Editor,

I never had a chance to respond to Nathan Whalen before he published the article, “Questions raised about candidate for port position” that appeared in the Oct. 24 edition of The Whidbey Examiner because I was on a remote island in Canada spending time with my wife.

We had no access to the Internet, nor did we have phone service. I was not able to contact Nathan until Wednesday morning, which was too late.

Editor Megan Hansen and Nathan Whalen spent nearly two hours with me on Thursday discussing my side of the story.  It’s obvious that Tim McDonald, the new executive director for the port, had a mission in mind when he questioned my ethics and my fitness for being a port commissioner.

Had Mr. McDonald had the courtesy to call me about any concerns he had about my qualifications to serve the Port of Coupeville, the article would never have appeared because his charges were completely unfounded.

As Laura Blankenship so aptly stated in a recent letter “To the Editor,” “I see the Port of Coupeville commissioner’s race very simply. If you are happy with the port’s management and how they take care of the Coupeville Wharf and Greenbank Farm, then vote for the two ol’ boys who will continue the status quo — Patton and Diamanti. If you are not happy with the way your tax dollars are managed or their stewardship of the wharf or farm, then you have a unique opportunity for change.”

It is time for a change to put the taxpayers first in all decisions that would impact the wharf and farm. Please vote for Dick Bowen. You are welcome to call me at 360-678-1167 to discuss the changes that I would like to see implemented.

Dick Bowen

Coupeville