Early in the morning on Tuesday, March 3, I reached out to Gov. Jay Inslee’s communications team to find out if he would be visiting Kirkland anytime soon. The staff member said they were still finalizing his schedule for the week but would let me know if he was coming up to our area.

I would like to personally invite the governor to Kirkland and the Eastside.

Many residents here are concerned about their safety following confirmed and spreading cases of coronavirus, and they could use some in-person connection with their state’s top elected official.

If the governor could find his way up to Kirkland, I would happily give him a driving tour in my Chevy Cruze — a modest hatchback — at no additional cost to taxpayers.

We could create a shopping list of hand sanitizer, medical face masks and bottled water and shop until we find them, taking the time to interact with residents along the way.

I’ll treat him to a Costco hotdog combo. Not to brag but I have an executive membership to Costco.

I hope that the governor quickly pencils out his schedule and finds the time to come engage with his frightened constituents in Kirkland and the greater Eastside.

We need the governor here to know we’re a priority, not in Olympia or via interviews on national cable news channels. Just one day of his time is all it would take. I hope to see him sooner rather than later.

Corey Morris is the regional editor of the Kirkland Reporter, Redmond Reporter, Bothell-Kenmore Reporter, Bellevue Reporter, Issaquah Reporter, Mercer Island Reporter and the Snoqualmie Valley Record. He can be reached via email at cmorris@soundpublishing.com.