Our present county charter, council and county administrator have been a vast improvement over the past. Regarding representation, the current process of electing a local representative is simplicity itself. Proposition 1, to have us elect representatives for other islands as well, is cuckoo.

Regarding Proposition 2, in my experience working with the departments of planning and building, the advent of an experienced county administrator has been a vast improvement. Previously, the commissioners hired unqualified personnel, promoted them beyond their ability and fired them; qualified personnel were simply hired and fired. It was a revolving door and a joke across the state.

The present departments under an experienced county administrator are the best staffed and organized ever thanks to a county administrator trained and experienced in managing a local government. It is challenge enough for elected citizen representatives to learn to understand the politics, policy and budgeting of our government without trying to manage the working and staffing as well.

Both propositions are bad ideas and I will vote NO.

John M. Campbell

Orcas Island