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Letters
Continued from page A-4
for Mason County and its
people are all important at-
tributes.
For the position of county
commissioner district 3. we
have that candidate -- Dar-
rell Andrews. We live in
a widespread and diverse
county. Andrews is a candi-
date for all of Mason County,
not a specific part of it. An-
drews was born and raised
right here in Mason County,
did business in Shelton for
many years, has served on
an abundance of community
Improvement projects and
believes in an agenda accord-
mg to the people who elect
him. not one of his own.
A vote for Andrews is a
step in the right direction
for Shelton and the rest of
Mason County. Please join
us in voting for the people's
candidate -- Andrews, Ma-
son County Commissioner
District 3.
NOTICE
CORRECTION
Dick and Mary Reller
Shelton
Same sex?
Editor, the Journal
Tacoma is celebrating
nine days of gay frivolity
with parades, speeches, mu-
sic and fun. under the aegis
of same sex marriage.
But it's hardly the same
sex. is it?
Robert Hoit
Union
Andrews is
capable and
cares
Editor, the Journal
Darrel Andrews told me he
was going to run for county
commissioner and asked if I
would support him. I asked
"why do you want to do that?"
He said, "Joe, I care about
this area. I've lived here all
my life and run my business
here when I could have left
and gone somewhere else."
I've known Andrews for
30-plus years and worked
with him for almost five
years. He has the business
and economic practical
background to effectively
understand and manage
county finances. And he has
the passion to do the job and
understands the history and
culture of Mason County.
Electing a non-career
politician who has energy,
integrity and the ability to
comprehend a Board of Com-
missioners level of civics
management seems to me
like a wise choice. Please join
me in supporting Andrews
for county commissioner.
Joe Robertson
Shelton (Lake Limerick)
Neatherlin
the best
hope
Editor, the Journal
Randy Neatherlin is our
best hope for the kind of
change we need on the Ma-
son County Board of Corn-
missioners.
Neatherlin has been
serving on the Port of Allyn
Commission where he has
acquired significant and rel-
evant experience in prepar-
ing for service on the Mason
County Board of Commis-
sioners.
Neatherlin has been a
successful entrepreneur who
has founded several small
businesses, and he is now
showing that he is one of
the best real estate sales-
men in Mason County. This
makes him well-prepared
to put his management acu-
men to work in resolving the
problems stemming from the
current board's approval of
a Belfair sewer project cost-
ing upwards of $48 million,
with only about 200 users
in sight. I think Neatherlin
can effectively deal with the
bureaucrats who pushed the
project unto a board that
flunked their responsibility
for supervisory oversight.
Maybe the board didn't un-
derstand the concept of cost
effectiveness. It's probably no
coincidence that none of the
commissioners involved is
seeking election in a district
where Belfair area voters are
a controlling presence.
Neatherlin is a highly in-
telligent guy with significant
political experience and ex-
cellent communication skills
qualities that any com-
petent county commissioner
needs to possess.
Arnold Rolfsrud
alyn
Let's keep
NJROTC
going
Editor, the Journal
We have been very for-
tunate this year to have
received an outstanding
show of support from our
community for our Shelton
NJROTC especially from the
members of our three veter-
• ans' groups. However, our
fight to save this program
continues and our message
now needs to go to our elect-
ed representatives.
Closing Navy JROTC
units in Washington is
wrong. Chapter 102, Section
2031 of Title X states there
should be "fair and equitable
distribution of units through-
out the Nation." This docu-
ment indicates that efforts
were to be made to improve
the increased distribution
of units geographically
across the United States
and increase distribution of
units in educationally and
economically deprived areas.
Instead there is a plan to
eliminate 111 Navy units by
2016. The Shelton NJROTC
is at risk of being closed due
to low enrollment. This will
be the third such closing in
Washington this year. Stop
allowing federal funds to
leave the state of Washing-
ton. These federal funds sup-
port this valuable education
program here in Shelton.
We believe that enroll-
ment numbers are the only
thing that is being taken into
consideration in determining
closures. Success of a unit
cannot be determined by a
head count, but by the citi-
zens the unit turns out.
Congress created the
NJROTC program and Con-
gress can stop the closings.
The determination of which
units to close must be an
evaluation process, not based
on a head count or a line
item on a spreadsheet.
.We need your help to put
a stop to the Navy JROTC
closings in Washington and
change the way the closings
are determined. Please help
us save the Shelton JROTC
by contacting Congressman
Norm Dicks at www.house.
gov/dicks or 1-800-947-6676.
Thank you for your support.
Helen Thomson
NJROTC Booster Club
Public Affairs Officer
Shelton
Hamilton
the guy
Editor, the Journal
Denny Hamilton is, by i~ar,
the most qualified candidate
for the position of Mason
County Commissioner for
District 1. He spent his en-
tire professional career help-
ing people solve problems
and develop policies that
would change and save lives.
He has worked with inter-
national organizations such
as the Peace Corps, United
Nations, CARE, USAID, and
World Bank. Denny has
actually made a difference
in eighty countries and he
can make a difference right
here in Mason County. Per-
haps his greatest asset is his
ability to bring people with
different agendas together to
accomplish goals that benefit
everyone. We need talent
like that right here at home.
Denny Hamilton has been
a Mason County Fire District
2 commissioner for five years.
He was a member of the
board of directors of Sound
Institute, is an active mem-
ber of Mason County. Re-en-
try Coalition, an Emergency
Management Team planner
and a strategy planner for
several community organiza-
tion. Denny understands
how to not only plan. but to
carry out policy. He has a
world of experience doing just
that.
Mason County has a bud-
get of about $30,000,000.
Our county commissioners
are the ones that set the
budget and parcel out the
revenues. What kind of ex-
perience is required to meet
the demands of this job? It's
the kind of experience that
Denny has shown in his
professional life. He is ours
now. Let's make use of his
skill set.
Guyla Vann
Belfair
Vote for
Hadian
Editor, the Journal
I cannot say the facts any
better than the key endorse-
ments of state Reps. Matt
Shea (Spokane Valley), Ja-
son Overstreet (Blaine), Da-
vid Taylor (Moxee City) and
Brad Klippert (Kennewick).
They released the following
statement.
%Ve are honored to give
our support and endorse-
ment to Shahram Hadian
as he runs for Governor of
Washington State. Without
question, he is a man of in-
tegrity and character willing
to take tough stands based
on Republican principles.
"Shahram is steadfastly
pro-life, pro-marriage and
will fight to stop the imple-
mentation of Obamacare in
Washington State. Specifi-
cally, he has committed to
sign the Healthcare Freedom
Act (HB 1946), opting Wash-
ington out of Obamacare.
'"The constitution is not
ah instrument of the govern-
ment to restrain the people,
it is an instrt]ment for the
people to restrain the gov-
ernment.' When Patrick
Henry made that statement
he understood that an all-
powerful central government
was the enemy of freedom.
Mr. Hadian is a staunch
defender of property rights
and someone who has the
titanium backbone to push
back against the onslaught
of state and federal regula-
tions that are strangling our
economy.
'Tge need people now,
more than ever, who will
take government out of the
way so small businesses can
get Washington working
again. This is how we will
restore our Constitutional
republic at the state level.
We firmly believe Shahram
Hadian is the right person to
help lead that fight."
This says it all about this
man of integrity. Make your
vote count. Got four more
like minded people to vote
for Hadian for Governor.
Nancy Williams
Belfair
landa an
ideal
candidate
Editor, the Journal
Jack Janda is running
for re-election as a Mason
County PUD 1 commission-
er. I have attended several
PUD 1 Board of Commis-
sioners meetings and have
observed Janda as he took
part as issues were discussed
and reviewed. I found him
to be knowledgeable, in-
sightful and concerned for
the citizens living within
the boundaries of PUD 1.
These attributes were also
recognized by the state orga-
nization of PUDs as he was
elected to leadership posi-
tions and eventually served
a term as president of that
organization. He continued
t0 serve on their board after
his presidency.
Not only has Janda done a
terrific job as PUD 1 commis-
sioner, but he has also been
an active participant in our
community. He served more
than 30 years in our local
volunteer fire department,
10 of which were as their
chief. In the past, he has
volunteered at the Hood Ca-
nal School and served with
the Mason County Tourism
Council. He is currently a
member of the Hood Canal
Kiwanis Club, a volunteer
organization committed to
our youth.
I have known Janda for
more than 30 years and
view him as a person of high
morals and character, and
a proven leader committed
to fulfill the duties of com-
missioner for the benefit of
citizens of PUD 1. He has
certainly earned our respect
and warrants a successful
reelection.
Bob Sund
Hoodsport
Let's give
Core a shot
Editor, the Journal
As we move through the
summer. Aug. 7 is a very
important date to remember.
This is the day of the pri-
mary election and your vote
for county commissioner is
an extremely important vote
that will shape the future
of Mason County for years
to come. I want to strongly
encourage those of you that
live in District 2 to vote for
Mark Core. I have had the
pleasure to know Mark for
more than 36 years both on
a personal level and through
our professional careers com-
peting against each other in
private business.
I have known Core to al/
ways be caring, honest and
have the highest of integrity.
He has a work ethic second
to none. I believe if Core is
elected that he will always
put the best interest of Ma-
son County and its citizens
first when making critical
decisions that affect us all.
The decisions that will have
to be made over the next few
years will be critical to the
viability of Mason County
and I can rest assured that
he will think of each of these
decisions as a monetary busi-
ness decision based on what
is best for the county.
I encourage you to check
out Core and his work re-
cord and you will see that
he is truly the best qualified
candidate for Mason County
Commissioner District 2.
Don Welander
Shelten
Davis the
candidate
Editor, the Journal
In view of the up and com-
ing primary, I would like
to remind everyone to open
their ballot, cast their votes
and mail it back or drop it in
the nearest drop box.
Now then, concerning
those votes; I would like to
encourage you to consider
carefully who our next rep-
resentative will be for 35th
Legislative District position
2.
Jeff Davis is a man who
can be trusted. He has been
from one end of the 35th to
the other, listening to the
concerns and opinions of
the constituents of this dis-
trict. He isn't one to practice
double-speak -- He will look
you in the eye and give you
a straight answer. He will
back up his comments with
verifiable facts.
Jeff is not only trustwor-
thy, he is knowledgeable.
He is a working man, and
understands the challenges
of working families in this
economy. He is concerned
about creating jobs, about
education, environmental
stewardship and transporta-
tion among others.
Jeff is a likeable person
who works well with others.
He understands teamwork
and will be an asset in the
Legislature.
Jeff Davis is trustworthy,
knowledgeable, personable,
educated and experienced.
In recent weeks, I have
heard Jeff's words and
phrases repeated by another
candidate. Since imitation
is the highest form of flat-
tery, I can only assume this
particular copycat has great
admiration for Jeff and his
campaign issues and posi-
tions.
Andrea Abruzzo
Belfair
Shaking
down the
The Shelton-
accept
candidate
support letters
after the July
26 issue.
Editor, the Journal
Last week county com-
missioners approved a two
year contract between the
Sheriffs Office and the com-
munity of Timberlakes for up
to $80,000 in fees for what is
being called "enhanced" po-
licing services.
Why must some commu-
nities pay twice for policing
services; once with their
property tax dollars and
again through private con-
tracts? The agreement states
these services are meant to
"supplement, not substitue
for current manning levels,"
but there is reason to believe
that is not entirely true, as
each private contract is an
admission that current levels
of enforcement are inad-
equate.
It is no secret that the
sheriff and the county do not
see eye-to-eye over ftmding
issues. And when political
opinions collide, it is often
the taxpayer who loses. So,
what started in Lake Cush-
man is now in Timberlakes
and it is unlikely to end
there.
But before any more com-
munities enter into one of
these private contracts, there
needs to be a top down ef-
ficiency audit performed on
the sheriffs operation. Cur-
rently, the county is hold-
ing $7.2 million in surplus
funds; it only makes sense
to spend a few of those tax-
payer dollars to assure that
$10 million budgeted for law
enforcement is being used as
effectively and efficiently as
possible
Commissioner Sheldon
defends the practice of pri-
vate contracts, saying: "it
works." But for whom does
it really work? For the com-
munity who pays twice for
budgeted services? For a
public that pays benefits and
overtime of officers engaged
in private contracts? It is the
county that benefits most
from such arrangements, by
allowing what is effectively a
supplemental appropriation
to be funded directly by some
citizens and indirectly by the
rest of us. Call it what you
like, an agreement, a contri-
bution, even a voluntary tax;
it's still an out-of-pocket ex-
pense for a budgeted service.
Among citizens, public
safety is the No. 1 concern,
even above jobs. And for good
reason; there is too much
crime and too many com-
plaints about law enforce-
ment not responding to calls
for assistance in a timely
manner. Crime rates affect
our economy, our sense of se-
curity and our personal lives.
Nothing is more important.
The sheriff and commis-
sioners need to pull in their
horns and get to work on
a better mousetrap: com-
missioners need to adopt a
budget that meets the needs
of law enforcement and law
enforcement needs to be
audited to work within that
budget.
If our elected officials can't
find a solution to this, the
most important of all issues,
without charging citizens
twice for the same services,
then the citizens need to re-
place them with people who
can.
Tom Davis
Shelton
Educate
yourself on
Editor, the Journal
To the letter writer whose
reading list promotes the
Shelton-Mason County Journal
In last week's article
"Elma car show sched-
uled" the date was state
incorrectly. The "Heat on
the Street" car show is
scheduled to run from 9
ram. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 4
with a cruise-in on Aug.
3.
elimination of all public ser-
vices and agencies and yes.
taxation.
A new Congressional
Budget Office report said
that in 2009. taxes were at
their lowest rate in 30 years
and that does not include
the other tax cuts this presi-
dent enacted since 2009. In
fact. President Obama's his-
torically low taxes were less
than Bush I, Clinton. Bush
II and Reagan administra-
tions, but people who only
listen to talking points and
never do any fact-checking
will never admit that incon-
venient truth.
The letter writer wants us
to believe that the right wing
will lower our taxes. Partly
true. If you are one of the
wealthiest 2 percent you will
get windthll tax breaks. Here
are their plans.
The Paul Ryan Path to
Prosperity budget and Wil-
lard Romney's tax plan give
the wealthy tax cuts of 10-20
percent on top of their Bush-
era cuts that will increase
the deficit by $4-6 trillion at
the same time they increase
taxes on the middle class
and, unbelievably, the work-
ing poor who are struggling
to feed their families.
If you believe that Presi-
dent Obama has raised your
taxes you should turn off
your TV and get out your
current and past tax tables
and compare them. If you
haven't kept your records,
no problem. You can do the
research when you are at the
library returning the books
you checked out.
The Affordable Care Act
we are the only developed
country that subjects its citi-
zens to healthcare for profit.
Healthcare costs are the
cause of most bankruptcies
and have destroyed families
all over America. The right
wing congress has spent $50
million 33 times trying to
repeal affordable healthcare
for us.
Clinton Ferrara
Shelton
Stop the
insanity
Editor, the Journal
Can we please stop this in-
sanity? With so much of the
West currently burning why
do we allow fireworks in our
county? We live in the valley
north of Lost Lake and every
year we are terrorized by
many setting off illegal fire-
works in these timberlands.
Calls to the sheriff only bring
a lecture on lack of enough
staff to do anything.
This county is full of trees
with timber playing a large
economic role. This resource
deserves protection rather
than regular threats of fire.
As an ex-nurse who once
worked at Harborview's
Burn Unit, I know better
than most the personal
threat posed by such ex-
plosives and fires. Can we
please stop the 'fun' of a few
from threatening the peace,
prosperity and lives of the
many? Can we please ban
fireworks in Mason County?
-Thursda~
Kim Rothrock-Mack
Shelton
July 19, 2012 - Page A-5