committee Officer (25+ years).

Education: B. Sc, Geology, Stanford University; M.A. Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D. Geology, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Professional Experience: Geologist, consultant, energy, 25+years; developing complex energy projects; leading multi-disciplinary teams of experts to reach consensus; balancing reliability, consumer cost, and environmental impacts.

Community Service: Current: County Law and Justice Council; Salvation Army-Vancouver (Board); Children’s Justice Center Friends (Board); Clark County Public Safety Alliance (Co- Founder); Clark County Jail Project (Stakeholder). Past: NAMI SW Washington (President), Columbia River Mental Health (Board); Center for the Arts (Board); Clark College Foundation (Board); Ft. Vancouver Regional Library (Board); Southcliff Neighborhood Association (Chair).

Statement

The County Charter serves as the Council’s bylaws and constitution. It helps to define what the Council can do and what it must do. As one of 15 commissioners, I will promote collegial discussions and balanced solutions. I will guard rights guaranteed under the federal and state constitutions, respecting minority and majority viewpoints. I will promote pragmatic efficiency in council operations. My priorities will be public safety, mental health and budgetary restraint. I invite voters to consider three reasons to support me: community service, professional experience, and principled and pragmatic approach.

My family moved to Vancouver in 1988. Over 37 years, I joined in community activities including education, public safety, mental health, service to those in need, and the arts. I have devoted years of volunteerism to supporting local mental health services, hosting the

address increasing crime, I co-founded Clark County Public Safety Alliance, and originated the unique Angels with Badges awards for heroic law enforcement.

Phone:            360-921-1281

Email:              adonnelly7@comcast.net                                                                  Website:         donnellyforcharter.com

Campaign:      Ann Donnelly for Charter Review Commission

 

 

 

 

Do you have a campaign website? What is the address? www.donnellyforcharter.com

 

 

Liberalizing Pot Laws Would Threatens Mental Health Ann Donnelly

For June 1-2, 2024 The Columbian

Election-year proposals to liberalize marijuana laws aim to entice support from young voters. Yet greater latitude for growing, selling, and consuming pot, and downplaying its dangers, would seriously harm young people and our communities.

Washington’s legislature, in its 2023-2024 session, considered a marijuana home cultivation measure that would have allowed adults to grow up to four plants per person. It died due to various bipartisan concerns about the unintended consequences of pot growing in homes.

At the federal level, President Biden, in his State of the Union speech, proposed reclassifying marijuana as a “less-dangerous drug.” His own Drug Enforcement Administration was ignored in announcing his proposal to move marijuana from a Schedule 1 drug (with heroin and LSD) to Schedule III (ketamine and some anabolic steroids).

A common assertion is that pot is no more dangerous than alcohol. Especially with more potent cannabis, the comparison is dangerously misleading. Steadfastly ignored by liberalization proponents is the scientific evidence that increased pot consumption exacerbates the mental health crisis.

The THC in cannabis, researchers explain, binds to receptors in the brain controlling memory, decision making, and self-control. “Research shows that high-frequency users are more likely to become addicted to marijuana,” said Dr. David A. Gorelick, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine…High frequency use also increases the risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis…a severe condition where a person loses

touch with reality.” The Center for Disease Control states that “marijuana use is associated with depression; social anxiety, and thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and suicide.”

Writing in Newsweek (May 22, 2024), Dr. Kevin Sabet, former three-time White House drug policy advisor, states “a growing body of research has identified a link between marijuana and psychosis...Daily users of marijuana above 10 percent THC are nearly five times more likely to develop a psychotic disorder than non-users…A 2022 study found that hospital discharges for marijuana-associated psychosis were higher in states with legal marijuana.”

Cannabis-involved ER visits among children quadrupled between early 2019 and 2022 (Wall Street Journal, January 22, 2024).

Nikolas Cruz, at his sentencing in 2021 for the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, identified marijuana as an element in his violent psychotic episode: “I hate drugs and I believe this country would do better if everyone would stop smoking marijuana and doing all these drugs and causing racism and violence out in the streets.”

Associated public safety impacts include homelessness, truancy, crime, traffic fatalities, and child deaths linked to marijuana. Parents Opposed to Pot reports 312 such child deaths from 2012 to 2024, caused by: “violence, fires, drowning, hot car, violent neglect, or neglect/exposure/suffocation.”

In Washington, traffic fatalities are at a 33-year high, of which roughly 50% involve drug or alcohol impairment. As of 2023, workers are cheating on, aka tampering with, their drug tests at the highest rate in 30 years (Quest Diagnostics, in Wall Street Journal, May 16, 2024), implying they may be driving while impaired.

Liberalization measures would likely expand pot use. Oregon’s recently failed experiment with decriminalization underscores the unintended impacts of going easy on drug users. Legalization itself has exponentially expanded pot consumption, according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.

 “For the first time, the number of Americans who use marijuana just about every day has surpassed the number who drink that often, a shift some 40 years in the making…From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased 15-fold “(Associated Press and The Columbian, May 22, 2024).

We must acknowledge the science. Continuing to liberalize marijuana laws comes at a steep price that far outweighs possible benefits.