Bakke’s best
for District 1
I am a Bakke backer! And I hope you’ll join me in voting for him on Aug. 19.
I’ve known Phil since he began volunteering in the Island County Planning Department and then watched as he started full time employment as assistant planner and worked his way up the ladder to become the director of Planning and Community Development. You don’t get there by not knowing your job. Nor do you get appointed to fill an Island County commissioner position if you aren’t qualified to fulfill the duties of the job.
I worked closely with him as the office manager and executive secretary in Planning and Community Development until I retired recently. On several different occasions, I witnessed constituents enter his office who were really angry with their perception of not being treated fairly by the rules we in the planning department had to work under. I also witnessed these same people end their meeting with a smile and a handshake after having their objections heard and sometimes solutions offered or alternatives explained that they weren’t aware of under the zoning code rules— rules, often complex, which had gone through debate and compromise in many public hearings prior to adoption.
I know Phil to be very intelligent, capable, compassionate and caring about these beautiful islands and working to see that all who live here get the fairest treatment available. We all know that not everyone is going to be pleased 100 percent of the time. It isn’t possible. Phil also has the training, knowledge, experience and background to fulfill the duties of Island County commissioner.
In short, he is by far the best-qualified candidate for county commissioner, District 1, and I urge you to retain him for the next four years.
Edie Elerick
Oak Harbor
Price Johnson reaches out
It is particularly important the voters of Island County lend their support to Helen Price Johnson in the forthcoming election for country commissioner, District 1. With the many challenges facing our community now and in the immediate future, it is clear we must elect leaders who are able to provide the leadership, organizational skills, ethical posture and deep experience needed to serve Island County in these increasingly turbulent times.
Helen is uniquely suited to face this challenge. Unlike other candidates, she is not only extremely well qualified for the core responsibilities of a country commissioner; but, she is also the only candidate who inculcates a deep understanding and true empathy with all, and not just one or two of the disparate components of Island County society. Those who know her on a personal basis know she deeply feels the importance of reaching out to all parts of the community and invests heavily in finding ways to empower all of us. She is a consensus builder and an effective team worker in all things while being a strong advocate for measurable results.
Recent decades have brought about massive shifts in Island County’s demographics. The relatively simple dynamics of our community of just a few years ago no longer serve as an effective template for our political leaders. Today’s diversity in nearly all aspects of our county require leaders who not only recognize the complexities involved but also have demonstrated skill in working with them. Helen is arguably the only candidate that has consistently demonstrated her abilities in this critical regard.
Helen Price Johnson, through a lifetime of contributing to our community in a myriad of ways, has steadily grown to become what she is today, i.e. the best candidate for county commissioner. We need and deserve only excellence in this important position and Helen is the only candidate that uncompromisingly fits that description.
Dan Prewitt
Langley
Look deeper into campaign
It is sad to see the Whidbey News-Times become just a bulletin board for the Republican Party. A few days ago you published a Sound Off column by Barney Beeksma. In the article Barney Beeksma gave us his opinion about how great a commissioner his buddy Mac McDowell is, took a cheap shot at State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen and then lamented that millionaires have to pay estate taxes.
Mr. Beeksma was a one-term legislator who was rejected by the voters of the 10th District the first time he submitted his performance to them. He then proceeds to question the integrity and motives of Sen. Haugen. Such statements are really outrageous. They are the statements of pure partisan politics and nothing more. I am sure that Sen. Haugen’s opponent is a strong candidate. April Axhelm was a strong candidate; Norma Smith was a strong candidate; Jim Youngsman was a strong candidate and Dick Caldwell was a strong candidate. All have been office holders and all were defeated by Sen. Haugen. It should also be noted that in each instance Sen. Haugen ran a totally positive campaign with no negative shots whatsoever from either her supporters or her own campaign. Her Republican opponents sent negative hit pieces in every election. She defeated them because the electorate respects her integrity and her hard work on their behalf.
It is time for the News-Times to go beyond posting every press release submitted to them by the state Republican Party and bring to the readers’ attention the real issues of this campaign: Why have oil and gas distributors throughout the state donated thousands of dollars to Sen. Haugen’s opponent? Is it to preserve the tax break Sen. Haugen tried to repeal? How can a back-row member of the minority party of the State Senate keep the funding for transportation projects in the 10th district from being transferred to Seattle and Bellevue? Will the funds for the marina continue if we have no senator with seniority? Will a new college be a longer drive for our children because Sen. Haugen is not there to keep it close?
The answers to these questions require a reporter to do more work, but it allows the readers to review the candidates on the issues and not just by unsubstantiated charges sent out in press releases from the Republican Party. Wouldn’t that be nice!
Marshall F. Goldberg
Chair, Island County Democrats
Oak Harbor
McDowell has served enough
This is one of the times I wish I lived in the Oak Harbor area so I could vote for Angie Homola in the upcoming primary election.
Angie is running against a powerful incumbent, Mac McDowell (R) and will need all the support she can get from voters in District 2. Mr. McDowell has held this office for so many years that one wonders if it has become a Commissioner for Life position.
We need a change and Angie will provide it.
She favors responsible growth with an emphasis on the need to monitor development as it relates to our water supply and island access. We are not part of the mainland.
One of the truly unique areas of the county is Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. Being part of the national park system, development of any kind is monitored closely, but recently a ‘mistake’ made by the Island County Planning Department has resulted in a permit being issued to Karen and Ian Jefferds to build a 5,000 square foot home on a part of Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve. County Planner Jeff Tate says he has no authority to rescind this permit for fear of a lawsuit. This is such a serious mistake that a public inquiry should be called for and the permit revoked. My question is: How could this error have occurred in the first place?
Our senior commissioner, Mac McDowell has been silent on this matter. We need accountable government — we need a change of government — please vote for Angie Homola.
Peggy Burton
Coupeville
