Letter: Hannold should be reelected as commissioner
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Editor,
In the final EIS, the Navy has appropriately balanced flight ops between Ault Field and OLF – with OLF returning to historical averages for carrier landing practices (it provides quality carrier landing training for Navy pilots).
Meanwhile, the anti-Navy fringe continues their quest to “remove Growlers from the Northwest,” which would close the base. Let’s review their rants:
“The Growler will destroy property values.” Nope. Properties around OLF and Ault Field doubled from 2012 (start of full Growler Ops to present). Property values grew in parallel with base growth which drives 88 percent of county economic activity per blue chip Washington state study.
“Carrier Landing Practice will be at a historic high with EIS.” Nope. Simply moving back to historical averages in the ’70s and ‘80s. 24K ops per year is far less then OLF Fentress (~80K) which has much population.
“Growlers will destroy Ebey’s Reserve.” Nope. Ebey’s Reserve was created in 1978 to “preserve history” which, per NPS website, includes the OLF. NPS conducted their own EIS and found no Navy impact (at the apex of operations). Navy has spent over $100K buying development easements to protect the Reserve.
“Can find another OLF like they did in North Carolina.” Nope. Navy has not been successful in acquiring a new OLF for many decades – just won’t happen even after a 10-year NEPA effort. Moreover, building a new base costs $2 billion.
The anti-Navy fringe will likely file a property devaluation lawsuit – that is their right, but, based on historical data and actual facts, they will have an uphill climb. The prior lawsuit went nowhere as a former fringe leader cashed out of his property at the doubled values.
They will also pump money into political campaigns to continue their shenanigans – per the WA PDC website, prominent anti-Navy leaders have contributed major dollars to Janet St. Clair (running for county commissioner) and have provided endorsements on her website. No surprise that St. Clair has been sympathetic to this group as evidenced by a WEAN meeting captured on the politiblong wind.blogspot.com website.
The silent majority needs to take their action to the ballot box – protect your property values, economy, jobs and quality Navy training.
Vote for Rick Hannold.
Scott Smith
Anacortes
