Opinion Page A6
Publisher’s column
Even island ‘Mean Girls’ have a voice By Keven Graves
Editor’s note: The following column may contain language considered offensive by some.
Politics is a blood sport on Whidbey Island. Within weeks of my arrival here nearly nine months ago, I managed to upset the local Tea Party supporters and quickly landed on their long list of “enemies.” I don’t believe I was targeted because I’m a political creature. In fact, I rarely discuss my personal politics. It’s boring stuff. Last week’s South Whidbey Record, with its coverage of Island County Commissioner Kelly Emerson, opened a floodgate of personal attacks online from the Tea Party support group. We published an article about Emerson’s poor attendance at commissioner meetings. In the same issue was an editorial critical of the lawsuit Emerson and her husband filed against Island County. Kelly Emerson is a public figure. She is paid a healthy salary by taxpayers to do her job. As such, she is subject to greater public scrutiny than the average citizen. Building a deck at her Camano Island home without a permit … suing Island County, i.e., the taxpayers … missing a high number of commissioner meetings ... those all merit newspaper coverage. The online Tea Party group — mostly comprised of middle-aged men I have dubbed “the Mean Girls” — announced about a month ago that I was the recipient of the “Anal Sphincter Award,” and declared me the “biggest a-hole” in a very lengthy diatribe. I was intrigued. I am still waiting to see what that award looks like and watching for the invitation to the awards banquet. At various times in various posts, the Mean Girls declared I was “doing a crappy job,” described me as a “liberal pig,” “unethical,” “smug,” “rude,” “a diaper doper baby,” a purveyor of “smut,” “a parrot,” and much more. Said one commenter, “Keven R. Graves, be comforted in the fact that your local fish wrappers are easily recycled into toilet paper, which provides a sustainable supply for you and your crew. Sustainability is a desirable trait according to Whidbey’s DemonRats and environmental whackos.” At least Mr. Wolf spelled my name correctly. Perhaps he suspects it’s some Russian deviation from the norm? SEE MEAN GIRLS, A7
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Saturday, November 23, 2013 • The South Whidbey Record
Letters Conservation Futures
Keep the fund, preserve Whidbey Editor, I understand the county commissioners will be voting on the Conservation Futures Fund Levy on Monday, Nov. 25. This issue strikes at the heart of how we preserve the unique environment on Whidbey Island, to which we moved in 2004. We believe there are many Whidbey Island residents, such as ourselves, who cheerfully pay this tax component and contribute significant additional personal funds toward preserving and improving the properties conserved by the Conservation Futures Fund. The government’s investment in this fund through keeping the current levy is a modest demonstration of stewardship toward our precious commons, and we urge the commissioners to vote in favor of at least maintaining the current levy. We believe Commissioner Jill Johnson’s plan to review the program during 2014 has merit, but it is unwise and premature to reduce the levy in the absence of results from that review. Once the review is complete, the commissioners will have actionable data and information upon which to make a considered judgment on the future of the CFF. Such data might, in fact, demonstrate the wisdom of increasing the levy; our representatives in county government should not prejudge the appropriate action. We would be happy to take the commissioners’
phone calls or emails to explain ourselves further. We visit some of these sites, we walk some of these trails, and they are a wonderful expression of what makes Whidbey Island unique. As the commissioners know, the CFF provides many other benefits to our Whidbey Island lives; clean water, aquifer recharge, and a number of other tangible and intangible attributes, all of which represent a worthy investment in our collective future. Please help keep it that way. Respectfully, PETER and ANNA MARIE MORTON Langley
Time to let Futures become past Editor, As a constituent in District 1, I’m writing to let my voice be heard about the Conservation Futures Fund issue. I have thought long and hard about whether I am for or against Island County government providing any sort of funding to the fund.
On the one hand, I really enjoy going to Double Bluff, taking my dog and walking the beach. I appreciate that to one side of the parking lot — to the north — I’m allowed to access the beach area but to the opposite side — to the south — it is private property and restricted to property owners’ use only. I also enjoy several other Whidbey Camano Land Trust sites. But in contemplating the issue of whether my county government should provide funds for securing and maintaining these lands, I’m persuaded that it is not the right thing for the county to do. Am I right in thinking that the lands under the fund’s umbrella are exempt from paying property taxes? If so, we, as the taxpayers, are already supporting the function financially. Further, isn’t the county government’s role limited to provide certain services, such as public safety, roads, and health? When the local government goes outside of those services they step outside of their charter and
STAFF
Publisher ..................................................................................Keven Graves Associate Publisher.................................................... Kimberlly Winjum Editor ........................................................................................ Justin Burnett Reporters ............................................. Celeste Erickson, Ben Watanabe Columnists.......................................... Margaret Walton, Frances Wood Administrative Coordinator ........................................ Renee Midgett Production Manager ............................................................ Connie Ross Creative Artist....................................................................Rebecca Collins Circulation Manager ......................................................Diane Smothers
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dilute the taxpayer dollars available to support those necessary functions. I believe the necessary functions of this county government are not being met and therefore you should not extend funds to an unnecessary function. A recent example: just this week while at Freeland Park walking my dog around the boat ramp and playground area, I observed that the large trash cans were no longer there. In addition, the doggie-dump trash bin, secured to the post with the doggie bags, was overflowing and trash of all kinds — not just doggie bags containing poop — was lying all around the park. It was a mess. I picked up all the trash, as have my husband and I several other times. Shouldn’t these areas already under county control be maintained to a certain level of service supporting the health and enjoyment of residents? Please stop funding the Conservation Futures Fund. PAMELA NESCHKE Freeland
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