Vote 'No' on charter

Dear Editor

I’d like to share with my fellow citizens a slightly different perspective on the proposed Skagit charter initiative. Up to last week, I supported the charter measure, for reasons eloquently stated by other readers in this space. After learning of who is funding the pro-charter campaign, I have had a change of heart.

Our board of commissioners has been far from perfect.

They hung out the citizens to dry with their inaction on the Great Wolf decision, standing idle as the tribe formulated the Department of Revenue’s disastrous taxation guidelines.

As a result, a minority one third of properties in the La Conner junior taxation district were stuck with massive bills for our $20 million bond and two-year levies, while two thirds of students come from properties not subject to levy or bond payments.

The La Conner School District felt this pain directly, and it caused a schism down the middle of our community which lives on to this day.

This was well-covered in the La Conner Weekly News by the prior editorial staff.

It was not until the tribe threatened to annex central Fidalgo Island that our county commissioners came to life. I credit their hard work with preventing this situation, one most feel would have

bankrupted the Anacortes School District. To add some bizarre irony to this, Debra Lekanoff, the head of governmental affairs for the tribe, is now running to represent Anacortes in the 40th Legislative District race on a pro-education platform. Strange times.

We need a strong, focused board to stand up for our rights as citizens and the funding of our school districts. Although not perfect, the current structure is our best hope. Please vote no.

Jon Walton