Dear council members: I am writing to ask that you finally take action to appoint a citizen from Lopez to fill the Planning Commission seat that has been empty for two years.

Rob Thesman, an eminently qualified Lopezian, with particular experience in affordable housing issues, applied for the empty position almost two years ago, in February 2014.  No other applicant has filed.  Yet council has failed to appoint anyone to that seat, despite the important topics that have come before the Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission itself has asked council to fill that seat.

Under the charter, each of you now represents the entire county, and failure to act to fill the seat could suggest partisan or personal animus, neither of which is appropriate.

Peg Manning

Orcas Island