Letter to the Editor:

I am proud to recommend that County Commissioner Perry Dozier be retained in that position in the upcoming elections. I know that Perry Dozier is a very well educated and devoted commissioner, an honest and hard working citizen for this county. He is fair with his decisions and an excellent listener to those who he represents. He is doing a full time position for the citizens of this county, and remembering especially to represent the citizens from the small communities in the county, such as Touchet, Bur- bank, Prescott and Waitsburg. His educational background is a perfect fit for the position that he is serving.

He has been a local volun- teer for many events in Waits- burg, Prescott and Walla Walla . Perry and his family are involved in our commu- nity and school. I have heard of some implications being made by one of his opponents that he is not available because he owns and man- ages/operates a wheat farm operation. Chris Blackman has indicated that she would resign her teaching position and work full time for the Walla Walla County, if she were to be elected. Does she truly expect Mr. Dozier to give up managing his farm to serve as a county com- missioner? Perry is talented enough to handle both man- agement of his farm, and to be full time participant of the three member County Commission Board.

One of his commissioner assignments has been as the contact person for the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Of- fice. As we all know, there has been a lot of unnecessary controversial opinions being thrown around lately regard- ing controlling spending with that agency. Is that why Mrs. Chris Blackman decided to file for the position? We know that Mr. Blackman is a deputy for the sheriff's office. One question I have, is how Mrs. Blackman could fairly make decisions regarding the sheriff's office without be- ing involved in a conflict of interest? An example of that is even the courts will not usu- ally allow a wife/spouse of a law enforcement person to serve on jury duty because of such concerns of basis.

I am very thankful that the current county commissioners are as conservative as they are. A fine example of that is the most recent flash flood in the Touchet area that is esti- mated to cost over a million dollars. If all the county funds had been previously spent, how would the repairs to that area be completed?

Please join me and my wife, Gwen, in supporting the re-election of Commissioner Perry Dozier for Walla Walla County. We are proud of him and appreciate his willingness to be involved in the leadership of Walla Walla County.

Walt Gobel

Mayor of Waitsburg