Today I am a statistic. One more name on a police report. One more stupid boater whose life jacket was in the cockpit when he fell into the water. If the accident were to have happened a few months in the future, after the county levy election, and we voters hadn’t approved the additional taxes, maybe the two deputy sheriffs from the Search and Rescue detail who pulled me from the water wouldn’t have been on duty anymore.

Thanks to Deputy Darren Crownover and Deputy Scott Davis, who were so professional and efficient in their efforts to rescue me, and my boat, I’ll make it to the polls. It’s personal now and I urge my fellow citizens to support the county plea for some help with the budget. You never know when you’re going to need a cop. Let’s be sure one is there if our life is in danger.

Jack McPherson

Coupeville