A way to avoid this election debacle | Letters
February 5, 2013 · 10:55 AM
I wonder how many residents that voted for the council changes in the general election are now unhappy with the result as exemplified in this primary election.
Under the previous six-person council, you chose among individuals who resided in your district. Now, candidates must run for their seat throughout the whole county, with the following disadvantages.
Like the electoral college, any given island could wake up after the election to find that the candidate chosen by that island had lost due to votes from the other islands.
I wouldn't want to dictate my choice to the other two island groups, and I don't want them dictating mine. Also, this process has made the election very expensive (by island standards), with candidates having to spend inordinate amounts of money to try to get their message across (the water) to the other two island groups.
We already have too much of "may the richest man win" in this country, and the high cost of a successful campaign might discourage good candidates from entering the fray.
My plan: I intend to vote only among the Orcas candidates, and I suggest that other Orcas and San Juan voters do the same.
Bill Buchanan/Orcas Island
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