Island County candidate cries foul over missing words

A mistake in the Island County voter's pamphlet that was sent to overseas voters for the primary election has candidate Angie Homola fuming.

Homola, the Democratic challenger in the race for the District 2 seat on the Island County board of commissioners, said her candidate's statement was cut short by 33 words.

Ballots and photocopies of the voter's guide were sent out to military and overseas voters last week. Homola said she discovered the mistake when her husband, a Navy reservist, received his ballot.

Homola raised the error as an issue during a campaign rally in Langley on Monday, and said it was a sign of a lack of accountability in county government.

The mistake was ironic, she said.

"The part that got cut off was about accountability in government," Homola said.

Homola also said Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider refused to meet with her to discuss the error.

Crider said that wasn't the case, and that she agreed to meet with Homola today or Wednesday.

"I accept complete responsibility for the error and offer my apology to Mrs. Homola for the omission," Crider said.

"We erred, we admitted it, and we took corrective action immediately," she added.

"My office took immediate action to correct this oversight by mailing the entire last page in which the error occurred to all military voters who received ballots late last week," Crider said.

With only two candidates in the District 2 race, both Homola and McDowell will advance to the general election in November.

Contact South Whidbey Record Editor Brian Kelly at editor@southwhidbeyrecord.com.

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