Editor,

We expect elected officials to be truthful and to exercise a strong work ethic guided by integrity and honesty. Taking credit for the work of others is deceitful.

Rick Hannold falsely takes personal credit for Barnum Point land acquisitions, saving Island Transit and protecting the environment.

In truth, he opposes further public open space acquisitions, hamstrings the popular Conservation Futures Fund, approved Clean Water Act violations and supports draining wetlands and unchecked clear-cuts.

Most egregious is Hannold’s false claim that he led the ban on finfish net pens in Island County. Nothing could be further from the truth. The heavy lifting for this monumental accomplishment took place during my tenure as county commissioner, well before Mr. Hannold took office. His contribution is his signature on the final document once the arduous state agency process was complete.

What he can take credit for are the back room amendments he approved allowing our public beaches to be taken over by commercial shellfish operations, and for diminishing marine protections.

State law requires the “highest and best use” of public resources, but it also requires “no net loss of ecosystem services.” Over 330 public comments were submitted during the Shoreline Master Plan update.

No one supported finfish net pens. While these comments were invaluable, the linchpin was the voluminous peer reviewed science submitted by Steve Erickson of Whidbey Environment Action Network demonstrating that the state was not using “best available science” in their interpretation of net loss.

Erickson showed that finfish net pens are an environmental and wild fish disaster due to viruses, sea lice, escapement, antibiotics, dyed food and sea floor dead zones.

We need county commissioners who protect the interests of the whole, offer creative and effective solutions, are not vindictive and do not take credit for other people’s good work.

We need Janet St. Clair.

Angie Homola

Island County Commissioner 2009-2012