How would I address a letter to a County Commissioner?
— John Williamson, Redmond, Oregon
Dear Mr. Williamson:
Your question is answered in my book on page 201.
If the commissioner was appointed he or she is:
Mr./Ms. (full name)
Commissioner of Water
Address
If the commissioner is elected in a general election … then he or she is entitled to be:
The Honorable (full name)
Commissioner of Water
Address
And in the salutation, either type of ‘commissioner’ is:
Dear Commissioner (surname):
#1 See my post on County Commissioners.
#2 Regarding use of The Honorable by local officials. I grew up in Arlington, Virginia … and there elected county officials are not addressed as The Honorable by local tradition.
Now I live in New York City … and have discovered that local officials are addressed as The Honorable here.
So you should call his or her office to find out what’s correct.
– Robert Hickey www.formsofaddress.info
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