Simply put, he is the best candidate to represent the Kenai Peninsula.

Working in state politics requires hearing diverse, often very passionate opinions on an incredibly wide range of topics. It is not easy and not always immediately clear where the best solution lies on any given topic. It is important to have experience in negotiation, seek out facts, surround yourself with intelligent advisers and do your homework to get to a final action.

No one person will agree with every action any politician takes, and the more actions you take the more vulnerable one is to criticism.

I know and appreciate the process the senator goes through to reach tough decisions. I have spent weeks in the Capitol when our legislative sausage is working its way through the grinder and I will attest to the fact that we are fortunate to have one of the hardest working and thoughtful legislators in Sen. Micciche.

The same commitment and tireless effort you see displayed in our community is carried out in Juneau when he is working there. This is why he quickly rose to Senate Majority Leader.

His opponent already lost the primary; he does not have any experience in a collaborative working environment, and after listening to the comments he has made, it is clear that he does not do his homework and has surrounded himself with uninformed advisers.

I hope you will join me in supporting Sen. Micciche on Nov. 6.

— Robert Ruffner, Soldotna