Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
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Re-elect Calhoun
John Calhoun has done an excellent job as port commissioner and deserves to be re-elected. The port meetings are informative and comments from the public are welcomed. My knowledge is the result of regular attendance at port meetings for the past seven years.
The peninsula is blessed with natural resources that provide economic opportunities from the forests to the water. John's understanding of resource management combined with balancing natural resource protection makes him the most qualified candidate.
The success of the Port of Port Angeles spells success for the entire peninsula, and John is committed to a sustainable economic future while balancing natural resource protection.
Carol Johnson
Port Angeles
Port commissioner challenged
The president of the Port of Port Angeles commission has a dominant position to determine final actions by the POPA. John Calhoun has been president of the POPA commission for the past two years of his six-year term.
As president of the POPA commission; Calhoun has presided over the following:
David Hagawara, former deputy executive director, was fired by commissioners Jim McEntire and George Schoenfeldt. Hagawara was given $200,000. Hagawara was rehired for a new unbudgeted position at over $110,000 salary and benefits.
On July 27, 2009, it was reported that the POPA was $147,917 over budget.
Calhoun met with the former Port Angeles city manager to decide the basic format for Harbor Works. The state Auditor's Office is reviewing these secret meetings as violations of the Open Public Meetings Act. The port has loaned $650,000 to Harbor Works.
Calhoun has advocated that the POPA obtain control of a major portion of the 75-acre former Rayonier Mill site. The limited POPA capital project funding would be needed to develop Rayonier property rather than POPA marinas.
In 2004, the POPA commission created three advisory committees, John Wayne Marina, P.A. Boat Haven and Airport, to provide user and public recommendations to help solve POPA problems. These advisory committees have been terminated.
In the current election, voters in Clallam County will have the opportunity to elect John Calhoun to another six-year term or elect a well-qualified challenger, Brad Collins.
Collins has been a city planner responsible for public meetings and hearings for 25 years.
Leonard W. Beil
POPA commissioner, 2000-2006
Port Angeles
Stick with skills, knowledge and integrity
Please join me in voting to return Virginia O'Neil to the Sequim School District board of directors in the upcoming election. Virginia has served on the board since March 2007 and has demonstrated the skills, knowledge and integrity to deserve to be returned to continue her service for the children in the district.
She has a financial background that is important in these times of decreasing revenues. Her first priority is to all school children and she will continue to seek appropriate funding from all possible sources.
Let's stick with a winner! Vote for Virginia.
Jim Pickett
Sequim
Board member inspires confidence
I am writing to urge local residents to vote for Virginia O'Neil in her re-election bid for the Sequim school board. Virginia will continue to bring common sense to the school board while serving as a dedicated advocate for the needs of Sequim's children.
Virginia O'Neil has put in years of service in Sequim as a parent volunteer and tutor, task force advisor for special needs and gifted children and as a school board member. She has substantial financial management experience and has worked hard to improve fiscal conditions for the school district. Her inside knowledge of classroom conditions will ensure that solutions are pragmatic and she will consider the needs of the students in every decision that is made by the board.
It has been my pleasure to work with Virginia O'Neil for years as a fellow mom, and I will continue to feel confident in the future of Sequim schools if she is re-elected.
Ann Seiter
Sequim
Build a sustainable future
I am writing this letter in support of John Calhoun for Port of Port Angeles port commissioner. John is an experienced professional public servant. He is solution oriented and is interested in listening to all points of view before making final decisions on complex issues. He is experienced in resource management and has been innovative in finding approaches to the protection of natural resources while maintaining viable commercial opportunities to utilize our resources to produce the many products desired in our society.
John Calhoun has lived and worked in Clallam County for many years. He is a community leader. He has grown children and grandchildren living and working in Clallam County and therefore understands the importance of maintaining jobs for the future. He has set a personal goal for the port to create or support 1,000 family wage jobs over the next six years.
Please join me to re-elect John and continue a sustainable future for the Olympic Peninsula.
John X. Viada
Sequim
Keep the cows in town
I'm voting for Ted Miller to the Sequim City Council as I prefer the charm of our community without high-rise structures on main street and with cattle still grazing inside the city limits.
We should cater to the retirees, a major industry in our area. They bring their own money and do not impact our schools or burden public safety. Our community should retain its comfortable atmosphere for the seniors who elect to settle here.
Some development is necessary but it should be managed to save our unique lifestyle. Ted Miller's opponent, Walt Schubert, has been a promoter of large commercial and extensive high density housing development during his tenure on the city council.
Jim Harper
Sequim
A blessing through the airwaves
Sequim's radio station, KSQM, has been a blessing for me. Being homebound with sleepless nights, their music is very soothing and therapeutic.
Instant recognition of the songs (although the words sometimes slip my mind) bring back so many pleasant memories. Sad songs of the war years that tore so many families apart, hopeful love songs for those left behind, patriotic songs to bolster up our morale and silly ditties to make us laugh and cheer us up.
Such a variety!
I suggest those who like a different kind of music, that they turn the dial on their radios. There are lots of stations to fill your musical needs.
One of the 70, 80 and 90 listeners.
Dorothy Ludke
Port Angeles
John Calhoun has done an excellent job as port commissioner and deserves to be re-elected. The port meetings are informative and comments from the public are welcomed. My knowledge is the result of regular attendance at port meetings for the past seven years.
The peninsula is blessed with natural resources that provide economic opportunities from the forests to the water. John's understanding of resource management combined with balancing natural resource protection makes him the most qualified candidate.
The success of the Port of Port Angeles spells success for the entire peninsula, and John is committed to a sustainable economic future while balancing natural resource protection.
Carol Johnson
Port Angeles
Port commissioner challenged
The president of the Port of Port Angeles commission has a dominant position to determine final actions by the POPA. John Calhoun has been president of the POPA commission for the past two years of his six-year term.
As president of the POPA commission; Calhoun has presided over the following:
David Hagawara, former deputy executive director, was fired by commissioners Jim McEntire and George Schoenfeldt. Hagawara was given $200,000. Hagawara was rehired for a new unbudgeted position at over $110,000 salary and benefits.
On July 27, 2009, it was reported that the POPA was $147,917 over budget.
Calhoun met with the former Port Angeles city manager to decide the basic format for Harbor Works. The state Auditor's Office is reviewing these secret meetings as violations of the Open Public Meetings Act. The port has loaned $650,000 to Harbor Works.
Calhoun has advocated that the POPA obtain control of a major portion of the 75-acre former Rayonier Mill site. The limited POPA capital project funding would be needed to develop Rayonier property rather than POPA marinas.
In 2004, the POPA commission created three advisory committees, John Wayne Marina, P.A. Boat Haven and Airport, to provide user and public recommendations to help solve POPA problems. These advisory committees have been terminated.
In the current election, voters in Clallam County will have the opportunity to elect John Calhoun to another six-year term or elect a well-qualified challenger, Brad Collins.
Collins has been a city planner responsible for public meetings and hearings for 25 years.
Leonard W. Beil
POPA commissioner, 2000-2006
Port Angeles
Stick with skills, knowledge and integrity
Please join me in voting to return Virginia O'Neil to the Sequim School District board of directors in the upcoming election. Virginia has served on the board since March 2007 and has demonstrated the skills, knowledge and integrity to deserve to be returned to continue her service for the children in the district.
She has a financial background that is important in these times of decreasing revenues. Her first priority is to all school children and she will continue to seek appropriate funding from all possible sources.
Let's stick with a winner! Vote for Virginia.
Jim Pickett
Sequim
Board member inspires confidence
I am writing to urge local residents to vote for Virginia O'Neil in her re-election bid for the Sequim school board. Virginia will continue to bring common sense to the school board while serving as a dedicated advocate for the needs of Sequim's children.
Virginia O'Neil has put in years of service in Sequim as a parent volunteer and tutor, task force advisor for special needs and gifted children and as a school board member. She has substantial financial management experience and has worked hard to improve fiscal conditions for the school district. Her inside knowledge of classroom conditions will ensure that solutions are pragmatic and she will consider the needs of the students in every decision that is made by the board.
It has been my pleasure to work with Virginia O'Neil for years as a fellow mom, and I will continue to feel confident in the future of Sequim schools if she is re-elected.
Ann Seiter
Sequim
Build a sustainable future
I am writing this letter in support of John Calhoun for Port of Port Angeles port commissioner. John is an experienced professional public servant. He is solution oriented and is interested in listening to all points of view before making final decisions on complex issues. He is experienced in resource management and has been innovative in finding approaches to the protection of natural resources while maintaining viable commercial opportunities to utilize our resources to produce the many products desired in our society.
John Calhoun has lived and worked in Clallam County for many years. He is a community leader. He has grown children and grandchildren living and working in Clallam County and therefore understands the importance of maintaining jobs for the future. He has set a personal goal for the port to create or support 1,000 family wage jobs over the next six years.
Please join me to re-elect John and continue a sustainable future for the Olympic Peninsula.
John X. Viada
Sequim
Keep the cows in town
I'm voting for Ted Miller to the Sequim City Council as I prefer the charm of our community without high-rise structures on main street and with cattle still grazing inside the city limits.
We should cater to the retirees, a major industry in our area. They bring their own money and do not impact our schools or burden public safety. Our community should retain its comfortable atmosphere for the seniors who elect to settle here.
Some development is necessary but it should be managed to save our unique lifestyle. Ted Miller's opponent, Walt Schubert, has been a promoter of large commercial and extensive high density housing development during his tenure on the city council.
Jim Harper
Sequim
A blessing through the airwaves
Sequim's radio station, KSQM, has been a blessing for me. Being homebound with sleepless nights, their music is very soothing and therapeutic.
Instant recognition of the songs (although the words sometimes slip my mind) bring back so many pleasant memories. Sad songs of the war years that tore so many families apart, hopeful love songs for those left behind, patriotic songs to bolster up our morale and silly ditties to make us laugh and cheer us up.
Such a variety!
I suggest those who like a different kind of music, that they turn the dial on their radios. There are lots of stations to fill your musical needs.
One of the 70, 80 and 90 listeners.
Dorothy Ludke
Port Angeles
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Letters Policy
Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words are returned to the writer for revision. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.
Your opinions on issues of community interest and your reaction to stories and editorials contained in your Sequim Gazette are important to us and to your fellow readers. Thus our rules relating to letters submitted for publication are relatively simple.
• Letters are welcome. Letters exceeding 250 words are returned to the writer for revision. We strive to publish all letters.
• Letters are subject to editing for spelling and grammar; we contact the writer when substantial changes are required, sending the letter back to the writer for revisions. Personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations are not printed.
• All letters must have a valid signature, with a printed name, address and phone number for verification. Only the name and town/community are printed.
• Deadline for letters to appear in the next publication is noon Friday. Because of the volume of letters, not all letters are published the week they are submitted. Time-sensitive letters have a priority.
• Letters are published subject to legal limitations relating to defamation and factual representation.
• To submit letters, deliver to 147 W. Washington St., Sequim; mail to P.O. Box 1750, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-683-6670 or e-mail news@sequimgazette.com.