Letter: Bunn deserves to be re-elected

As a resident of Woodbury who is concerned about the quality of his city water and also out of a professional interest, I attended the East Metro PFC Oversight Committee meeting, chaired by State Rep. Julie Bunn, on Aug. 14.

We heard updates from the Minnesota Department of Health and Pollution Control Agency, groups that are doing the bio monitoring work (evaluating, treatment, health tracking) for PFOA and PFOS and PFBA substances in area groundwater.

This important work to ensure public health results from bills authored by Rep. Bunn and passed into law. These included bills that require establishment of health risk limits on the chemicals PFOA/PFOS found in our drinking water, health tracking and bio monitoring and evaluation of water treatment units in removing PFCs.

It is my understanding that Julie's opponent has never attended these community meetings over the last two years — yet in June, after she began campaigning in her race against Julie Bunn, she was suddenly named by Gov. Pawlenty to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizen's Board.

Unlike the other members of this board, she has no credentials in environmental health or government policy-making.

As a graduate engineer with 30 years experience with chemical processes, I have come to respect and appreciate Julie Bunn's demonstrated leadership, her credentials and her genuine concern for and attention to this water pollution issue in Washington County.

She deserves to be re-elected as the District 56A Representative to ensure continuation of this important work.

Daniel deJongh

Woodbury

Tags: opinion, letter, bunn, dejongh, julie, pfoa