Editor,

As a former Island County commissioner for nearly 15 years, I want to publicly thank retiring Superior Court judges Vickie I. Churchill and Alan R. Hancock for their decades of service. Their presence on the bench will be missed.

But we do have a wonderful opportunity to continue this high standard of excellence by electing Chris Skinner, running unopposed for Judge Hancock’s seat, and Carolyn Cliff, who is opposed as she seeks to replace Judge Churchill.

I have known Carolyn since she moved to Whidbey Island and opened her law practice some 30 years ago. I am familiar with some of her work, as well as the work she did for the county.

There are four reasons why Carolyn will make an excellent judge: she knows the law; she is honest; in essence, she already is doing the job through her two decades of service as a judge pro tem; and, perhaps most important to me, she has handled all the different kinds of cases heard in Island County Superior Court.

This is in stark contrast to her opponent.

Carolyn has a history in Island County, and that knowledge also gives her an added advantage.

Mike Shelton

Langley