As president of the state’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to electing women to public office, I am gobsmacked by this paper’s misleading headline questioning the educational qualifications of Mercer Island City Council candidate Joy Langley.

The real story is about the individuals seeking access to protected information of a young woman candidate running for public office, behavior that I would hope the Mercer Island community to find reprehensible. Ms. Langley’s character has been viciously attacked during this campaign and, even worse, she has been sent hate mail. This is Trump-era misogyny and it has no place in our political process.

In my work, I too often see women candidates have their professional experience, accomplishments, educational background and credentials questioned, minimized and underrated. These sexist and ageist tactics should not be tolerated at any level.

Maggie Humphreys

President, National Women’s Political Caucus of WA