If you follow local politics, it will come as no surprise that Republican candidates don’t get many votes on the south part of the island. What may indeed surprise you is that this time around many District 1 Republicans also are ready to vote for Mr. Bakke’s opponent, Helen Price Johnson, for Island County commissioner, District 1.

Collectively, our three county commissioners have shown themselves to be uninterested in either enforcing the rules within the Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve or preserving public access to the beach in Greenbank. Individually, Mr. Bakke has taken it one step further, personally intervening on behalf of a prominent supporter in the county planning process in order to allow the construction of an illegal structure in the Reserve.

Keeping Whidbey Island the special place we have all chosen as home is neither a Republican nor a Democratic issue. Likewise, Republicans and Democrats agree that county commissioners shouldn’t be free to manipulate county government for the benefit of their friends.

By all accounts, Ms. Johnson is a fine candidate. In spite of (or because of) her party affiliation, when you vote I’m asking you to fill in the box next to her name. If you can’t quite bring yourself to do that, I understand completely. In that case, please leave your ballot blank for the Commissioner District 1 race. Thanks in advance for your help.

Mark Willstatter

Coupeville