Lake Stevens needs Bob Carkeek

My 86-year-old mother, who lives on Social Security and a small pension, paid $1,002.18 to the Lake Stevens Drainage District during 2003.

Her property borders no lake and most of it would probably be classified as wetlands. This acreage provides an unofficial holding area and filter for the water that runs onto her land from adjacent high-ground developments. The drainage district has tested the water in a drainage ditch coming off her land into Lake Stevens and told us that it was the cleanest water draining into the lake.

Mom used to pay a few dollars to the Lake Stevens Drainage District for providing this filtering service. Now she pays $1,002.18 a year to filter other property owners’ runoff. Instead of paying out this huge sum of money, she really should be receiving some kind of compensation for providing this effective filtering service.

Something is terribly wrong with the current system of assessing and utilizing our drainage taxes in Lake Stevens. We need someone on the commission who will support change and correct this problem.

On Feb. 3 vote for Bob Carkeek for drainage commissioner.

Lake Stevens