To the editor:

Ballots will be arriving soon, or if not already, and Washington voters will be making history as they mark their ballots.

Thanks to Initiative 872, passed in 2004 by the majority of Washington voters, and upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2008, we no longer have to pick a party for the primary.

Furthermore, candidates will be listed on the ballots as “Prefers” whatever party the candidate is affiliated with. More importantly, I-872 allows candidates to run with “No Party Preference.”

During this primary election, District 1 voters will get a chance to vote under the new initiative. Curt Gordon is running as “No Party Preference” for Island County commissioner. He chooses this because he felt strongly that the office of county commissioner should not be influenced by one’s party affiliation, but should be an office that represents the people.

A life-long native of Island County, Curt loves this island. He has volunteered many hours serving the people on the Conservation Futures Board to fight to preserve such critical areas as Double Bluff, Ala Spit, the Heron Rookery on Camano Island, the Kettles Trail and the Greenbank Farm. He has been on the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation Board and is currently on the Rural Transportation Board.

As a business owner, Curt knows how to be fiscally responsible. He can make the hard decisions necessary to balance a budget. Moreover, this decision can be made without the influence of a “party.”

I choose to make history and mark my ballot: Curt Gordon — No Party Preference!

Patty Blouin

Coupeville