08/09/2008: "Letters On Petersen & Lovel & Campaign Signs"

---------------------------------------Signs Come Down!
To the Editor:

I would like to thank Helen Chapman King for bringing my attention to my campaign signs that were larger than allowed by county code. I have removed those signs and replaced them with ones that meet the requirements.
My apologies to everyone for this mistake!

Lovel Pratt
Candidate for County Council, District 1

---------------------------------------Lovel's Signs Are Illegal!
To the Editor:

I would question voting for a candidate for County Council who has violated the requirements for political signs in the San Juan Islands. All candidates were given a copy of the sign ordinance. The legal limit is 6 sq. feet.

The Lovel's sign by the Oak is almost twice that size! It is a billboard compared to others. I question the right to place signs on County roads or private property without permission. Gordy Peterson's signs are all on private property, and has received permission from the property owners. That's the way he does things.

Lovel Pratt now states regarding her signs: "Because I value the beauty of our islands and want to support and enhance our natural environment I did not purchase yard signs...I do not want to clutter up the roadsides with repetitive signs that become a visual blight. Some supporters are joining me to hand-paint a few signs with recycled materials. Let me know if you want to join us with your exterior paint remnants, drift wood, and/or scrap lumber".

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is a sign ordinance so these political signs don't get out of hand with every candidate's idea of what is a visual blight, what is attractive, what is not, or that large brightly colored, hand crafted folksy signs are better than professionally made!.

Who do you want serving you on the County Commission? Someone who evades the law for personal gain, or someone who respects it? I support Gordy Peterson for County Council, a man of taste and ethics.

Helen Chapman King
San Juan Island
---------------------------------------And the Lovel Signs???!
To the Editor:

Re: Sign complaints:

I find the "Burma Shave" type signs rather amusing and a departure from the standard political
"name only" signs all over the island. I find it doubly amusing that yesterday there were large
colorful homemade signs promoting a vote for Lovel Pratt.

How do you feel about those Megan?

Helen King
San Juan Island
---------------------------------------Mr. Petersen, Take Down Those Signs!
To the Editor:

Some new Burma-Shave-style signs appeared on roadsides last week with the message “If you don’t want your taxes to go from 10% to Forty, vote for Gordy”. The County Council has no control over property taxes or state sales taxes, which make up the vast bulk of the taxes we pay; in addition, voter-passed state initiatives have placed severe limits on tax increases. The Council controls only very minor additional fees. To imply that some Council candidates might be able to impose (even if they were inclined to) steep tax increases if elected is silly. This is just scare tactics.

I’d like to hope that voters will choose a candidate based on who is qualified and shares their values, not on whoever achieves maximum name-recognition with roadside signs. I suggest that voters read the candidates’ responses to questions in the Journal, IslandGuardian.com, or SanJuanIslander.com, and let those guide their choice, and ignore signs that are a visual blight or that insult our intelligence. I am voting for Lovel Pratt: a thoughtful, intelligent, and dedicated public servant with a proven record of service to our community.

Megan Dethier
Friday Harbor

(Gordy explains: A smart voter needs to be informed. It is important to read all available candidates responses to media questions and compare experience and judgment. For example Lovel Pratt stated in the Journal July 23rd, In order to provide housing for those who can't afford it she supports using the sales tax. She supports a Real Estate Excise Tax, and would vote to place a tax on large buildings. If the Council raises local sales taxes that could be a huge problem for local business.

The County Budget increased 10% in 2008. 2 weeks ago the Council voted for the concept to borrow 3 million to buy a dock at Orcas Landing. They voted to borrow 2 million from the Public Works road fund to pay for Eastsound storm water projects. These are just a few examples of Council spending choices from July. My message is that I want to slow down this kind of reckless spending.

My sign, “If you don¹t want your taxes to go from 10% to Forty, vote for Gordy” may be exaggerated, but 39 percent does not rhyme with Gordy. So those of you without a sense of humor, just lighten up a bit. Jeesh! )