LETTER: Winborn deserves another four years in DCD

Outstanding performance

I’m voting to re-elect Mary Ellen Winborn, director of community development (DCD), because of her outstanding performance.

She is experienced, qualified, honest, and fair.

Her opponent, Julie Gardiner, obviously doesn’t understand permitting or enforcement at DCD.

She claims permitting is a “shambles.”

Wrong.

Under Winborn, it’s the best, most organized and streamlined it’s ever been.

Gardiner claims “enforcement services have collapsed.”

Just the opposite.

Under Winborn’s predecessor, code enforcement was moved out of DCD.

Winborn restored it, improved it, set in place processes for filing complaints, investigation, citing, hearings and court orders.

Gardiner doesn’t know what DCD does.

Her website claims she’ll focus on health: “raw sewage on the ground, toxic well decommissioning, drug nuisances/absentee landlord properties…”

Health and Human Services does this, not DCD.

Her website also claims she’ll “hire an attorney” for enforcement actions.

Wrong.

The prosecuting attorney hires all attorneys and allocates legal services for county actions, not DCD.

The commissioners approve and fund new positions, not DCD.

Winborn manages over 20 employees and a $3.4 million budget.

Winborn has earned our trust and deserves four more years.

Winborn is hard-working, knows what she is doing and applies the rules equally to everyone.

I am voting for Winborn.

Kathryn Grosz,

Sequim