Editor,

The most confident vote I will make this coming November is for Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson. She exemplifies good governance functioning at the local/regional level.

We citizens of these islands have issues that we need to tend: water usage, shoreline usage, noise abatement (from fireworks to jet engines), managed growth and preservation. We need thoughtful leadership. Character matters. Integrity matters. Core values matter. Experience matters.

In her years of service, Price Johnson has been able to steward resources through a significant recession and maintain essential services, resources and infrastructure. She understands the fiscal realities of government. And she has the credibility to reach out to state and national agencies to advocate for Island County’s needs. Because of her outreach, net pens are prohibited in Island County waters; FEMA has re-examined its floodplain boundaries, and expanded beach access and marine trails have been established on both Whidbey and Camano.

What, you didn’t see this on the news? It didn’t come flashing in on your Facebook stream? It wasn’t on NPR? Without media attention, without grandstanding on issues, Helen Price Johnson is just at work for us: listening, thinking, questioning, carefully shaping opinions and positions and still being able to listen to differing and diverse points of view. She is truly a commissioner for the whole of Island County.

CHRISTINA BALDWIN

Freeland

Thanks