Being a county commissioner is not a glamorous job. It’s a lot of work if you want to do it right. You’re signing numerous contracts for everything from drainage ditches to mental health services, bargaining with unions, administering a $65 million budget and trying to lay tracks for the future, all while keeping citizens informed, involved and not after your throat.

So our choice in the commissioner race is an articulate middle of the road incumbent with 30 years of active community involvement whose tenure has been marked by reasonableness, an open mind, welcoming to all citizens and professionalism.

His opponent has been here for three years with no previous community involvement and minimal professional management experience before successfully initiating a local Tea party organization with the stated goal of eliminating progressive Democrats from county government.

In my view its hard enough for us islanders to get along and forge agreements that respond to the challenges of modern life. It would seem the last thing we need is someone driving a thorny wedge between us and exploiting our differences. I’m voting for John Dean.

Dean Enell

South Whidbey