Gillette leads council race by one vote

One vote.

Wally Gillette wasn’t declaring victory Tuesday and Howie Rosenfeld wasn’t conceding, as one vote separated them in the race for Friday Harbor Town Council, Position 3.

At 10:30 p.m. with all precincts reporting, Gillette led with 225 votes to Rosenfeld’s 224. As many as 1,700 countywide absentee ballots had not been returned, and it was uncertain how many of those ballots were from Friday Harbor.

David Jones, however, apparently won the race for the Position 4 council seat, receiving 338 votes to James “Droopy” Orr’s 93.

“I’m still amazed,” said Rosenfeld, who lost a 1999 council race to Carrie Brooks by 27 votes. “As I campaigned, I couldn’t believe how many people didn’t vote or had no interest. A significant number of people’s religious beliefs preclude them from voting. It made campaigning kind of strange.”

At 11 p.m., Gillette was calling the race “a tie” and “anybody’s race.”

“I’m off the hook,” he said. “I came out with professionalism and experience, and as far as I’m concerned, if voters don’t accept that then I’m off the hook. The voters have spoken and I respect their judgment. If I can offer my service, fine. I’m not at all upset.”

The four candidates sought to succeed Debbie Dickinson and Hedda King, who chose not to seek second terms. Council members receive $75 a meeting, up to four meetings a month. They receive no other benefits.

For Jones, the election means a continuation of a public service career that began in the Navy as a submarine officer. He is now a lieutenant in the town fire department.

As a councilman, Jones wants to reach a labor agreement with the town’s employees’ union. The town and its employees have been negotiating a union contract for more than a year. He also wants to reach agreement with the county regarding the solid waste site. Town and county officials cannot reach agreement on a purchase price for the solid waste site, which the town wants to sell so it can acquire a public works yard in town.

Orr, whose wife Emily ran for San Juan Island School Board, wanted residents to have more say about how their tax dollars are spent.

“There needs to be more communication between the council and residents,” he said. “(And) there needs to be open and frank dialogue with town employees.”

Gillette wants to use his engineering experience to help the town complete important public works projects, like the wastewater treatment plant.

“I am the only candidate with this experience,” Gillette said at the Oct. 24 candidates’ forum. “My knowledge of the field of engineering will give (the town administrator) clout as he negotiates construction costs.”

Rosenfeld’s priorities: Create stable neighborhoods through affordable home ownership, increase downtown parking, protect the town’s water resources.

Rosenfeld said he was disappointed that less than only 43.7 percent of the town’s registered voters went to the polls.

“That’s not a majority of the voters and that’s pretty sad, particularly after an attack on our national identity. There’s all these flags flying around — don’t (residents) make the connection?”

Before the polls closed, Councilwoman Vonda Sheiman had one word of advice for her new colleagues: Patience.

“Being patient is probably the biggie,” she said. “There’s so much information to be brought up to speed on. You feel like you’re a burden because they’re talking about stuff you have no idea about. You can’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Sheiman said her new colleagues will get a “new perspective” on what it takes to implement change. “The learning curve is there,” she said. “Everyone has to learn to work together.”

For statewide results visit State Election Results site.

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