Port Angeles City Council rejects bid to put fluoridation on advisory ballot

Fluoridating the Port Angeles city water supply won’t be going to a public vote.

The City Council decided 5-2 Tuesday night against a proposal to put fluoridation on a public advisory ballot in the November election.

Mayor Richard Headrick cited the medical and dental community’s overwhelming support for public water fluoridation in rejecting the advisory vote, sought by Councilmen Larry Williams and Jack Pittis.

“This really is a medical decision, and I trust the medical community to make medical decisions,” Headrick said.

The City Council voted 6-1 in February 2003 to accept a Washington Dental Services Foundation grant of as much as $260,000 for installation of a water fluoridation system and public education efforts.