To the editor:

I am a lifelong Democrat. I have never in my life voted Republican. If anybody ever told me that I’d be voting for a Republican, I would have said, “You’re out of your mind!”

Heads up, Whidbey Island Democrats! Listen well. I am supporting the first Republican that I have ever supported in my life: Jeff Lauderdale. I will not be supporting the sitting Democratic candidate for District 1 Island County commissioner this year, as I did in her last election. Since her last election, she has traipsed off to Washington, D.C., falsely claiming she represented what the voters of Freeland wanted and needed — funding for a $40 million dollar sewer.

That person running on the Democratic ticket does not represent me any longer. That person would sooner advocate in favor of various Washington State regulatory agencies dictating how we here in Freeland should lead our lives rather than favoring what her electorate actually wants. She would sooner shoehorn us into a community packed with 4,000 to 6,000 people, with no regard to what the impact of such a “visionary” future would have on the environment here, on transportation here, on storm water run-off here, on the sole source aquifer here, on a very sensitive harbor here, and on the lives of the people who live here.

She has shown that she would sooner have gone along with limitless assessments on Freeland property owners for a residential sewer system that the vast majority doesn’t want than to have been a vocal advocate in favor of a smaller more economical approach that would save the residents from financial ruin.

From one Democrat to another: I make the case to you that the Democrat who now claims hold to the office of Island County commissioner from District 1 has abrogated her fiduciary responsibility to represent the voters of her district with respect to Freeland and me specifically as a Democrat.

Think of this when you cast your vote this fall. You could have lived in Freeland and had this happen to you. Be thankful if you didn’t. We choose to live here because we feel safe here. In my 40 years of living on South Whidbey, I could not feel less safe than by having the sitting commissioner of District 1 re-elected.

Jeff Lauderdale has been vocal in his willingness to go to battle against Washington state regulatory agencies. He’s a scientist and an engineer with the keen intelligence to separate out science from politics. If he could maneuver his way as a naval nuclear submarine commander, he can maneuver his way through the morass of Washington state regulatory authorities to lead voters to a reasonable and safe outcome for Freeland. We are all neighbors here on South Whidbey and we all want to be safe from harm, including harm at the hands of our elected officials. Jeff is the candidate for me. Yes, a Republican.

MARILYNN ABRAHAMSON

Freeland