I strongly agree with Shane Fortune’s article (posted to his blog on August 20^th.) His article, entitled “Keep Island County Safe,” emphasizes the need for our county commissioners to refrain from making cuts to our sheriff’s department.

                Prior to the August 17^th election, our county commissioners warned Sheriff Brown that they would cut his department’s budget if the voters defeat Proposition 1. I am grateful that the proposition did not pass; however, I am not pleased that our commissioners will now refuse to provide our sheriff with the budget he needs.

                Please encourage our current commissioners to place a higher and stronger priority on our county’s public safety. Thank you.

                The following information includes some points of contact:

Island County Commissioners:

John Dean

Angie Homola

Helen Price Johnson

The Board of Commissioners office is located in the Courthouse Administration Building, 1 NE 7th Street, Room 214, Coupeville, Washington.  Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Mailing address is: P.O. Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239

Email address:  BICC@co.island.wa.us

Phone: 360-679-7354
FAX: 360-679-7381
Toll Free from S. Whidbey: 360-321-5111, Ext. 7354
Toll Free from Camano Island: 360-629-4522, Ext. 7354
Camano Island Courthouse Annex: 360-387-3443, Ext. 0

Letters to the Editor:

(It is probably a good idea to provide your name, phone number, and city of residence in your letters to the editor.)

South Whidbey Record:  Brian Kelly, Editor   bkelly@whidbeynewsgroup.com

PO Box 1200, 107 S. Main St., Suite E101, Coupeville, WA, 98277
360-675-6611

Whidbey News-Times:  Jim Larsen, Editor   jlarsen@whidbeynewsgroup.com

PO Box 1200, 107 S. Main St., Suite E101, Coupeville, WA, 98277
360-675-6611

Coupeville Examiner
901 Grace St
Coupeville, WA
Phone: (360) 678-8060
Fax: (360) 678-6073

news@whidbeyexaminer.com

Stanwood Camano News:

P.O. Box 999

Stanwood, WA  98292

360-629-2155

newsroom@scnews.com

Thanks to all who voted for me in the Primary Election.  As a result, my name will appear on the ballot for the general election.

Thanks for your continued support. I will strive to do my best if elected in November as your new Island County Clerk.

Proposition 1, if passed, will harm our county economy, not to mention our pocket books.

Money is power. It is the power to buy a home, to send our children to college, to get proper medical care, to help our church or our favorite charities, and to secure a satisfactory retirement. All these things are good and worthy. But the Island County Commissioners want us to forfeit an ever increasing amount of our personal power to them. This would be a mistake.

This would leave us less money to help those that we love most—our families. No one cares about our own family members more than we do. And no one knows their needs more than we do. Therefore, we are more capable of helping our own families than the Island County Commissioners are.

And, if those who pay rent for their housing think that this proposition has no ill effect on them, that is not so. Landlords and landladies will be forced to raise rent in order to pay the increase in property taxes.

Those who cannot pay the increase in rent or property taxes will be forced out of their homes. Is this what we really want, especially during a recession?

Higher taxes do not enhance economic freedom—rather, higher taxes hamper economic activity and growth. Not only could private business owners, investors, consumers, employers, employees, and entrepreneurs discover dampened economic growth, but so could our pocket books expose the same trend.

Please vote “No” on Proposition 1 Levy for Retention of Basic Public Safety and Other Essential Services.

Hi, I’m Carol Ann Fortune.  I’d be honored to serve you as Island County Clerk.  I promise to be hard-working, honest, and friendly.  I have strong customer service skills—I like people and treat them with respect.

  I believe in the virtues of limited government and personal freedom.  I am committed to upholding the U.S. Constitution.  I promise to protect your rights to the best of my ability.

Thank you.