Reader endorses Skaug in MLIRD election

I had the opportunity to listen to both MLIRD candidates for nearly an hour at the last Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation district board meeting on November 13. I noticed a remarkable difference between the two candidates. Ken Kernan didn't seem to have a grasp on the issues of the district, whereas David Skaug seems to have a total understanding. The thought came to mind, why would anyone run for this position with such a limited amount of knowledge? Then my light came on: Ken Kernan was Ron Covey's campaign manager, and Ron Covey is looking for someone to put him back in power. Ron Covey is the director, along with Norm Benson, who gave the MLIRD manager the $11,000 annual raise just before Mick Hansen was sworn in, bringing him to $96,000 a year plus benefits. The manager, Curt Carpenter, manages five to eight people. Ron Covey is the director that was having his cell phone paid for to the tune of $1,680 per year. He seems to think that having two directors sign the checks, instead of one director and the manager, is micro-managing and states this at every meeting, leaving before the meeting is even adjourned.

I feel a vote for Ken Kernan will be a vote for bigger government and things returning to the Ron Covey spending. I have known David Skaug for years. He works hard, is an independent thinker, has run a successful business for years and will be keeping the taxpayer in mind on every vote he makes. David has told me for every dollar spent, he wants to see a full dollar's worth of production. We do not need a yes man; we need bipartisanship amongst the directors to make our dollars count. Vote for David Skaug.

Mike Smith

Moses Lake