I breathed a deep sigh of relief when the contentious campaign to renew the EMS levy ended with an overwhelming yes vote. But I exhaled too early.

On Feb. 13, Fire Commissioner Frank Cardinale decided to fire off one more letter to the editor. In it, he said, “I am writing to tell you that certain people in our community have acted disgracefully in their inappropriate use of personal accusations, made-up stories and outright lies to attack, defame and threaten a resident of our islands – our appointed Fire Chief Norvin Collins.”

Somehow, I don’t think the rest of us need to take civility lessons from the guy who, in a recorded public meeting, called the chair of the elected Public Hospital District Commission a “bitch.”

As to the substance of his complaint, I would guess that I’m one of his “certain people in our community” because I did state in letters that in my considered opinion, as a close observer of the PHD since 2015 and of the entire merger effort, a leading cause of the failure of the merger of EMS and Fire was the ongoing behavior of the fire chief. That wasn’t an attack, defamation or a lie. And I wasn’t alone. Many community members and officials, based on their experience in dealing with the fire chief and the fire commission, recommended against putting EMS under the control of the current leadership at fire. They didn’t attack, defame or lie either. In fact, the only personal attacks, defamation and lies I read during the campaign came from the small group that led the fight to defeat the levy.

The voters have spoken, resoundingly. I think it’s time for the fire chief and Fire Commissioners Cardinale and Olson to stop interfering with EMS, be quiet and start working at being a constructive partner to the other first response agencies on the island. EMS is doing just fine saving lives and keeping our community safe.

Richard Grout

Friday Harbor