Political dirt poured out of my Whidbey Island mailbox last weekend, in the form of hit pieces denouncing state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen from something called the “Good Government Leadership Council” in Centralia, Wash. Candidate Barbara Bailey has to bear responsibility for these disgusting and extreme attack flyers that are disrespectful — no matter what party you claim as yours. There are no issues here — just attacks. Aren’t we tired of this? This is trash mail directly from the state senate Republican pack!

Haugen is a longtime target of often-false mailings by people who hide their identities. Four years ago, anti-Haugen mailings bore the name of “Citizens Actions Group.” The Building Industry Association of Washington once used three different type fonts — all with the same Mount Vernon P.O. Box — to attack her.

The latest hit takes a familiar path, saying that Mary Margaret has for 30 years been “our voice in Olympia” but has “changed.”

“Our voice?”

The return address is in Centralia, 85 miles as the crow flies from the 10th District. The “Good Government Leadership Council” has just one contributor, something called “The Leadership Council.”

What is The Good Government Leadership Council? It is the soft-money political action committee of state senate Republicans. Has Haugen been their voice in Olympia, who has “lately changed?” Obviously Mary Margaret has not represented senate Republicans — she’s a moderate-to-conservative Democrat who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and the Agriculture Committee, which is important to us here in Central Whidbey. She has done a great job representing all of our interests here on Whidbey Island — no matter what party — and can be counted on to speak her own mind — not the party lingo.

Maryon Attwood
Coupeville