Vote Yes for Charter

Dear Voters:

The current structure of the Skagit County Commissioners needs to change. It concentrates too much power in very few hands and makes it too easy to abuse that power – no matter who is elected to fill those three seats.

Those opposing a charter government, like Commissioner Wesen, say it would be detrimental to agriculture.

However, a charter form of government could give us a county council of 5 to 9 part-time members.

The newly elected freeholders who represent all demographics will decide the number and the structure of the county council.

Both the freeholders and commissioners in the new system will be elected from districts of equal population across the county.

Most or all districts would include both incorporated areas (towns like La Conner) and unincorporated areas (like Conway and the Conway School District).

It would be likely that there would be council members from rural areas who are involved with agriculture – in addition to all the other sectors our commissioners are elected to serve.

The implication that town dwellers would harm agriculture is an accusation with no rational basis. Ask any town resident if they care that agriculture thrives in Skagit County, and I’m confident the answer would be “Of course!” We know the names and faces of our farmers. We know the names of workers here. Who would live in our beautiful rural area if we didn’t love agriculture and have immense admiration for our farming community and claim bragging rights about the work conducted at the WSU station in value added developments?

The Commissioners represent all of us.

The desire is to have a structure that has more people from more demographic groups who hold all their discussions in public and seriously consider the input from all of their constituencies.

This November, vote “Yes Freeholders” for a county charter.

Linda Talman

LaConner’