Editor,

At this time in our country, when many Americans feel frustrated at the dysfunction of our federal government and its lack of action and inability to compromise, some of us in Island County would like to believe we can rise above this level of incompetence. It may be next to impossible for our state and federal representatives, in this age of big PAC money, to represent citizens here in our communities. We expect more from our local representatives here in Island County.

This brings me to the issue of our Island County commissioners requesting the resignation of planning Director Dave Wechner, by all accounts a professional admired by his staff and many citizens who worked with him. At a time when the county is working hard to fulfill its responsibility for updating the comprehensive land use plan, not an easy task, I dearly hope it was for just reason and proper cause that this man was asked to resign.

That said, I now want to ask our commissioners: Why now, a critical time in meeting the county’s legal obligation to update the comprehensive plan, would you restructure the planning department and ask the director to resign? I trust it was not for partisan reasons.

JO MARIE RICHMAN

Langley