Editorial: Glacier’s contributions

A complaint filed by a handful of Islanders last week about Glacier Northwest’s conbributions to a PAC has that proverbial snowball’s chance of making an impact on the statewide electoral landscape.

It’s late in the campaign. The state Executive Ethics Board, the recipient of the complaint, is widely thought to have little clout. And even in the best of circumstances, it seems, the board moves cautiously, even ploddingly.

At the same time, these Island activists have done something very important. They’ve shined a bright light on one of the huge failings of our electoral process — the relatively unchecked power of political action groups to use corporate wealth to influence elections. They’ve also shined a light on

the disconcertingly cozy relationship between Doug Suther-land, the head of the state Department of Natural Resources, and Glacier Northwest, the corporation now seeking his signature on a lease to state-owned aquatic lands.

The group, with Islander Priscilla Beard at the forefront, wants to see Sutherland recuse himself from making a decision on the lease in light of what state records reveal. Last month, Glacier contributed $50,000 to a PAC working to see Sutherland re-elected.

It’s unlikely Sutherland will hand this decision off to an independent commission or person. But at the very least, he and his staff have been put on notice that Vashon is paying close attention. And Islanders now have another window into a process that should give many of us pause.