To the editor:

Judges’ chambers, halls of Congress and Senate chambers all have rules of conduct and ethics rules. Hopefully the Island County commissioners have similar rules. If not, they should enact some before 2011.

Commissioner-elect Kelly Emerson is suing Island County employees (and therefore Island County) and should, under ethics rules recuse herself on all votes having to do with the finances of Island County, until such time as the suit is withdrawn, or fully settled.

Similarly, Ms. Emerson should under ethics rules recuse herself from voting on all matters having to do with the planning/building departments where the individuals being sued are employed, until such time as the suit is either withdrawn or fully settled.

Further, any commissioners who have not complied with health policies requiring either annual or tri-annual inspection of septic systems and has not certified that the system meets code to the health department according to Washington state health laws and Island County code, should recuse themselves from voting on any health policies, codes or health department budgets, etc.

R. Boehm

Greenbank