To the editor:

I read with interest the recent letter to the editor regarding Gene Dorsey’s write-in campaign for the Douglas County Commission. I would like to offer a different perspective, and one I have seen expressed more eloquently by other writers, including nationally syndicated columnist Froma Harrop (LJW 8/23/26). Harrop advocates for exactly what Gene Dorsey is doing: offering all voters a choice. She accurately notes that party-affiliated primaries limit voters’ options and promote special interests. Closed primaries exacerbate partisan politics and the counter-productive polarization now evident across the country. Too often elections at the state and national level weaponize inflammatory rhetoric and single-issue voting. Locally, Gene Dorsey has worked to bridge the ideological divide and bring people together. He is a moderate Democrat in the mold of Laura Kelly. In his professional life, Gene Dorsey managed multimillion-dollar budgets; now he is devoting his expertise and pragmatism for the benefit of our community. I am proud to call him friend and believe he would best represent the interests of all Douglas County residents, regardless of political affiliation.

Marilyn Heck,

Lawrence