Editor:

We have been subscribers to your newspaper for years and this is the first time we have noticed a petition being included with the newspaper. This document implies you wish your readers to go around and sign up voters for this petition. Surely your newspaper is not endorsing I-920? Estate taxes are an important facet of keeping a healthy middle class. The rich benefit from public roads, schools, police, and a society that can care for all of its people and the environment. They should have to give back a portion rather than concentrating wealth for the sole benefit of children like Paris Hilton.

This petition claims Senator Patty Murray supports I-920 but when we phoned her office this morning they said she is not a supporter of I-920 hence your newspaper has allowed a false statement to be widely circulated. In summary, this was a devious and out of character activity for your newspaper. Please reconsider and remember you have a responsibility to sell the truth. After all this is Ballard.

The Weertmans , Ballard

Editor's note: The Initiative 920 ballot in our May 3 2006 edition was a paid advertisement. The Ballard News Tribune does not have a position on the initiative.