Elections: Write-in is our only option

Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, August 28, 2002

Last fall Marilee Black, the elected Island County clerk made the decision to retire, although she still had a year of her term left to serve.

So the process of filling the vacated position went to county commissioners. They interviewed all who applied to serve out the remaining county clerk term.

One applicant was Sharon Franzen, chief deputy clerk with 25-plus years working in the county clerk office. But she wasn’t selected. Jane Koetje, associated with the old Koetje county commissioners political machine, was.

Here, we taxpayers took it in the shorts. Sharon Franzen could have served out the vacated term with very litle cost to the county. But, Mrs. Koetje had to attend training at county expense to learn the territory.

Two weeks ago Mrs. Koetje fired Sharon Franzen. This is an option the county clerk has, to choose their chief deputy clerk and I have no qualm with that. But, Sharon’s dismissal was dirty pool, in that Mrs. Koetje waited long after the filing date closed for candidates to file. She had to have known that she was going to dismiss Ms. Franzen.

Sharon Franzen had given considerable thought about running for Island County clerk, but did not believe she could raise the monies needed to run against Mrs. Koetje, so she chose not to run.

I am asking voters of Island County to join me in telling the county commissioners we want the best qualified person in “our” county clerk. That person is Sharon Franzen. When you vote, use the write-in space and vote for Sharon Franzen for Island County Clerk.

ARTHUR MORRIS

Oak Harbor