THE FOLLOWING LETTER and COMMENTS
WERE POSTED IN "ORCAS ISSUES"
Comment #6 has been removed again.It was comment #3 at about 2 PM on April 9, 2013
Who says the "liberal left" doesn't suppress dialog.
Check this link now and you will find there are only 5 comments, not 6.
The following is a copy/past taken this morning before Margie Doyle, Editor or
Lin McNulty, Managing Editor remove the comment for the second time.
April 8th, 2013
Experience
counts! Prior to being elected to the county council 2 years ago, Jamie
Stephens was a Port Commissioner, a substitute teacher at Lopez School, a board
member of several local non-profits including the Lopez Community Land Trust
and Lopez Island Family Resource Center and taught business classes to future
entrepreneurs using his extensive business experiences. He has been a local
community leader for all of the 17 years he and his family have lived on Lopez
Island.
Jamie brings a
fresh and positive approach to the council and has been instrumental in
resolving the county’s solid waste issues, developing innovative economic
development opportunities and uses his business background to control the
county budget. He works to protect our communities’ environment and at the same
time helps farmers find new ways to market their products.
Jamie Stephens
deserves to be reelected!
Tom Cowan
Lopez Island
Lopez Island
April 8th, 2013
6 Comments on Letter
to the Editor: Stephens Has Experience That Counts
Peg Manning says:
Experience
counts if it produces results. Both Pratt and Stephens had the opportunity to
move the County forward during the reign of the “old council.” Both have
maintained the status quo of spending beyond the County’s means. Both claim
credit for virtually every positive development in the county, yet the solid
waste issues are not yet resolved (and Lopez and Orcas pretty much did their
own work to get where they are); the County budget is hardly “under control”–it
has a poison pill of 3% growth annually that will require substantial tax hikes
and soon. Shops and businesses in Eastsound and Friday Harbor continue to
close, with little action by County government to reverse that trend. County
management continues to frustrate County employees and citizens alike.
Meanwhile, the old guard continues to propose new spending without methodically
re-evaluating the base $40 million we already spend annually or analyzing the
efficiency of the delivery of services.
I
want representatives who will ask basic questions and challenge the fundamental
assumptions that have led us to this mire.
I
am voting for Brian McClerren, a smart, young man with the perspective of
younger residents who are trying to find ways to make a living for their
families in these islands; Bob Jarman, who has lived here for a long time,
managing businesses that had to operate within real budgets, making hard
decisions, and living with the consequences; and Rick Hughes, who understands
the challenges of operating successful island enterprises, and has committed to
focusing the County on customer service.
Bob
and Rick were each elected last November and have earned the opportunity to
serve full terms. This is Brian’s first effort at public office, and he has
impressed both young and old among us, not only with his obvious intelligence,
but more important, with his honest, open, and genuine caring for the people of
the County.
Vote
for Jarman, Hughes and McClerren to give our County a fresh start!
- Madrona Murphy says:
I
agree with Tom Cowan and have been particularly impressed with Jamie Stephens’
professionalism as a County Council member. Jamie respects the importance of
the office, and understands that disagreements or criticism of his actions are
political rather than personal. I’ve been able to civilly discuss my concerns
with Jamie and he has continued to act as a professional even when I’ve
disagreed with him. While I’m convinced that Jamie is a good candidate in his
own right, I’m particularly happy to vote for him in light of Brian’s
comparative inexperience and lack of professionalism. My interactions with
Brian have convinced me that he still needs to learn not to treat political
disagreements as personal, a trait that is deeply troubling in a politician. I
am also a young person trying to make a living in the islands and frankly,
Brian’s perspective is foreign to me–I do not believe that he understands the
needs of people like me, or how crucial it is to be a good steward of our
unique environment and I don’t think he has the experience to run our
government. I hope young people in the islands will join me in voting for Jamie
Stephens.
- DON PENCIL says:
Council
votes 5-1 to put off CAO implementation until March of 2014. Stevens is the
only one to vote no.
Once again, he is out of the loop and on the wrong side.
Once again, he is out of the loop and on the wrong side.
- Peg Manning says:
I
seem to have met a different Brian McClerren than Ms. Murphy reportedly has.
Yes,
Brian is refreshingly “inexperienced” in professional party politics. Thank
goodness! He is in no way “unprofessional,” however. And he, of all the
candidates, seems least likely to take positions on County issues personally.
While some candidates spend considerable time complaining about how they are
portrayed, Brian focuses on the issues.
He
is very smart, very hard-working and amazingly energetic, yet is humble and
kind and open to differing opinions. He analyzes issues based on his own
internal values, not a predictable agenda.
We
have been in Brian’s company on Orcas on a number of occasions when people have
come up to thank him for running and to congratulate him on his excellent
presentations at forums. He has made quite an impression here, and I hope that
he attains his goal of representing the young and “unconnected” in the islands.
- Clyde duke says:
I
am VERY impressed by both Brian’s maturity (not governed buy solar revolutions)
and his clear direction of critical issues that our community is facing.
Let the best canadate win!!!
Let the best canadate win!!!
- DON PENCIL says:
The
term “lack of professionalism” is a poor choice as Brian is professional and
will be so as council person. Your disagreement with what kind of professional
is noted. The “experience” and “professionalism” that of Stephens brought SJC
has rendered a CAO that is and will continue to prove a disaster for all. Brian
McClerren has been studying and understanding the CAO whereas it appears
Stephens is still clueless concerning it. Brian frequently points out obvious
and major problems with the CAO that Stephens sees no problem with. This young
man is sharp. He will be good and “professional” for the county. The old guard
has unfortunately proven unworthy brought us to this state of being.
As for, “to learn not to treat political disagreements as personal,” it was Stephens who, in last Saturday’s forum, whined about his “bad press.” Stephens, Pratt and Byers have received a lot of accurate bad press and have done nothing but take it personally. McClerren, Jarman and Hughes are getting excellent press and for good reason. They are the “right choice” candidates coming to the table with excellent, new fresh working solutions to “real” problems. Note also they have no “bad press.”
Stephens, Pratt and Byers have certainly earned what they are getting. Stevens and Pratt, cut from the same cloth. Pratt got bounced last year by her own district. Now time for Stevens to go too
As for, “to learn not to treat political disagreements as personal,” it was Stephens who, in last Saturday’s forum, whined about his “bad press.” Stephens, Pratt and Byers have received a lot of accurate bad press and have done nothing but take it personally. McClerren, Jarman and Hughes are getting excellent press and for good reason. They are the “right choice” candidates coming to the table with excellent, new fresh working solutions to “real” problems. Note also they have no “bad press.”
Stephens, Pratt and Byers have certainly earned what they are getting. Stevens and Pratt, cut from the same cloth. Pratt got bounced last year by her own district. Now time for Stevens to go too
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