When we hear about loss of confidence in the Island County treasurer’s office and continuing serious turnover of employees in that office it is time for serious consideration of a new direction; all of which is permeating the political/elective scenario of the up-coming elections and it is time for questions from concerned citizens.

What is wrong? Is it possible that a 16-year continuance, short of keeping pace with computerized improvements in the management and educational fields, is a causative factor in treasurer office faults?

Is it an ignorance of management policy in personnel direction or do we have a departmental direction that fails to step aside for modernization of our local money management?

Elected liberal officials in our national government regard our tax payments as their money and allocate it as they see fit; are we entering a similar phase in county operations where department heads think themselves indispensable and the only source of wisdom in money management?

In view of the unchanging shortfalls in education in our public school systems versus the rapid advance in micro-management devices, should we continue to accept the current disregard of improvement of efficiency and productivity in our treasurer’s office through the increased use of technology?

Changes to effect improvements in all these regards will come through the skilled actions of solidly experienced persons as Marty Matthews. In the growing population of Island County we cannot settle for anything less than his modern educational assets for improving treasurer’s functions.

JOHN COATNEY

Camano Island