SAN JUAN ISLANDER EDITORIAL

Editorial: Vote for Ranker and Pratt

posted 10/17/2008
Fling mud, distort facts and be elected to office. Unfortunately we're not talking about the national presidential campaign but about our own little 'unique' county.

Islanders have a chance to cut through the political garbage, look at the facts, see who has the knowledge and ability to work with others to lead in these troubled times and elect Kevin Ranker to the state Senate and Lovel Pratt to the county Council.

Ranker has been the subject of a vicious attack by an anonymous group of islanders. Sam Taylor, a reporter from the Bellingham Herald, spent three weeks researching every accusation from the group and debunked them all. Ranker's opponent however is using some of the false material to bolster his campaign.

Islanders would be wise to not let this distraction keep us from this opportunity to have a San Juan County resident in the state Senate for the first time in decades. Ranker has the skills, experience and knowledge of this county's needs to provide the leadership for this region in the state Senate.

His opponent, Steve Van Luven, is out of touch with county concerns. He voted for 20 percent increases in ferry fares for example.

District 1 County Council Candidate Gordy Petersen has distorted facts and we believe will play an obstructionist role on the council if elected. The citizens can't afford that kind of stalemate now. The important issues facing the county need council members who can take a hard look at the needs of the county, who can work together and who can look at the facts.

Lovel Pratt has proved she can make the kind of tough decisions which are necessary. She's been on the county Planning Commission. She understands the reality of what is required by the state in terms of stormwater and the Growth Management Act. She has the ability to move work with the rest of the council to move the county forward.

Please do what is best for all of us. Both Ranker and Pratt have proven they can do their homework, they can work with the whole community, they can deal with facts. Vote for Kevin Ranker for state Senate and Lovel Pratt for county Council.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2010

editor@sanjuanislander.com

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