Oust Haugen for ferry failures

Ferries are our marine highways. Ferries need to be repaired, and sooner or later they will need to be replaced. Mary Margaret Haugen is chairwoman of the Transportation Senate Committee. This summer, she “surprised” the governor and hundreds of daily passengers by having a ferry crisis.

It was totally avoidable! All vehicles need repairs. Mary Margaret Haugen should know this. The 10th District passengers were not the only people who were inconvenienced by her carelessness. Mary Margaret Haugen needs to be replaced..

Linda Haddon is a successful businesswoman. She was asked to serve on the committee to save NAS Whidbey from closing. The committee succeeded. Linda Haddon can handle finances correctly. Balance Sheets should and do have a category for repair and replacement of equipment. If Linda Haddon had been on the Transportation Committee, the ferry system would not have gone down.

I urge all of you to vote for Linda Haddon for state Senate.

Marilyn J. Albert
Oak Harbor


Cast votes according to the facts

For some time now, I have been reading passionate letters to the editor regarding the election we are about to have. I am reminded of the old saying, “My mind is made up; don’t confuse me with the facts.”

Your paper could render a great public service by publishing a matrix within the next few weeks on the national candidates versus issues outlining the voting records and their proposed programs. This matrix should be fact-checked by a small committee of both Democrats and Republicans.

I am sure most of your readers would applaud this effort. I am also sure 20 percent will disregard the facts and vote on emotion. But even if that is the case and the remaining 80 percent voted on the issues, that would be about a 60 percent improvement over what I see now.

Verney Brown
Anacortes


Haugen’s longtime ferry fight

It’s very easy for political opponents of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen to play “armchair general” and talk about how she could have done this or that when it comes to Washington Ferries. Where were these critics before?

They weren’t listening to Mary Margaret, who was pushing Washington State Ferries to change its shipbuilding priorities to replace our oldest boats first. She sent an e-mail newsletter to her constituents telling us about the need for new vessels before the Steel Electrics were pulled from service. That was when opposition was still saying we were spending too much money on ferries and not enough on freeways.

Long before special-interest groups staged phony call-in town-hall teleconferences to help her opponent, Mary Margaret was working on legislation to reform Washington State Ferries. As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, she was able to make sure that we got a temporary substitute ferry as fast as possible, and expedient funding for new ferries to replace the retired Steel Electrics.

In addition to simply addressing the needs of the Keystone-Port Townsend run, Mary Margaret has been focused on the big picture of WSF reform and accountability long before her opponents had anything to say on the subject. Her position on the Joint Transportation Committee led to the establishment of the 2007 Joint Transportation Committee Ferry Study, and she fought in the Legislature to sponsor and pass a bill to make sure that WSF adopted the study’s findings.

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen has done more than simply talk about improving things at WSF. She has made sure it has a clear mission to reform the way it does business. Her experience, 10 years in the state House and 15 years in the state Senate, is needed now more than ever.

Re-elect Sen. Haugen.

Trudy J. Sundberg
Oak Harbor


Kids need PUD to fluoridate

Kids are my life. I am a pediatric medical assistant with three children of my own, and I care about the health and safety of our community’s kids. We have an incredible opportunity in our midst to improve the health of our kids, and we are slowly letting it slip away.

If someone told you that for just pennies per year, you could reduce your children’s cavities and dental disease (in adults and seniors, too!) by 40 percent, would you do it? It’s not a fantasy — it’s a reality that our PUD must take action on: community water fluoridation.

Didn’t we vote on this nearly two years ago? What is taking so long? Our children’s health is suffering because our elected officials are putting up artificial roadblock after roadblock. It’s just not fair to our kids.

Dental disease is the most common, chronic disease of early childhood — five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Washington’s 1-year-olds are five times as likely, and its 2-year-olds are more than twice as likely, as children nationwide to have dental decay.

We all know that dental disease is infectious, progressive and often painful. Poor oral health has been linked to diabetes, heart disease and other long-term health problems. Poor dental health among children has been related to poor performance in school, poor social relationships and less success in later life.

Skagit PUD, please move forward with fluoridation — your community’s children are waiting.

Sarah A.Wahl
Sedro-Woolley


Hwy. 20 roundabout a bad idea

I just want to voice my opinion on the so-called roundabout that they want to put on Highway 20 in Sedro-Woolley. I think that it is the most stupid thing that they could ever do.

There are a lot of transfer trucks, logging trucks and construction trucks — not to mention emergency vehicles — that go through there. Putting a roundabout in that area, or any other area on Highway 20, is asking for trouble.

There are enough accidents along that highway already; we don’t need any more. And if they put that roundabout in, there will be more accidents. Just leave well enough alone.

Leave the roundabouts in Rome, Italy and Europe. If you want to drive through one, then go there. We don’t need them here. 

Cindy J. White
Sedro-Woolley


Eek! Perhaps PSE ads are right

Regarding PSE ads and posters:

Sign a blank check and hand it to the giant government known as Skagit County? Heaven forbid. It would be a much better idea to endorse one to PSE and Macquarie investors. They would be a lot more sensitive and caring when it comes to the needs and pocketbooks of Skagitonians.

It would be very selfish for us to want all that money to stay here in our county. 

Larry Partridge
La Conner


Shameful to remove GOP signs

Shame! Shame! Shame!

There are some residents throughout our county — residing in Lake Cavanaugh, Anacortes and Mount Vernon — who are intimidated by the Republican candidates. They find it necessary to destroy or remove on private property Republican signs. This is a federal offense worth a fine of $1,000.

Some people cannot take competition or they feel their candidates cannot win if another name appears in opposition.

Ann Marie Humphreys
Skagit County Republican chairwoman
Mount Vernon


Awaiting ‘rapture’? Vote Obama

I’ll be honest; I am one of those radicals who is looking forward to “the rapture” (Webster’s definition, ecstatic joy or delight), and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen. The most effective way to bring it on is by electing Barack Obama as our next president.

Imagine the national pride and ecstasy in having a president who is an articulate statesman, a unifier, a diplomat and an intelligent leader. Imagine the delight in having a person with vision and sound judgment in the White House. What an incredible joy it will be to know Obama will work for peace and for the poor. He’ll make our country more secure and will support veterans.

It’s a heavenly thought knowing that he’ll work for the middle class, promote government transparency and will appoint qualified Cabinet members. It’s sheer bliss knowing that he believes in God and in science. He honors diversity, will not privatize Social Security and will cut middle-class taxes.

Obama has integrity and will not stoop to Rove’s tactics to win the election. If you want “the rapture,” make it happen. Elect the tall man to the White House. Vote for Barack Obama.

Teresa Dix
Mount Vernon