Letter to the Editor: Pratt’s Experience Needed

To the Editor:

My support for the candidate from San Juan Island for the County Council goes to Lovel Pratt. Her intelligent and wise service, both on the County’s Planning Commission and on the County Council, would ordinarily have been enough to sway me. But it is her work in the oil spill prevention field that I find most important at this time in San Juan County history.

While she was on the County Council, the Washington State Association of Counties appointed her to three key state-wide committees: the Cross Partnership Oil Spill Workgroup; the Oil Spill Rule Advisory Committee; and the Vessel Traffic Risk Assessment Update Steering Committee. This experience, along with that on their Legislative Steering Committee, is what this county needs.

Speaking as a marine engineer, and as a chief engineer during most of my 25 years in the U.S. Merchant Marine, I know the hazards that face us if the Coal Terminal project in Bellingham goes through. We are going to need Pratt’s experience to help counter projects that would affect our county adversely.

The CAO (Critical Areas Ordinance), jobs, construction, and other important issues – all pale compared to the oil spill that is inevitable given the hugely increased shipping through these islands that is projected if the Coal Terminal project goes through. The issue of property rights is paramount when considering what a major oil spill would do to property values in the San Juan Islands. We’re worried about comparatively small and transient problems when we’re about to hit the iceberg.

What is Critical for this Area is leadership in oil spill prevention, readiness, and response. While all the candidates say they are against the Coal Terminal project, only Lovel Pratt has the experience to lead us through this crisis. She has my vote.

Jeff Brash
San Juan Island