Editor,

We support Georgia Gardner for Whidbey General Hospital commissioner. She has contributed to our community her entire adult life. Her public service includes environmental and historical preservation, consumer protection and helping those less fortunate. The Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church recently appointed her to their building committee. In that role she oversees the acquisition, decommissioning and remodeling of Puget Sound churches.

Georgia works with Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (CADA) and the Island County Historical Society. She assists fellow certified public accountants during tax season and covers their vacations. She has helped small businesses get started and grow profitable as well as taught seminars and appeared as an expert witness in court cases. Georgia has been a dedicated commissioner for Whidbey General Hospital since 2012.

She is a CPA (as well as a chartered accountant in Canada). She has been a business professional for 35 years. As the owner of her own full service accounting firm she worked successfully with clients on both sides of the border. In 2001 Georgia won the Washington Society of CPAs’ President’s Award, its most prestigious accolade. She served in the Washington State Legislature in both the Senate and the House (1996 to 2003) representing the 42nd District. As a legislator, she received awards for her work with mental health, low-income housing, public health and the developmentally disabled.

Georgia’s opponent has done a little of this and a little of that, but never actually stuck with anything it seems. The biography on his website (www.electborncampaign.com) is vague and subjective giving very little specific and verifiable information on his education and previous employment. The profile page on his blog (www.wgh

blogger.com) is blank except to inform us that he is male. His LinkedIn page lists only one employer. For a person who claims to be a “transparency advocate” his background is very opaque. In order to evaluate a person’s ideas one needs to know the person’s credentials and if his claims to expertise are valid.

As a hospital commissioner, Georgia Gardner is a trained and talented asset for Whidbey General. Her opponent leaves us with many unanswered questions and raises serious doubts about what he would really contribute to the board. Given this contrast, the choice is clear — we need to keep Georgia Gardner as our hospital commissioner for district #2.

BOB and MERRAN GRAY

Langley