To the editor:

Perhaps Jean Goodfellow could take time to check her facts before accusing Helen Price Johnson of raising taxes.

Where could Helen have done such a thing? As a citizen of Island County? Or maybe as president of the school board? WRONG! In this county, neither a private citizen nor the school board has authority to raise taxes.

Instead, under Helen’s leadership, she and her school board balanced our school district’s budget, which is another one of the talents she will bring as our new commissioner.

She and her board also worked with the school administrators to discover unfunded educational needs in South Whidbey’s schools. They asked the voters to approve levies to improve the schools. The voters understood and voted to do so.

Goodfellow’s “conflict of interest” charge is also unfounded since Helen’s husband’s company only builds family homes , no large developments or government contracts, and the company requires its clients to go through the permitting process.

I think the knowledge Helen has of the building community on South Whidbey will serve her well in making informed decisions about land use and development, something that has been lacking. Her profound sense of fairness will also guide her in her obligations to serve all the citizens of our county, not just the few we all know from past years.

JoAnn Kane

Clinton