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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