Editor,

In a naked misuse of power, Island County commissioners Jill Johnson and Rick Hannold punished the people of Coupeville after the Town Council drafted comments for the Navy EIS telling why more Growler flights should not be added to their noise-shattered town.

For this impertinence by their Town Council, the two commissioners denied the tax-paying citizens of Coupeville a $600,000 grant from rural county economic development funds to improve a community green open space in the town.

The funds come from state sales taxes that are returned to the counties and administered by the commissioners.

The shocking thing is that Johnson and Hannold admit openly and proudly that they did this to punish the town they call “anti-Navy.” Johnson feels punched in the face by Coupeville, so she’s punching back. Wouldn’t you?

Hannold says, “It’s a poor use of tax dollars to support a town that is hostile toward the economic driver of the county,” meaning the Navy.

Let the Navy do whatever it wants, Coupeville, without bothering it with petty concerns about your health, your drinking water, your quality of life. Or else.

And if town Councilwoman Pat Powell, director of the Whidbey-Camano Land Trust, applies for a Conservation Futures Fund grant for the land trust, Hannold says, “I would be lying if I said it (her participation in the EIS comments) wouldn’t be at the back of my mind.”

When a public official can use his power to punish a whole town for the actions of a few, without fear of being kicked out of office, and threatens to do it again if he has the opportunity,

Trumpism has come to Island County.

Ann Adams

Oak Harbor