I am writing because I heard something that angered me today, Sept. 2. I grew up in Oak Harbor and was given strong moral values as a child and thought that this town was a place that had a great sense of integrity.
What I heard today appalled me.
A woman by the name of Sharon Franzen was relieved of her position as the chief deputy clerk for Island County. The woman who had the position of county clerk was appointed to finish out this position until election time as this position is an elected one. Now it is my understanding that Sharon’s position is an appointed one by the county clerk. I think Sharon was originally going to run for this position, but decided to finish out her years with Island County and retire as she was very close. Needless to say, this other person waited until it was too late to enter the race for the county clerk position and then terminated Sharon.
Sharon Franzen has worked for the county for years. I have known her my entire life as she is my mother’s best friend and I have great respect for her. I don’t know all the circumstances behind her termination, but would like to encourage everyone to write her in come election day on the ballot. She is honest, hardworking and does have morals.
This person may have been in her legal right to terminate Sharon Franzen, but in my book, it was unethical. I sure wouldn’t be voting for that kind of person. After everything that has gone on in our country lately, I think I would want someone I could trust working for my tax money. I would not be able to live with myself, if I knew that I had stripped someone of all they had in their life, to benefit myself.
This is my very first letter to the editor of a paper. I have sat back long enough in my life and watched things go on that I felt were wrong. We have the right to speak out and that is exactly what I intend to do for the rest of my life. I no longer live on the island, but it is still the place I was raised and still keep in touch with the happenings around the area.
Jennifer Tarr
Minnesota
