Editor,

Major General Trish Rose, USAF, and Col. Grethe Cammemeyer, RN, PhD, USAm, retired, are nationally recognized, award winning and respected individuals who have made and continue to make major contributions locally and nationally.

The very issue of the Whidbey News-Times that includes Rob Born’s letter attacking Dr. Cammemeyer features her picture on the front page with a story about her accomplishments.

Both General Rose and Dr. Cammemeyer are military officers who have fought for, and continue to fight for and support, the freedoms this country is founded on, including the freedom of speech and opinion.

Those of us who have served in public office, as I have for 20 years, attract vitriol on occasion and we have learned to deal with it.

I’m sure General Rose and Dr. Cammemeyer have learned this as well.

As a working woman, 71 years old, committed to my profession and to service to my community, I am now running to continue my nonpartisan position as hospital commissioner.

In spite of what my opponent says, I am richly compensated — at $104 per meeting and untold wealth in the knowledge that I’m helping to safeguard and grow community health on Whidbey Island.

Georgia Gardner, Commissioner

Whidbey General Hospital Dist. 2