Regarding the Sept. 4 letter “Johnson critic,” let the hysterics begin.
Since Clallam County commissioner candidate Ron Richards didn’t directly bring up a “conspiracy” [“Carbon Tax Debate, Clallam Commissioner Hopefuls Differ On Issue,” PDN Aug. 25], the writer will do it for him.
He suggests that since commission candidate Randy Johnson and Commissioner Bill Peach both worked for Rayonier at some point in their careers, they are somehow “cooperative,” and it would be “incestuous” for them to serve as county commissioners together.
Please.
That’s as much of a stretch as saying that since Commissioner Mark Ozias and Ron Richards are both Democrats, they will somehow conspire to run the timber industry out of Clallam County and turn the whole North Olympic Peninsula into a park.
(Note: Randy and Bill never worked together in their separate times at Rayonier.)
The letter writer further asserts that the county commissioners should “exert their authority to force Rayonier to … clean up the tons of … toxins they left behind” when it closed its mill in Port Angeles.
The writer may not understand that the county has little authority over the cleanup of Rayonier; that is the purview of the state Department of Ecology, the tribes and the city of Port Angeles.
The writer should address his concerns to the correct agencies.
I agree that we need honest county commissioners.
That is why sensible people from all parts of the political spectrum support Randy.
Instead of legalistic quibbling over state initiatives and conspiracies, Randy focuses on the true issues affecting all county residents, such as the economy.
See for yourself at www.electrandycountycommissioner.com and make up your own mind.
Laurel Black,
Port Angeles
EDITOR’S NOTE: Black’s company, Laurel Black Designs, designs campaign materials for Johnson’s campaign.
She also is a campaign volunteer.
