Editor,

The so-called Citizens of Ebey Reserve, or COER, has been trying to drum up support in Port Townsend, Langley and the San Juan Islands in their scheme to close Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and eliminate more than 50 percent of the county’s jobs, businesses, property value and tax revenue.

Washington state places this economic value at 88 percent of the entire county, according to the Office of Financial Management for the state.

Now, they recently announced a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will try to meet with Congressional and Pentagon leaders with their “close the base” message.

We have more than 10,000 pro-jobs, pro-Navy signatures on a hard copy petition and Facebook — they have less than 100.

Their leadership is comprised of rich, retired, recent transplants — they have no regard for your job, business or home value.

It is time for all of us to weigh in with our city, county, Navy and Congressional leaders with this simple message — COER is a fringe group, Team Whidbey stands fully behind NAS Whidbey and the aviators that go into harm’s way for us.

Don’t listen to COER.

Scott Gray Smith

Oak Harbor