In June 11 Whidbey-News-Times there was an article about 10th District Rep. Barbara Bailey speaking at the CPO club in Oak Harbor. This event was going to be put on by the Chamber of Commerce and there was a number to call. I thought this would be a good way to find out what the issues would be in the next session, so I called the number 675-3755.

A lady answered the phone, and I asked if anyone could come and hear Barbara Bailey speak, and I was told that the event was put on by the chamber and that there would be a fee. I said, “I didn’t want the lunch, just a chance to listen to my rep.” The lady said that you could walk in, but there would be a fee. I thought that this was really something if you don’t belong to the chamber or some other organization or don’t pay a fee you don’t have what it takes to be an informed member of the voting public.

The other day I read an article about how the lobbyists can and do control many if not all the votes in this state, as well as the country. You can see that 50 percent of the state voted to fill their pockets, and no doubt it is working just the way the fees, and money went. This is no slam against Barbara Bailey or any other public official, but it is against the principal of “unless you pay, or belong to an organization the chance of good representation is more or less hit or miss.” If you feel this way I would like to hear your side.

Gene A. Skallerud

Oak Harbor