Well, after months and months of anticipation, Election Day is finally upon us.
On Tuesday, all ballots must be either at the Island County Elections office in Coupeville, in one of several ballot boxes scattered across Whidbey Island, or in the mail and postmarked no later than Nov. 5.
Is it really Halloween again already? A full year has passed? It seems impossible, that it was just yesterday that I was tramping down chilly October streets with my then-11-year-old and his pals.
Yet tomorrow, waves of little ghosts and goblins will once again descend on neighborhoods across Whidbey Island with the same mission — to trick or treat.
The Langley City Council convened this week to discuss the future of recreational marijuana retail stores within city limits. Elected officials heard from constituents, had a healthy discussion and ended up with a clear position: the city will not try to block, temporarily or permanently, the establishment of such enterprises.
This is a good thing and the council should be congratulated for moving boldly ahead with the incorporation of Initiative 502, last year’s voter-approved measure that legalizes the recreational use of marijuana.
By Ed Jenkins
Last week the Record gave endorsements for the election. But some of the statements made about me and my positions are not accurate and I have been given the opportunity to give my side.
First I was criticized for not volunteering my time at the Port. I asked the editor if he knew of any such volunteer positions, he did not. For years I pleaded with the port to create citizen volunteer groups to bring in the experience our community offers, to no avail. Perhaps with such citizen input the Port would not need to hire so many expensive consultants and have cost over-runs. Curt seemingly took my pleas for accountability with grants to heart. The Port included the necessity for grant applicants to include how the money would actually provide economic benefit. Great, except that only one request provided any such information and the rest still got the money, oh well. So where are the volunteer opportunities I was criticized for missing?
Following a brief experiment with consolidation with its sister newspapers in Coupeville, The Record found its way back to South Whidbey last year.
In Langley Village, we discovered a great location, signed a one-year lease and found ourselves welcomed back into the community fold.
General election ballots were mailed out Wednesday and the South Whidbey Record’s votes are in.
Beginning with the toughest endorsement of this November’s contested races, Rocco Gianni should be the next member of the South Whidbey School Board. A long-time teacher with 41 years of experience, the vast majority of which were spent in this community, he has the professional know-how, excitement and connection with students to make a valuable and lasting contribution.
I believe watchdogs have their place in government. Too many people are apathetic about their government, local or otherwise, and that’s a sad condition of our society.