To the editor:

I’ve been reading letters about candidates for council who are “nice.” Dick Haugan is nice, too.

But he is really a lot more than that. He stands behind a common sense approach to government.

He has a clear plan for the future of Bainbridge that is achievable with his leadership:

Budget and fiscal responsibility: Set priorities, budgets, and schedules and get them done on time and on budget.

Management: Provide the city manager with clear policy direction and then expect results.

Let’s start with a reasonable Shoreline Master Program that recognizes that virtually all of the island shorelines are built out with single family homes in accordance with the state of Washington Environmental Policy Act guidelines.

When the SMP process was started the then-city attorney stated to the council that our present shoreline zoning met the new state requirements already with just a few minor adjustments. This is just common sense and a far cry from the $800,000 that has been spent to date on drafting an overreaching document that will cost our community dearly in defending a document of questionable legality.

Let’s elect Richard Haugan to our council for some common sense leadership from a nice guy.

DAVID LINDSEY

Rockaway Beach