Working hard for citizens

Since moving to Camano Island almost eight years ago as a then recent retiree, I have been impressed by the number of residents who truly care about the future quality of life here. I suppose it is not surprising then that state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen has been a champion of measures that help maintain that way of life. Upon arriving, I found a citizens volunteer planning group hard at work making recommendations to implement the Growth Management Act, which Sen. Haugen had earlier worked hard to pass. That legislation has caused Camano residents to think about the long-range future of the island.

Sen. Haugen has also been supportive of other efforts to maintain Camano Island’s wonderful way of life. She fought hard to secure funding for Cama Beach State Park, which will soon become one of the jewels of the parks system. She has encouraged volunteer groups, such as Friends of Camano Island State Parks and WSU Beachwaters, to continue their important work. And she worked hard to secure the south portion of Department of Natural Resources lands near Elger Bay for trails, preservation and low-impact recreation.

The many residents who are concerned about recreational opportunities, as well as the relatively peaceful way of life on Camano Island, should be glad that Sen. Haugen has represented us in the state Legislature and hope that she continues to do so in the future.

Camano Island

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