In last week's paper I read that the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District directors extended Mr. Carpenter's contract for another five years. The first strange thing in this that his current contract does not expire for another three years! They not only extended it, but gave him quite a substantial raise to manage six or seven seasonal employees. The comment was that he hasn't received a raise in two or three years. Who has? With the economy the way it is, most people are thankful to just have a job. This pay range - $100,000 plus benefits now puts him in the same range as somebody running an entire government sector, managing hundreds of employees and responsible for millions of dollars in budget.

The second peculiar thing is: why do this now, when his current contract has years to go? Is it that the current directors are afraid that the axis of power in their little regime is going to change and they will then be held accountable for how they are spending tax payer's dollars? I, for one, feel that my tax dollars could, and should, be put to better use! Therefore, I will support Mick Hansen on Dec. 13.