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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
October 4, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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October 4, 2012
 
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Letters EDITOWSNOTE Continued from page A-4 No more, for Ring Editor, the Journal Do we really want to give an individual who shows no regard for her constitu- ents in her current position as county commissioner a greater opportunity to con- tinue her lack of leadership on a state level? That is ex- actly what Lynda Ring Er- ickson is asking the voters to do. Her political history as county commissioner is rife with examples of her inability to accept respon- sibility for her decisions or show a sense of accountabil- ity. Some of these include numerous lawsuits due to these decisions, such as five unfair labor practices, bun- gling the land deal for the Belfair sewer project caus- ing legal fees Of $500,000, an age discrimination law- suit, which the county lost and the court required her to attend training sessions on said issues. In addition, she negotiated a multi-mil- lion dollar waste contract behind closed doors. This is a violation of the open meeting laws, making me wonder whether she even understands the law. This is a huge amount of money that we as taxpayers have to pay, and since they fall into other budgets within the government, i.e. legal fees, she has been able to avoid accountability. We do not want her pro- moted to her highest level of incompetence. We want an individual who has integrity and the ability to read and follow the law. We want someone that has business experience and will fight for state senator, meant only to diminish his opponent's views. It has been argued that serving in two key politi- cal positions is beneficial because it gives the office- holder's home county an economic and political ad- vantage. But if that is true, then why, after eight years under such an arrange- ment, is Mason County swimming in lawsuits? Why is our unemployment rate higher than 34 other counties? Why is our crime rate per capita the highest in the state? And why are so many of our small busi- nesses failing? The fact is, conditions in Mason County are no better than in other counties, and in some cases they're worse. Additionally, according to incumbent Sheldon, things are not go- ing to get better anytime soon. For these reasons, voters may want to think twice before allowing one elected official to serve in two leg- islative capacities, again. Otherwise, Sen./Commis- sioner Sheldon will have us all trotting around the same old track for another four years. Tom Davis Shelton Ring Erickson has my vote Editor, the Journal According to the monthly employment report from the Department of Employ- ment Security, Washington state's unemployment rate went up to 8.6 percent in August, up from 8.5 percent in July. However, I really don't need statistics to un- derstand the lack of good family-wage jobs and the slow economic recovery; I only have to look around and see my friends and neighbors struggling. Lynda Ring Erickson, can- the small businessman anddidate for 35th District State will not make undeliverable Rep., Pos. 2,,understands promlses lust to ~n, That that with dwindling state person is~]Drew MacEwen. revenue the only way to turn In true style, Lynda Ring Erickson has leveled at- tacks on anyone who could show the voters what good stewardship is, as she can- not point directly to her own record. I strongly urge everyone to vote for Drew MacEwen for the state Leg- islature in the 35th District. Virginia Beech Shelton "Other job' takes away from Editor, the Journal The Mason County Board of County Commissioners is comprised of a three- member panel with author- ity to make policies tailored to fit community needs. This is very different from the state Senate, where 49 law- makers must compromise the heart out of proposed legislation to achieve one- size-fits-all. This is why policy enacted at the state level may be inadequate to address, or may even ag- gravate, local conditions. It follows, therefore, that the Positions of a state senator and that of a county com- missioner are incompatible when held by a single elect- ed official, as is currently the case with Tim Sheldon. At the end of the day, such an arrangement cannot help but thwart representation of an exclusively local nature. What needs to be said is that a politician who seeks multiple legislative positions does so to limit differing viewpoints from entering into local policy decisions. This fact has been made evident through the recent candidate forums for county commissioner, in which incumbent Sheldon is quick to bring atten- tion to his "other job" as a things around is to grow our way out through busi- ness development and job creation. The answer is not to overburden taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet. The solution requires leaders like Lynda, who are willing to set priorities, make tough decisions, and work together to find new ways of solving problems. While her opponent be- lieves in outsourcing state contracts to people in other states, Lynda Ring Erick- son's top priority will be working with Democrats, Re- publicans and Independents to create jobs right here. She'll put aside the partisan bickering to find common- sense solutions that create jobs. Solutions like giving Washington companies the first crack at state contracts - so our tax dollars create jobs here, not overseas. Ring Erickson has my vote on Nov. 6. She's a proven leader who is com- mitted to job creation and improving our economy. Andrew Graham Grapeview The Dan Griffey I know Editor, the Journal I first met my husband in 1991. It was a blind date and we really hit it off. We talked until about 6 a.m., when he had to head out to work and we haven't been apart since. At the time, I was stuck in a very abusive situa- tion and Dan stepped in and not only stood up for me but he stood by me. He is one of the few people I have ever really been able to open up to about it. I had a lot of ups and downs and I will admit that dur- ing our first few years together, I was a handful, but he never gave up on me. Not many would have done the same. Since Dan started run- ning for state representa- tive, I began getting calls from supporters who knew him from school or work. They all reiterated what I knew, that what Dan did for me was not unique. He looks out for everybody. Not only has he always been there for me but he has been supportive of me and my dreams, whereever they took me. I can't imag- ine a better representative for us than someone who is willing to stand up to abusers and bullies who- ever they are and not back down. I know Dan Griffey. I know he will represent us with integrity and honor and fight for a bright future for each one of us. It is who he is and who we need. Dinah Griffey Allyn Stop kicking the can Editor, the Journal Tim Sheldon and Lynda Ring Erickson: It is in your hands to make a respon- sible decision! I was going to write a let- ter to show how the Belfair UGA Advisory Committee was set up by the Mason County Board of Commis- sioners to stop the voice of truth! I was going to state how you, Tim and Lynda, ir- responsibly "kicked the can" down the road to the next commission by failing to make a decision before the election, which would in- clude Steve Bloomfield in an essential vote on the Phase 2 sewer issue in Belfair. Instead of doing that, as a person who does not want to wrongfully step out ahead of time and say the wrong thing, I'd rather turn this into a plea to you, Tim and Lynda: please end the controversial and conten- tious issue created by Em- mett Dobey days before he walked out the door of the county for greener pastures. Please vote on the Phase 2 loan offer from Ecology. You have clear evidence before you! The Belfair UGA Ad- visory Committee gave you what you asked for: a recom- mendation you can go to the bank on, and will in the long run for all the money the county will not be spending if you vote the recommenda- tion of the committee. Commissioner Bloomfield has spent time in the trench- es getting to know this issue. He wants to vote on it. He has told me personally, but doesn't believe you are going to bring it up before the elec- tion when he leaves office. Tim Sheldon, you have stat- ed your concerns over Phase 2 loan offer from Ecology. You see other viable options and possibilities of focus that are far more sustain- able approaches to the sewer than Phase 2. Lynda Ring Erickson, if you will read the document presented and look for hard truth, you will find it there. There are no smoke and mirrors, no sales pitch, only facts backed up by credible supporting evi- dence and sound reason that it's time to stop, reassess our direction, get our bearings, then step forward with a sure footing. "Ponder the paths of your feet. Let all your ways be established," an ancient book says. It is wise for us to do that on the sewer project right now! For such a wait- ing period will not hurt the project, only reinforce solid footing so the project can flexibly move forward in the most agile way possible. Bulldozing ahead and plow- ing forward is the old way of doing business in the world. Light, agile, flexible, mobile and lean is the new way to move projects ahead. It's a better model and allows maximum potential to be reached, something we all want for the sewer project. I've said to you before, Tim and Lynda, I don't per- sonally care if you become the hero in this. I don't care. You have the oppor- tunity to do the right thing now by voting on this before the election! I would rather keep my mouth shut, thank you for making a brave decision before an election and let your election chips fall where they may instead of feeling compelled to turn you into villains like oth- ers are quick to do. I don't want to feel compelled to call you out for caving or not responsibly acting as you should. I don't want to do that! Please, bring the Phase 2 loan offer from Ecology before the commis- sion to vote. Let Commis- sioner Bloomfield have his say on it. Finish this chap- ter of Belfair so the new commission and Belfair can start fresh with a clean slate instead of further contention and a new com- mission having just a few days to make an extremely complex and difficult deci- sion! Please don't kick this can down the road to the next commission when it is in the power of your hands to do the right thing now. I ask this of you in a true spirit of humility, as some- one who wants to help the process, not hurt it. John Gunter Belfair Look at the contributions Editor, the Journal What ever happened to investigative journalism? Are the newspapers lazy or politically biased? Denny Hamilton and Lynda Ring Erickson are two candidates that should be held accountable and put before the public for their personal misuse of cam- paign funds. Since Mason County didn't send out voter pam- phlets, I found the PDC (Public Disclosure Commis- sion). Candidates post their contributions and expendi- tures here. I found nepotism, payments to themselves and shady contributions -- none of it reported in the paper. Because they're democrats? I sure hope not. Lynda Ring Erickson (D) is running for legis- lator. She pays her own husband campaign funds for financial management. She took a big contribution from a company she gave a $15-million contract to. The same contract a judge just voided for failure to open it for public bid. How could this go unreported? The worst offender is Denny Hamilton (D) run- ning for Mason County commissioner. A full one- fourth of his cash contribu- tions went right back into Denny or his wife's pocket. He is writing checks like $1,000 to his wife for cam- paign management and paying his wife and himself $1,750 for mileage (yes, mileage). Don't confuse this with gas reimbursement. Denny pays himself that, too. How can they get away with that? Will he try to hire his wife as the new county executive director? After finding the PDC info, it wouldn't surprise me! If the newspapers did their job, these two would never have made it through the primary. Thanks a lot! Renee Hicks Belfair Vote Hamilton Editor, the Journal Some would call me a political geek, and I con- fess, they are likely correct. I have seen many political candidates throw their hats in the ring over the years, but rarely have I seen a candidate as quali- fied for the job as Denny Hamilton, who is running for one of the three open county commissioner seats this year. Denny is well educated and insightful. He has worked in more than 80 countries for the United Nations, the Peace Corps, the World Bank and CARE, often focusing on organiz- ~of~t~th~dit6i ing people, agencies and thi~mp~ig~6~i The companies to develop plans and skills to economically Jo~rn~snot~enhbie improve their communities, i~i~i~ly~b!~h~!! Denny has lived in Mason County for more than 16 yo~itte~ette~ a~d years. Throughout that time he has conducted a variety of community meetings and No~Sge~ra!~Zh~i6h:t5 strategic plans for local or- co~a~u~ ganizations and has served as a fire commissioner for Fire District 2. He has worked tirelessly to delve into and analyze the issues facing the county. He talks to citizens and organiza- tions, and observes all of the various groups and agencies a county commissioner deals with, to determine how our county government can be improved for the citizens of Mason County. He will work with the community to solve problems. I have no doubt Denny will hit the ground running for the people of Mason County. Let's decide to give him the opportunity to serve as our next commis- sioner for District 1. I urge everyone to vote for Denny Hamilton on Nov. 6. I know I will. Sheri Staley Shelton Is Green Diamond a neighbor? Editor, the Journal Is Green Diamond be- ing a good neighbor? If you live in Mason County, you should be interested in this question, as Green Diamond is busy trying to convert for- estland all over the county. The company has worked so diligently to keep its activi- ties secret from the neigh- bors that no one at Lake Nahwatzel -- not even ad- jacent landowners -- knew what it had been up to for a year and a half. The county, inexplicably, seems to be representing only Green Diamond's interests, even though one could expect them to protect not only a precious asset, but citizens as well. Let me describe to you the hearing we had last week on the rezone proposal for Lake Nahwatzeh Friends of Lake Nahwat- zel is made up of summer residents and a few perma- nent homeowners. We are or- dinary people who happen to feel deeply about our homes and the beauty and health of the lake. We care about the wildlife that lives here, the pristine shoreline, the clear water and the rural atmo- sphere. Ordinary people. Green Diamond, on the other hand, does not come to the hearing to represent themselves as neighbors. Green Diamond sends the Seattle law firm Foster- Pepper, with its multiple attorneys, laptop comput- ers and highly paid expert witnesses. Green Diamond hires a firm, Wetland Re- sources, Inc., to survey the wildlife, water, wetlands, etc. Haven't heard of them? They're from Seattle, too. Friends of Lake Nahwatzel gathers its resources the hard way: We hit each oth- er up for funds, and we scan our members for people who have expertise in a needed area: a wildlife biologist, a diver with a water-quality company, a homeowner with knowledge of boating issues, another who speaks about traffic. We are lucky to have a retired profession- al forester to counter Green Diamond's claims that this rezone makes sense and a pilot who donates his time and plane to photograph the wider area from the air. Friends of Lake Nahwat- Zel actually represents the interests of anyone in Ma- son County who is in danger of being bullied by Green Diamond. We did a good job at this hearing. When Green Diamond's big-city lawyer presented his water-quality witness (from California), it was apparent this was a man who testifies for a liv- ing: smooth and glib. But we have passion on our side and our own highly qualified witnesses. Our water-quali- ty expert spends his life un- der water -- western Wash- ington water. Our wildlife biologist (retired, lake resi- dent) has not only a BS and an MA in wildlife biology, but decades of experience as well. He presented indisput- able evidence of the perma- nent harm that will be done to all the species from the lake to the Olympics who depend on the water and the old-growth-like habitat along the north shore. Our forester helped expose the fallacies presented by Green Diamond as justification for taking this land out of forest production. Their rep- resentative stated that they were obligated to find the "highest and best use" for this land. When pressed, he acknowledged that means dollar value. They can get more money if they sell the ]and to a developer. It's all about the money. Green Diamond does not care about its neighbors. It does not care about the spe- cies which will disappear when the old-growth-like forest is cut. It does not care about the fact that the lake is one0f the cleanest in the state, is very shal- low and cannot tolerate the increased runoff inevitable from a development. The Reed family (who owns Green Diamond) apparently no longer cares about being good community partners. They care about the money. And the county is letting them get away with it. You should care about this. You might be next. Elizabeth Livesay Shelton Griffey a rare Editor, the Journal The following quote is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson: "A government big enough to give you ev- erything you need, is a gov- ernment big enough to take away everything you have ..." - regardless of who ut- tered these words, they paint a perfect picture of what ails our country today. Instead of true representative govern- ment, we have an entity that feeds on each and every one of us that offers little and takes much, that dictates what we can and cannot do/ say/own. This is not what the founders envisioned for our country. It's easy to play the blame game, politicians do it all the time -- but we have only ourselves to blame. So what is the answer? We must start voting for true limited government advo- cates. They are a rare breed but I did find a few this elec- tion cycle. One of them is A1- lyn firefighter Daniel Griffey. Dan is running for state representative (Position 1) for the 35th District. I read his website summary on the issues. I liked what he had to say, but what I liked best was his constant reiteration on the need to return to lim- ited government. I 'had the honor to meet Dan recently, and found that he was genu- inely concerned with the direction in which our na- tion is headed. I made my decision then and there to support him. I hope you will consider doing the same. Dawn Peet Shelton Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 - Page A-5