Regarding the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter’s decision not to take letters to the editor (“Intensity grows as primary nears,” Aug. 3) editor Andy Nystrom stated, “We’re not running those that support a certain candidate because that crosses the line of advertising.” Yet since this “decision” was made, the Reporter has run three letters (two from the same person!) clearly in favor of Gerry Gawne, the only candidate who has purchased advertising in the Reporter. This seems like a conflict of interest.

Even more so when one considers the basic background story on Gerry Gawne that the Reporter has ignored. Gerry Gawne says in the Reporter and in his voter’s statement he is the founder and president of “Gawne Creative Media.” But according to the state of Washington, the company doesn’t exist (read no state taxes paid). According to the state, Gawne is actually an “RV timeshare” developer with a company called “Aventura Resorts Inc.” (http://www.goaventura.com/), a company that raised money in the stock market and then had its stock price go to zero; something Gawne clearly doesn’t want the voters in Bothell to know. The people of Bothell should have had this information before they voted in the primary and the Reporter should not be filtering out letters that expose the truth to protect its advertisers.

Megan Therson, Bothell

Gawne responds

If Ms. Therson had bothered to check the state Department of Revenue site (dor.wa.gov), she would have easily found that Gawne Creative Media (GCM) is indeed fully registered with the state (UBI 602929399) as a “revenue” business.

Also, if she had taken a minute to check with the Bothell’s Community Development Department, she could have easily learned that GCM indeed has a current city business license.

Aventura Resorts is not a timeshare company and was not a timeshare company. Aventura was created to find and develop motorhome resort properties in which individual lots were to be sold fee simple.

Myself and others worked more than three years to bring the company into being. Indeed, just before the recession hit, Aventura was negotiating terms on $250 million in startup financing from Merrill Lynch.

Four-dollars-a-gallon gas and the recession brought virtually all motorhome development and investment to a halt nationwide. Indeed, many of the motorhome manufacturers — including the industry’s largest firm, Monaco (based in Oregon), along with existing motorhome resort firms such as Outdoor Resorts — went into bankruptcy.

Ms. Therson contends “Mr. Gawne clearly doesn’t want the voters in Bothell to know” about Aventura Resorts.

That’s a contention that is false on its face. Aventura Resorts is a public company, filing all reports as required.

Gerry Gawne, candidate for Bothell City Council, Position 3