Editor,

After Aug. 16, the absolute, incredible failure of Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson to propose amendments to Commissioner Jill Johnson’s resolution about alleged health impacts from Outlying Field Coupeville showed a failure to lead. Commissioner Price Johnson speaks of “common ground” but a failure to accept an invitation to engage in the parliamentary process to improve Commissioner Jill Johnson’s resolution is an absolute, incredible failure to be a parliamentarian on the Board of Health.

A failure to lead equally exists in regard to sensitive negotiations around the concrete barriers around OLF Coupeville. According to recently released public records, Commissioner Price Johnson, speaking on behalf of Island County government until the Island County commissioners pass a resolution on the subject, has perceptively demanded no historic education as part of the mitigation of the “adverse impact” of concrete barriers around OLF Coupeville.

So I guess we can repeat the same tragic history of fellow American citizens made unaware and unappreciative of OLF Coupeville too? I really resent the idea of repeating history so another U.S. District Court judge can decide whether or not the safety of U.S. Navy sailors and the unity of military families outweighs the sleep patterns of folks remaining next to OLF Coupeville by choice after four years to take permanent action to eliminate alleged health risk — and failure to win amendments to now two resolutions regarding OLF Coupeville since then by Commissioner Price Johnson. In the case of aircraft carrier landings and secure spots where those landings are practiced, failure is not an option.

Furthermore, if OLF Coupeville is endangered as OLF was in the late 1980s by Whidbey Islanders for a Sound Environment, or WISE, and again in the 2010s by COER; then all of NAS Whidbey Island is at risk by COER. Please remember this when you vote, when you make your campaign donations, and when the Draft EIS process begins — community complacency helped WISE come terrifyingly close to closing NAS Whidbey Island and helps COER mislead the contractors doing the Navy’s EIS into EA-18G Growler airfield operations.

With the above cumulative evidence, I have no choice as OLF Coupeville’s chief defender but to endorse with reservation Gary Wray for Island County Commissioner. Better Gary Wray than no leader at all.

Joe Kunzler

Skagit County