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JOURNALEDITORIAL
KOMENCOMMENT
Does anybody care
about the primary?
fat if they held an election and no
e came? That's journalistic hy-
rbole, of course, just to get your
attention. But as with every exaggeration,
that hyperbolic question contains a kernel
of truth.
Consider the forthcoming primary elec-
tion in Mason County. Is anyone paying
attention? It would seem the sole indication
an election is upon us is the proliferation of
campaign signs along Mason County roads.
If we detect a degree of citizen disinter-
est, let us correct any im-
pression this election is
not worthy of our atten-
i!i i:!:~ ', : tion. This Mason County
i!i~il i!iliprimary election wins
ii!iiiiiii~i~!~.:~iill our interest ff only for all
the just plain interest-
ing people stuff packed
into that Aug. 7 primary
By JOHN ballot.
For example, the "Top
KOMEN 2" factor. If you were
a horse-player you'd be
placing an exacta wager -- picking the win-
ners of first and second -- in each of the
three county commissioner contests. The
Top 2 will be on the Nov. 6 General Election
ballot. The once-traditional Democrat-vs-
Republican contest has long since vanished.
The two candidates who come in first and
second, regardless of political party or no
party at all, will face offin November.
Take the five entries in the race for com-"
missioner in District 2. How would you
place your exacta wager? Certainly half of
that exacta would be placed on Tim Shel-
don. Incumbency and name familiarity
would dictate his entry, most likely as No.
1. But what of the other half of the Dis-
trict 2 exacta? Roslynne Reed is a familiar
name. She's faced Sheldon before, so the
Top 2 could be a repeat, the two Democrats
facing each other again.
But don't forget the two Republicans--
Randy Churchill (bearer of a very familiar
famous name -- think "Winston") and new-
comer Mark Core who's making a fierce run
at being among the Top 2. And there's Inde-
pendent Benavente Francisco in the mix.
Another five candidates are vying for the
Top 2 in District 3. Here name familiarity
resides with Ross Gallagher. The former
county commissioner is making a come-
back effort after losing a re-election try in
the primary two years ago. If Gallagher is
successful in his comeback, expect to see
his name again in two yea~.rs. This irace is
for the unexpired term left by the death of
Jerry Lingle.
Gallagher is an interesting campaigner.
He lost two years ago in the midst of the
brouhaha over the Adage incinerator. He
had been under heavy pressure by citizen
activists to oppose the incinerator, but
Gallagher declined, insisting the project
should be allowed to run its governmental,
environmental and regulatory course. Gal-
lagher was right. Adage didn't survive, but
neither did Gallagher.
So if we concede one of the Top 2 spots
to the Democrat veteran Gallagher, who
might get the other spot? Declared Demo-
crat Brian Avery, Independent Terri Jef-
freys and two no-party-preference types,
Curtis Bennett and Darrel Andrews, are
trying. Take your pick for an exacta ticket.
Handicapping the race for District 1
commissioner may be easier because it is
shaping up as a traditional partisan race
-- Travis Couture as the Republican versus
well-financed Democrat Dennis Hamilton.
But don't leave out no-party-preference
Randy Neatherlin, the frequent candidate
from Belfair. His name becomes better
known each time he runs. Rounding out
the foursome is Independent Douglas E1-
lingson.
The dean of Mason County elected of-
ficials, Bruce Jorgenson, is also on the bal-
lot. This skilled veteran campaigner, well
known in the community, has had three
six-year terms as a board member for Ma-
son County Public Utility District 3. He is
waltzing into his fourth term because no
one was courageous enough to take on the
formidable Jorgenson, a sitting PUD 3 com-
missioner since 1995.
So there's no handicapping Jorgenson's
race. He's a winner right at the starting
gate.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITORTM
• John Komen, who lives on Mason
Lake, was for 40 years a reporter and edi-
tor, TV anchorman, national TV network
correspondent, producer, columnist, edito-
rial writer and commentator. His column,
Komen comment, appears each week in the
Shelton-Mason County Journal.
Shelton-Mason Count5/
Seafood and summer
fun. What could be bet-
ter?
That's what attendees of'
this year's 30thAnnual A1-
lyn Days and Second Annual
Geoduck Festival can expect.
The festivities kick off Fri-
day with the first Allyn's Got
Talent and continue all day
Saturday at Waterfront Park
in downtown Allyn.
But the fun doesn't stop
there. All things geoduck,
the delicious and curious
bivalve, will be on display
Sunday. Visitors can sample
from the approximately 500
pounds of the delicacy Tay-
lor Shellfish has agreed to
provide. If geoduck isn't your
thing, grab a Polish dog or
hot dog or simply sit back
and enjoy the live entertain-
ment.
Best of all, proceeds from
the Allyn Community As-
sociation's planned activities
directly benefit Mason Coun-
ty residents. Funds garnered
during the two community
events go toward developing
a trail system and potential-
ly constructing a community
center in Allyn.
It's also easy to get in
and out. Just catch a ride
on a Mason County Transit
Authority shuttle from one
of four parking lots organiz-
ers have set up and save the
headache of finding a park-
ing spot or fighting with the
crowd.
We have a lot of recre-
ational and entertainment
options in Mason County
during the summer. The
beautiful Olympic Mountains
beckon us from the north-
west. Hood Canal provides
boating, fishing and crabbing
opportunities.
As we approach the dog
days, let's continue to sup-
port all the great local events
and organizations we have.
Volunteers put in hours
and hours of hard work set-
ting up Allyn Days each
year. Food vendors, enter-
tainment acts and local spon-
sorships are what keep them
afloat. It seems like the Gee-
duck Festival is catching on
-- let's continue the success.
It's oftentimes the funds
raised by these events that
fund critical projects and
causes throughout the coun-
ty.
Events that have gone on
for 30 years are often the
easiest to take for granted.
Let's continue to show sup-
port for the events that make
Mason County unique. All
it takes is a couple of hours
and a hearty appetite.
Even if you don't like gee-
duck, try it for a good cause.
,nch the
best choice
Editor, the Journal
Mike Lynch has practiced
law for more than 30 years.
He has handled hundreds of
appellate cases in the Court
of Appeals, the Ninth Cir-
cuit, the Washington State
Supreme Court, the Supreme
Court of the United States and
has more experience than any
other candidate for this seat.
He has broad trial experi-
ence throughout the state
and has taught classes in
evidence, ethics, Constitu-
tional and Appellate law. His
integrity and work ethic are
beyond reproach. His commit-
ment to a fair and indepen-
dent judiciary is fundamental
to his view of the legal system
and how he participates in it.
Mike has two teenage sons
and his wife Marlo works in
: special eduction and serves
on the board of numerous
non-profit organizations: Mike
has served on the board of •
several neighborhood associa-
tions and the NOVA School
and is 0 social minister in his
local church.
Mike Lynch is an excep-
tional lawyer and person who
will make an outstanding
judge. We can think of no
finer member of the legal pro-
fession to serve on the Court
of Appeals.
Curt and Margie Smitch
Olympia
Core for
District 2
Editor, the Journal
I am writing in support of
Mark Core for Mason County
Commissioner District 2. I
have had the pleasure and
honor or knowing him for
more than 25 years. In my
many years of knowing Core,
he has always been driven
by a strong work ethic and
unquenchable desire to excel.
He is personable at all levels,
direct (yet tactful), intuitive
about what needs to be done,
professional .in his actions,
fair, compassionate, takes
personal responsibility for his
actions and maybe most im-
portantly can still exercise the
lost art of using old fashioned
common sense. Core is a per-
son that always has the cour-
age to do the right thing.
Core has the relevant expe-
rience needed to be successful
as our next Mason County
Commissioner for District 2.
His many. years as a manager
of a grocery store and manager
of the Mason County Depart-
ment of Community Develop-
ment have Kiven him the tools
needed to succeed. It is rare
to find an individual who com-
bines the traditional values of
hard work with the progres-
sive qualities of teambuilding.
Mason County needs change in
our government and now is the
time to make it happen. We no
longer need a state senator, we
need a county commissioner.
Better yet we need someone
who not only grew up here, is
raising his own kids here and
cares about our county, but
who is honest and ethical. That
someone is Mark Core.
Karin Bennett
Shelton
Jeffreys a
candidate
Editor, the Journal
I am writing in regards
to the upcoming ele'ct~on for
Mason County Con~l~issioner.
As a long-time resident of
Mason County, I feel that
we're ready to move forward
politically and economically
if we have responsive and ex-
perienced leadership in office.
It's important that we have
leaders in government that
embrace growth and have the
foresight to allow our county
to prosper.
Terri Jeffreys completely
understands the needs of Ma-
son County. Her broad experi-
ence in business and the po-
litical arena leave little doubt
that she would make an excel-
lent county commissioner. As
a small business owner, active
in civic affairs and a strong
supporter of economic growth
in our county, there is little
doubt Jeffreys will make an
excellent commissioner.
I have watched Jeffreys
meet with all measure of
officials in state and local
government. She is effective,
thorough and fair. She always
listens and evaluates every
phase of an issue before deter-
mining a course of action.
I strongly support her bid
to be elected to the position of
Mason County Commissioner
for District 3.
Jim Cary
Harstine Island
Support
local
candidates
Editor, the Journal
After being on an inter-
view panel, listening to the
candidate forums, and hear-
ing what the candidates for
county commissioner have to
say, I'm convinced that the
choices are clear. We need to
elect Terri Jeffreys for her
brilliant mind, policy experi-
ence and ability to seek solu-
tions. Randy Neatherlin for
his leadership experience,
heart for public service and
ability to think outside of the
box and re-elect Tim Shel-
don for his knowledge, board
continuity and zero learning
curve.
I would also like to urge
voters to support Drew MacE-
wen and Dan Griffey for the
35th Legislative District
positions -- they are both ex-
tremely smart and energetic
men who will serve our dis-
trict well, and help to get our
state back on the right track.
Kristy Buck
Shelton
Take back
control
Editor, the Journal
It is time that we, the vot-
ers, take back the control of
our Mason County govern-
ment.
Responsibility, integrity,
honesty, common sense and
full time working county com-
missioners that truly repre-
sent the citizens is what we
need to vote for.
We have had eight years
of dishonest or no answers
to many questions, reckless
spending of our tax dollars
and very little leadership
by two commissioners that
spend much of the working
day away from their office.
They have turned their du-
ties over to others and not
bothered to answer all phone
calls or letters. It appears
that they think they are bet-
ter than others and above
the law when they choose not
to attend a required meet-
ing on age discrimination,
not calling for bids, choosing
not to listen to the taxpay-
ers' concerns, spending more
money then the county has
budgeted in revenues
some years and other un-
desirable representation. It
seems that they spend much
of their time feathering their
own nest.
The fights that have gone
on between Commissioner
Tim Sheldon and Commis-
sioner Lynda Ring Erickson,
instead of working for the
residents of Mason County,
have been almost comical, ex-
cept it is sad, because it hurts
the county as a whole. We
have heard too many times,
"He said, she said or she said,
he said," it sounds like Kin-
dergarteners tattling on each
other.
Speaking of age discrimina-
tion, the above two commis-
sioners were caught in an age
discrimination lawsuit that
was settled in favor of a long-
time employee that they fired.
Consequently, this cost the
taxpayers many dollars, due
to stupidity on their part.
These same two commis-
sioners seem to find a way to
increase their own salaries
every year, eve/a though they
have caused over 60 employ-
ees to be laid off and have not
allocated enough money to
the sheriffs budget for public
safety, criminal investigations
and patrol. They will tell you
that they have increased the
sheriffs operations, but ask
them the truth.
These same two commis-
sioners blame staff, other
elected officials or the econo-
my for the problems that they
have created.
Another item of interest is
that it is a known fact that
there have been more law-
suits filed against the county
during their tenure in office
then in past terms, due to
their actions. Some have been
settled and some are pending.
The most recent one is in re-
gard to bid laws.
They are also the reason
that we are in jeopardy of
losing our county fair be-
cause they canceled the fair-
ground's contract four years
early and have done nothing
to work toward another loca-
tion, in spite of the law that
says county commissioners
are responsible to hold coun-
ty fairs. Mason County has
had a fair for more than 100
years.
Do we want this kind of
representation representing
us? Please consider your op-
tions when voting this year.
Let us vote for someone with
common sense and who is
honest. We need commission-
ers that will work for the citi-
zens and will serve full time.
It is too bad that we will
not see Commissioner Steve
Bloomfield's name on the bal-
lot. He is a responsible hard
worker who tries to listen to
the citizens before making
decisions.
Annette McGee
Shelton
Vote
Andrews
Editor, the Journal
A person running for public
office needs to have certain
characteristics and abilities in
order to be successful in that
attempt. Said person should
possess a firm knowledge of
the area he/she serves. That.
person should be a listener,
be open to hearing what his/
her constituents have to say,
to really care about what the
public wants and needs. Hon-
esty, integrity, stamina, a love
See Letters on page A-5
USPS 492-800
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Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
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Newsroom:
Adam Rudnick, editor
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Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July ! 9, 2012