Fire Commissioner, Position 3 Race

I appreciated John Pat Kelly’s letter to the editor regarding the current KP fire commissioner position 3 election where he expressed his disappointment that I am running unopposed (“Write-in Candidate for Fire Commissioner,” October 2023). What he failed to mention is that Candidate Kelly originally filed for the position 3 seat only to drop out shortly after I decided to file for re-election.

My reasons for seeking another term remain the same as when I submitted for appointment in 2016. I felt then, as I do now, that I would bring a calm, reasoned voice and analytical mindset to decisions confronting the fire district to address both the present and long-term needs of our community.

While I can respect that there can be differences of opinion regarding certain decisions made, both by the previous fire chief and the current board, they have always been made in the best long-term interest of this community. But Candidate Kelly prefers to use charged language like “squandering” and “scheme” when referring to policy or decisions that he disagrees with.

And now advocating a write-in candidate this late in the campaign for a position that both he and retired Assistant Fire Chief Hal Wolverton chose not to pursue, is just typical politics.

Yes, you read me correctly, Wolverton also originally filed as a candidate for position 3, only to then withdraw his name the following Monday. Why the change of heart now? This is something that all voters have a right to ask.

If he was truly interested in seeking the office rather than enjoying his well-earned retirement, the honorable decision would have been to not withdraw his name and instead commit to a campaign of integrity, including complying with Public Disclosure Commission requirements expected of all candidates for public office.

It’s been my honor to serve and as always, I remain committed to serving to the best of my ability. Ultimately the decision is up to you, the voters. All I ask is that you do your own research to reach a fully informed decision regarding who has earned your support and your vote.

Shawn Jensen, Vaughn