Initiatives, candidate statements and more at election forum
Published 5:07 pm Saturday, October 13, 2012
Orcas Islanders know how to ask the tough questions.
A large crowd gathered for the League of Women of the San Juans election forum on Saturday. Lisa Byers moderated the event.
Audience members heard from representatives on each side of the charter review propositions and candidates running for both state and local positions.
Charter Review Commission Propositions #1-3
Charter Review Commission member Steve Garrison spoke in favor of the amendments and county council member Richard Fralick, Orcas West, spoke against them. The propositions would cut the council from six part-time members to three full-time members (prop. 1); replace the executive county administrator position with a county manager (prop. 2); and mandate that all county council meetings be open to the public (prop. 3).
Audience member Bob Distler asked Fralick if balkanization (division of a region into smaller, hostile groups) is a concern when having voters only choose representation from districts not county-wide.
“The council looks at the welfare of the entire county as a whole,” Fralick said. “You have less individual access to council members when it’s just three – plus you lose diversity on the council.” He added that the council regularly meets on smaller islands like Lopez, Waldron and Shaw.
Garrison argued that in the CRC’s survey of island residents, many felt they did not have access to council members who live outside their district.
CRC member Ralph Gutschmidt asked Fralick if going back to three members would improve fiscal responsibility and downsizing in other departments.
“I don’t think the size of the council has anything to do with fiscal responsibility,” Fralick said. “We used to have 257 county employees and now we have less than 230. We have cut back.”
In regards to prop. 2, Garrison argued that it eliminates the wall between the county council and the manager by having the council take a more hands-on approach. Fralick felt that separation of power is needed, particularly when council members may not be equipped to manage the day-to-day operations.
“The council sets policy and the administrator handles operations,” he said. “To turn it over to amateurs is just not good governance.”
Garrison said that 34 of Washington state’s 39 counties currently have a structure similar to prop. 2.
“Surely San Juan County is not that complicated,” he said. “The three council members can delegate issues to staff members.”
Fralick said the current six-council has spent the last four years “dealing with past issues that were not addressed” in the previous government structure. He also said prop. 3 is irrelevant because, per the state’s Open Meetings Act, three or more council members cannot meet in private. Garrison countered that it had happened in the past.
“Those were planning meetings with staff and the county administrator to go over dates on the calendar,” Fralick said.
State elections
Senator Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas, gave a brief speech but could not answer questions as his opponent, John Swapp, Independent-GOP, was not in attendance. The two are running for senate in the 40th District, which includes San Juan County and portions of Skagit and Whatcom counties.
“It’s been an absolute honor to serve you for the last four years,” Ranker said. “I have been laser-focused on job creation state-wide … And something I will be most of proud of – for the rest of my life – is helping with the freedom for all citizens to marry. You will all get to vote on that this November (Referendum 74).”
State Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon, spoke about his work with green energy and clean technology, which has helped Washington rank in the top 10 for cleanest energy country-wide.
A representative for Green Party candidate Howard Pellett said Morris has been influenced by campaign contributions from corporations.
“No amount of money influences my decisions,” Morris said.
GMO-free initiative
Initiative 2012-4 would make it unlawful, in San Juan County, to propagate, cultivate, raise or grow plants, animals and other organisms that have been genetically modified, and it provides for penalties and destruction of such organisms. Only people who knowingly and willfully violate this measure will be prosecuted. Orcas Islander Ken Wood spoke for the measure; no one was in attendance to speak against the initiative.
“This is an historic opportunity,” Wood said. “As farmers, we desire to save the purity of our seed.”
County Council District #4, Orcas West
Rick Hughes and Scott Lancaster are running for county council, Orcas West. Hughes cited his work experience at ESPN and running Ray’s Pharmacy for seven years as preparing him for a seat on the council.
“My number #1 priority will be economic development in the areas of tourism, construction and real estate,” he said. “I also want to improve the permitting process and look at revising county code.”
He supports OPALCO’s broadband initiative, wants to put the Critical Areas Ordinance “to bed,” and institute a media commission that would foster relationships with the entertainment industry. Many films are shot in British Columbia; Hughes hopes to drive some of that business to the islands.
Lancaster said his seven years on the school board and running Island Hardware and then owning Ace Hardware gives him ample business experience.
“I can lead and move forward and bring new ideas to the council,” he said. “I am running for this so I can continue to give back to the community … on the five-member school board, which operates similarly to the council, we have made some really difficult decisions. I’ve also worked with our representatives in Olympia.”
On behalf of the LWVSJ, Byers asked what the candidates hope to accomplish after their four years in office.
Hughes wants to see an international port of entry at the Port of Orcas. Lancaster hopes to improve the permitting department and create more jobs in the county.
