LEGISLATORS: Call for accountability

To my friends, family, and community, have you ever wondered whether our elected officials are truly listening to us?

A fundamental part of representation is engaging with the people you serve — hearing our concerns, considering our perspectives, and responding when we reach out. Yet, time and again, many of us make the effort to contact our legislators about issues that directly affect our lives, only to receive no response.

I have personally reached out multiple times to express concern about legislation I believe will have harmful impacts on our community. Despite these efforts, I’ve often been met with silence — while those same bills continue to move forward.

This lack of communication sends a troubling message: that the voices of constituents may not matter as much as they should. That’s not how representation is supposed to work. We elect officials to serve, to listen, and to advocate for the people in their communities — not to ignore them.

If our concerns are not being heard, we must start asking why — and demanding better. Our voices deserve acknowledgment, and our communities deserve leaders who are willing to engage with the people they represent.

SHAYLA BAKER

Coeur d’Alene