Investigate Rylee Fleury's campaign

There are two candidates for Skagit County Commissioner, District 1, Ron Wesen and Rylee Fleury. I support neither, but I wish to know who will be representing the affairs of this county for the next term. Unfortunately Fleury is vague on professional experience, education and community service in the voters’ pamphlet and his personal statement sounds like it was written by someone else for him.

He has a billboard on Hwy 20 as well as many yard signs and a large box truck plastered with large campaign signage on its sides. These cost a lot of money. This piqued my interest enough to go to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission website to see who is supporting Fleury and how he makes a living now. 

Mr. Fleury has personally contributed over $1,000. His campaign treasurer is Larry Jensen of Valley Pride in Skagit County. His name may be familiar for his involvement with the Tulip Valley/Tulip Town debacle and resulting lawsuits and alleged land use violations that occurred on Jensen’s property.

Three major contributors to Fleury’s campaign are Valley Investments ($1,200), Rainbow Ranch ($1,200) and Country Cousins ($1,200). All three list their address as 15356 Produce Lane which happens to be the address of Larry Jensen’s Valley Pride business. Fleury listed a home address on Maple Lane, La Conner, a double-wide trailer which is listed as owned by Whale of a Good Time, also at 15356 Produce Lane (Larry Jensen).

All this may be perfectly legal, but it has an appearance that merits some further explanation. If Rylee Fleury gets elected, will he be representing the citizens of Skagit County or Larry Jensen? If its Larry Jensen, Jensen owes Skagit County residents an explanation of what his agenda is.

I urge Rylee Fleury to sit down soon with Ken Stern and Bill Reynolds of the La Conner Weekly News and answer all questions fully and honestly.

Rick Shorten

Pleasant Ridge