NEWS-TIMES WHIDBEY
SPECIAL SECTION:
North & Central Whidbey
WOMEN
IN BUSINESS 2011
See page 16-19
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2011 | Vol. 120, No. 84 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
Accused grandpa killer to represent himself
Fresh face takes on volatile experience
By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter
By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
One has youth, a fresh perspective and polished passion on her side. The other, experience, determination and a grizzly fire all his own. But only one person can fill Position 1 on the Oak Harbor City Council and voters this November will have to decide between Tara Hizon, a 33-year-old small business owner, and the twice-her age, successful solid waste SEE BREWER/HIZON, A4
Munns hopes to keep seat as Eaton returns By JUSTIN BURNETT Staff reporter
Elections are about choices and this year voters will decide between a city councilwoman who is happy about the way things are and a former city councilman who is
Paul Brewer
Tara Hizon
● Age: 66. ● Family: Married seven years, four children, four step-children, 18 grandchildren, two great grandchildren. ● Time in Oak Harbor: 35 years plus. ● Career: Retired Navy master chief; currently the solid waste manager for Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
● Age: 33. ● Family: Engaged. ● Time in Oak Harbor: 26 years. ● Career: Owner and senior technical writer for Lightworks Communications, LLC, eight years as a certified residential real estate appraiser.
Beth Munns
Larry Eaton
● Age: 59. ● Family: Married 37 years, two children. ● Years in Oak Harbor: 30 years. ● Career: Teacher, bartender, Navy wife.
● Age: 67. ● Family: Married 45 years, 3 children. ● Years in Oak Harbor: 42 years. ● Career: Retired Oak Harbor High School teacher.
SEE MUNNS/EATON, A4
The 30-year-old Oak Harbor man suspected of killing both his grandfathers insisted on acting as his own attorney, despite a judge’s repeated warnings against the idea. Joshua Lambert appeared in Island County Superior Court Monday afternoon for his arraignment. He pleaded not guilty to charges of firstdegree murder and firstdegree kidnapping. Prior to the hearing, Lambert sent letters to the prosecutor and a judge, alerting them that he wants to represent himself. Defendants have a constitutional right to self-representation, but it’s rare for someone charged with a felony to act as his or her own lawyer. Judge Alan Hancock took great pains to explain to Lambert the difficulties and consequences of representing himself. Hancock explained that the rules of evidence and criminal procedure were very difficult to understand; he pointed out that attorneys go through seven years of higher education. Lambert has a GED. Lambert admitted he didn’t completely understand the rules of evidence or criminal procedure, but he said he will look it up. Hancock questioned Lambert about why he wanted to represent himself. “I would just like to go through it myself, see everything and make my own decisions,” he said. In his letter to the judge,
YES
Jessie Stensland/Whidbey News-Times
Joshua Lambert told a judge that he wants to act as his own attorney in defending against charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Lambert was in court Monday for arraignment. He pleaded not guilty. Lambert wrote that he doesn’t distrust the public defender, but “wants to think through this” himself, Hancock indicated. After questioning him, Hancock “strongly urged” Lambert to allow an attorney to represent him. “I think it is unwise of you to try to represent yourself,” the judge said. But Lambert was undeterred and Hancock relented, allowing him to represent himself. As his first action as his own attorney, Lambert waived his right to a speedy trial. His trial was set for Jan. 24, 2012. Afterward, Lambert’s stepfather, Jim Coffin, said he was shocked that his stepson was allowed to represent himself, but he understood that the judge may not have had a choice. Coffin was in the courtroom watching the arraignment,
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but he said Lambert no longer has support from his family. “I came home one day and found Gene lying dead in our driveway. So no, he’s not getting any more support,” he said. Lambert was named as a suspect in the Oct. 3 murder of his maternal grandfather, 80-year-old August Gene Eisner. Eisner had been living in an apartment next to the Hastie Lake home where Coffin lived with his wife, who is Lambert’s mother and Eisner’s daughter. Lambert was charged with first-degree murder SEE LAMBERT, A5