Gary Locke was backing up state law

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Steve Neighbors has an interesting take on former Gov. Gary Locke’s sanctions, making them into a Democratic political power move (“Locke’s sanctions: Better watch out, Dems have control,” Jan. 6, Letters). This is not the case.

A review of the nearly decade long pursuit by Dwayne Lane to put an auto dealership in Island Crossing shows it was contrary to the Growth Management Act when first proposed. Nothing has changed since then, despite Lane’s well funded efforts to circumvent state law.

Our current Republican-controlled County Council has shown itself to favor every development in this county, whether well planned and legal or not. Council members have tried every trick to give Lane his wish, as in trying to put this area in Arlington’s urban growth area. It’s time to put this issue to rest. Lane needs to build his dealership elsewhere, and stop his illegal pursuit to rezone this property.

The law is quite clear, and Gov. Locke was merely backing that up. This isn’t about a Democratic “mafia” power play. It’s about following the GMA, which protects us all from special interests and short-term profits.

Steve Morse

Snohomish