Editor,
There’s something really amazing about the concern our county treasurer is suddenly having for taxpayers. This week citizens who use the DOXO online email platform received “courtesy” second-half tax payment reminders from “Maria Nuñez, CPA”, who just happens to be an incumbent who (surprise) is being challenged in a re-election bid next month.
Who’s challenging Nuñez? None other than former chief deputy Wanda Grone, someone who has close knowledge of how things ran (or didn’t run) the past few years under Nuñez’s leadership.
The fact that Ms. Nuñez is, all of a sudden, concerned that voters know their second-half taxes are due is strange because the past three years she’s been in office, no such notices were sent. And even more interesting, these notices show a favoritism for DOXO users, because mailed notices were not sent to the majority of voters who are not using DOXO.
No doubt Ms. Nuñez is a good woman — a daughter, wife, and mother to two children. She’s just not the right person to continue as Island County treasurer.
A lot has been said about her paid absences (time away which she defends as her right) but the fact is she has been away from the courthouse more than any other Island County elected official or department head during her four-year term. This matter plus questionable decisions — on investments and staffing (such as the abrupt firing of deputy Grone when she threw her hat into the ring) — make it clear it’s time for her to step aside and let someone without all this baggage take over and run the department.
Nuñez now claims she’s had a bad year and she promises to restructure her office and improve communications if re-elected. This is too little, too late. Maria Nuñez has had four years to do a good job. With the election approaching, now is not the time to do it right in a second term.
Island County deserves new leadership in this office. I urge voters, Republicans and Democrats alike, to join me in casting ballots for the most qualified candidate — Wanda Grone, CPA.
LARRY LOWARY
Clinton
