Editor,

Port of Coupeville Commissioners Marshall Bronson and Benye Weber finally signed letter of apology and retraction after they publicly accused me, behind my back, of an illegal and unethical review of public records.

They made their accusations shortly after I questioned the adequacy of the port’s review of Greenbank Farm finances.

Admitting that I did nothing wrong was the right thing for them to do, but it took my threat of a lawsuit to get them to do it.

They damaged a taxpayer’s good name and reputation and wasted taxpayer’s money on legal advice – all because they made statements that they knew or should have known were false.

When Bronson and Weber first made their accusations, they failed to mention that I had been given permission to review records from the port’s executive director, Jim Patton.

Also, that he had instructed others, including the adjacent shop owner, to let me in the office when he was not there. Commissioner Bronson’s and Weber’s accusations were an inexcusable abuse of public office.

I did nothing illegal, unethical and as Commissioners Bronson and Weber now admit, nothing improper. I looked at public records concerning public property. I will continue to do so.

Evidently, it was public scrutiny of the port’s actions that the two commissioners did not like.

Rick Abraham

Greenbank