After reading the Whidbey News-Times on May 10, referring to the opening of state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen’s new office in Oak Harbor, and her denial that it was not for political reasons, my question is this: Do the Democrats in this state do anything that is not political? The only reason the office was opened is to cover the tracks of this ferry boat mess.

Another point is the amount of taxpayer money used to make this possible. $58,000 is a healthy sum. Gina Bull, her representative, stated that 15 senators have a district office and we the taxpayers should look at this as a normal thing in government. Just taking the numbers from the paper at $58,000 apiece, with Sen. Haugen’s office there would be 16 total offices with a total spending of $928,000 a year. This is quite a sum for just district offices. Could this be why our taxes are high and getting higher? Surely this is not political!

Another point is Sen. Haugen getting this money from the allocated money for the new ferries? But after spending $5 million on studies for the Keystone to Port Townsend ferry route, new office expense is not really such a big deal, now is it?

Gene A. Skallerud

Oak Harbor