LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | Election needs more coverage

Published 2:34 pm Friday, August 3, 2012

To the editor:

Regarding the July 21 article, “District 1 candidates face off in Clinton,” I am sorely disappointed. I know as much now as I did before reading the article, which is very little.

Being new to Whidbey Island/Clinton, my family and I would love to do our civic duty and wisely choose a county commissioner, however, this is next to impossible given the type of coverage of the candidates, not to mention Washington state’s new system of publishing candidate information online.

When there are more than two candidates willing to step up to the plate and be counted, does anyone need the same political song and dance?

As for navigating online to the Washington state election website to learn about the candidates, how many voters use a computer, 70 to 75 percent, which translates into 25 to 30 percent who do not use a computer?

I venture the percentage of uninformed “alleged computer literate” voters unable to navigate to the candidate web data is equal or greater to those who do not use computers.

Do the candidates represent those who can afford a computer or practical understanding to surf the web?

This is an election to vote for an Island County commissioner whose responsibility and service to all the community must be solid in content and integrity.

The county commissioner’s role is to facilitate and provide a firm foundation for local citizens to live a good quality of life, positive employment, stable commerce, the island community’s goals and visions and navigate the numerous day-to-day activities in government and the private sector.

South Whidbey Record, give yourself credit for being a critical service to the community elections; publish five columns of content on every county commissioner candidate in the next issue.

John Hayes

Clinton