Voting against my friend

Dear editor:

Mollie Marsh has been a friend of mine for nearly 10 years. We worked together to develop and coordinate many youth programs while we both worked at Mountain Home Air Force Base in the 1990s.

I trusted Mollie and her decisions. That is why a few years later when Mollie worked to form the Western Elmore County Recreation District, and I was a member of the Mountain Home City Council, I gave her my cautious support. Cautious support because it didn't seem feasible that placing a flat per household fee would raise enough money to support to the Rec District. Mollie personally assured me the flat per household fee would be enough, and that she would not raise the tax as long as she was on the WECRD board.

Molly was wrong. There wasn't enough money. Worse, she raised taxes when I wasn't paying attention, and without public input. Mollie and the WECRD members switched the fees from "per household" to a "property tax" with increases to both businesses and residents. Mollie's part in this deeply offended me.

Having said my piece, I will not support Mollie. My vote for Western Elmore County Recreation District Director will go to Leanna Whitney on Nov. 4.

Fred W. Prouty