To the editor:

I am deeply concerned about James Olsen’s ability to represent our district. He calls his liberal neighbors on Bainbridge “louses” [sic] and has directed thinly veiled threats to me such as “Don’t suffer LiberalLouse infest: Call the Orkin Man” as if I am in need of extermination (Twitter, Nov. 14, 2013).

It is well-known that Olsen vehemently opposed the unit “Leaving Our Island” at Sakai Middle School. This unit taught students about the Japanese American exclusion experience during World War II. It invited survivors to speak about their experiences. In fact, Olsen was so vocally opposed that a no-trespass order was issued against him and his wife and the unit was eventually canceled. He has repeatedly stated the Japanese American community needs to “just get over it.”

Olsen was also a very vocal opponent to the creation of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. In October 2013, during the government sequester, Olsen placed an “Open” sign above the Japanese Exclusion Memorial sign. He then took a picture of himself at the park with the “Open” sign and used this to make claims in letters to the editor of the Bainbridge Island Review that the memorial was receiving special treatment.

When I posted facts that contradicted what he was posting, he posted directly to me pictures of guns and “the only way to stop the bad guy is a good guy with a gun” (Twitter, Dec. 22, 2013). Twitter deemed his postings to be threatening enough to temporarily suspend his account (March 18, 2014).

During this campaign cycle, Olsen campaign signs have been observed on the Sakai property right of way and the Japanese Exclusion Memorial right of way in violation of Bainbridge Island City Code.

This is one reason why I will be voting for Drew Hansen.

ALI PERRY

Bainbridge Island