South Whidbey Record, October 08, 2014

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Mr. South Whidbey, 2014 See...A10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 80 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢

Hospital patient files suit By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record

Jacks

Jacks or Hannold for county commissioner? Hannold

By JANIS REID South Whidbey Record The two candidates running for Island County District 3 seat offer differing views on top county issues, such as the legalization of marijuana and dealing with recent problems at Island Transit.

Democrat Karla Jacks said that she would have done the same as the board did earlier this year, and allowed for the sale of recreational marijuana in Island County. “I would have because the voters of Island County overwhelmingly supported it,” Jacks said. Rick Hannold, a Republican, said he would

absolutely not have supported recreational marijuana in the county. “I don’t like any industry that makes its money off the vices of others,” Hannold said. “I personally think that marijuana is an SEE COMMISSIONER, A9

The woman who was allegedly assaulted by the head nurse at Whidbey General Hospital has filed a lawsuit against the hospital district. An attorney representing Linda Gipson, chief nursing officer, took the offensive in an interview with the Whidbey News-Times this week. Andrew Schwarz of the Seattle firm SchwarzGarrison called the lawsuit and the criminal allegations against his client “absurd.” “It’s an outrageous abuse of the legal system both in terms of the civil action and the criminal action,” he said. Officials at both the sheriff’s office and the prosecutor’s office, however, said they are simply doing their jobs without bias and that the criminal case against Gipson was based on a thorough investigation with multiple independent witnesses. Prosecutors charged Gipson with fourth-degree assault earlier this year. The pre-trial hearing in district court was recently moved to Dec. 2. Seattle attorney Gregory Skidmore filed the civil lawsuit in Island County Superior Court Sept. 26. It SEE LAWSUIT, A11

Langley city leaders agree to back away from Initiative 594 support By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Still smarting from the kick of public feedback over a resolution to support state Initiative 594, Langley policy makers have decided it might be best to stay out of state politics that don’t directly affect the city. Prompted in part by Mayor Fred McCarthy’s retraction of the resolution, which he proposed last month, the council

informally agreed to adopt a standard practice to not take any official stance o n state and federal issues at Monday’s regular meeting. The decision, though not voted on, represents a step away from McCarthy’s proposed resolution of support for Initiative 594

which calls for gun sale and transfer regulation. Wo r d of the proposed endorsement quickly spread around South Whidbey and dozens attended a September council meeting to voice their displeasure at the city’s proposed vote. Most in the crowd spoke against the

decision, with a couple supporting I-594 and the city’s role. Councilman Thomas Gill first addressed the issue in September and said it was inappropriate for the city to take a position. Council members Rene Neff and Jim Sundberg stood behind McCarthy’s decision, but the motion was tabled by Gill and SEE I-594, A13


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