Editor,

We strongly urge all Island County voters to join us in voting to re-elect Rick Felici as our Island County sheriff.

This is why:

– Rick has shown during the past four years as our Island County sheriff how with his many years of administrative experience he has led his department with a strong, dynamic and yet calm, level-headed approach — dealing with some very trying times for law enforcement during an unprecedented pandemic.

– He has the proven ability to work across party lines to build programs, not just in the sheriff’s office, but programs to effect public safety such as opioid / fentanyl outreach workers, mental health professionals who work every day and night with deputies on the streets of our county.

– Rick has built very good working relationships with the other elected officials here locally, in Olympia, as well as with the sheriffs and police chiefs in the surrounding counties — which is critical.

– He has increased training for all deputies related to de-escalation of force, leadership and safety.

– Rick’s opponent has no administrative experience — has spent his entire career on patrol — and has no experience in the areas of investigation, the jail or civil division issues, which are crucial to the job.

– Rick has run a very clean campaign focusing on issues and his qualifications.

– He has and will continue to focus on being the most effective sheriff for our county and trying to provide all of us in the community with the services we want and need, not on politics.

In sum… we feel and know that if re-elected Rick Felici will provide us, the citizens of Island County, with the essential experience, leadership and non-partisan approach to the job of sheriff that we all need and want.

Wayne and Lynn Flaaten

Greenbank