I read with bemusement the letter that compared Angie Homola to Jill Johnson and concluded by saying that Jill Johnson has no proven track record of leadership.  Jill Johnson was a big part of the driving force behind  building the new Wildcat Memorial Football Stadium and the newly renovated Oak Harbor High School. It was her idea to change the address of the High School to “No. 1 Wildcat Way,” finding a creative solution that allowed the High School to change its address and not impact the surrounding neighbors.

Jill sits on the Oak Harbor Planning Commission, the Shoreline Management Committee and several boards. She works with many local businesses, to help ensure their success.

She revitalized the holiday shop local campaign, organizes Holland Happening, July Fourth, raises the money for the fireworks and works with a team of people responsible for organizing the annual Military Appreciation Picnic. Jill is also responsible for marketing the community of Oak Harbor to potential tourists.

And oddly, for someone with no proven track record of leadership, she was voted Best Community Leader in 2012, Best Community Volunteer in 2006 and received an award from the Oak Harbor Education Community for her — wait for it — leadership and another award from Navy Region Northwest for her community leadership as well.

If you want to support Angie Homola please go ahead, but don’t diminish Jill and her accomplishments in the process. Tearing someone down so that your candidate can look better is not leadership, it’s petty politics and I believe Island County deserves much better. That is why I am Voting for Jill.

And I think you should as well!

– Helene Valdez

Oak Harbor