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ELECTIONS 2004 |
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Nine candidates file for commissionerposted 07/29/04
The field will be whittled down in the September primary. One Republican and one Democrat will be on the ballot for the District 1 commissioner general election. The Independent and Green Party candidates will appear on the November 2, 2004 ballot. Candidate filing deadline 4:30 p.m. Fridayposted 07/29/04
Greens nominating convention validatedposted 07/17/04s
Fenley qualifies for November ballotposted 07/21/04
Greens nominate Whitesposted 06/29/04
In order to appear on the ballot, minor parties and independents had to gather 100 registered voters' signatures at a nominating convention. The Green Party held their convention Saturday, June 26, 2004 in the San Juan Island Library. At the end of the convention, 125 registered voters had signed up, 11 were from outside San Juan County. The signatures will be validated by the county Elections Office. Wendy Stephens running for BOCCDemocrat, District 1
posted 06/28/04
The pace of growth in the county is one of her concerns. "Our population in San Juan County is growing at an accelerated rate as indicated by the census and the rise in property values. The problem with fast paced population growth is that at some point it reaches a critical mass with limited land available and challenges to density laws. I believe that by setting the groundwork for future issues such as transportation, traffic, health and social services, affordable housing, jobs, and environment, we can avoid serious impact on our citizens that will occur if we do not act now." Stephens has worked for the county as a social worker since 1998. She is currently the Lead Senior Services Coordinator at the Mullis Community Senior Center. She is concerned about teen safety and social services for citizens from child to the elderly. She graduated from the City University of New York where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees. She has lived in Washington State for 25 years. As an employee of the state and the county, she has experience with fiscal grant management at the federal, state and local levels. She says, "I believe that the win-win solution occurs when one acts compassionately, analyzes the opposite viewpoint, and applies knowledge from experts in the field. This is what I want to do as a Commissioner. I want to represent the citizens of our County who, like me, want to work together to find common ground and strive to make this place the best it can be. With strong leadership, we can meet the challenges of economic viability, affordable housing, health and social services, transportation, environment, and responsible growth in a compassionate intelligent way. " Fenley running for commissionerIndependent, District 1
posted 06/08/04
Fenley said he looks forward in the weeks ahead to a lively discussion of the issues all islanders face. "As a Commissioner I will strive to bring people together, on the island in general and within county government," Fenley said. "With citizens and commissioners working together we can bridge the gaps between the many interests of our unique island community." Fenley has been in business as a cabinetmaker and small manufacturer on San Juan Island for nine years. He has been a small businessman for 22 years in Washington State. He said, as a resident and business person, he's ready and eager to foster an environment of pride and purpose in the departments of county government much like his own crafted products. Fenley will hold a Nominating Convention from 10 a..m. to dusk on June 26, 2004 at his home office. He invites all insland voters to attend. For more information email: fenleyco@rockisland.com or call 360.378.5637. Evans running for re-electionRepublican, District 2
posted 06/08/04
"Adequate supplies of drinking water, adequate sewage and storm water treatment are needs that must be met," he said. "The benefits of modern voice, data and video technology should be available to the citizens of San Juan County." Evans taught high school for two years after graduating from the University of Oregon. He then became a restaurant owner, corporate executive, wholesale nursery owner and organic farmer. Evans and his wife Wanda operate Evans Farm Nursery on Orcas Island. The couple purchased their farm in 1973 and moved full-time to the county in 1983. They have two grown sons and two grandchildren. Evans has been a volunteer fireman for 14 years and was a charter member of the Orcas Island Community Band. The county's scenic road program which calls for "safe and scenic" rather than "straight and wide" roads and establishment of the county's Marine Resource Committee are two of his accomplishments while in office. Evans says, "It takes commitment, a willingness to listen and ultimately, the ability to make thoughtful choices to achieve a rational balance between the need for a strong local economy, jobs for working families, affordable housing, opportunity for citizens at all stages of their lives, a dynamic community, public safety, environmental protection and maintaining the "island way of life." Your County government has an important role to play in each of these matters. I am seeking re-election to continue the positive initiatives that are underway." Lichter running for commissionerDemocrat, District 2
posted 04/08/04
A Northwesterner for much of his life, he began visiting Orcas in the 60s. He and his wife, Kate, have lived on Orcas part-time since 1987 and full-time since 1996. He is a long-distance hiker, a private pilot, and a volunteer in several areas of island life. Lichter is a retired university professor, educated at the University of Washington, with national and international experience in conflict resolution and arbitration. As a graduate student at UW, he was elected to chair a citizen committee that resolved street clashes between police, merchants, and students. He gained more experience in mediation at his faculty post at the University of Kansas, and as a Fulbright Professor in Poland during the growth of the Solidarity Movement. "We’re privileged to live in the San Juans," Lichter said. "But we need to do a better job stewarding our human and natural resources. Our governance process has many problems that require immediate attention and thoughtful planning for the future." Lichter's retirement on Orcas has been anything but leisurely: a private pilot since 1996, he is a Mercy Flight pilot, transporting cancer patients to mainland medical facilities for treatment. He is the President of Airhawk Aviators, a non-profit group that provides scholarships for County teenagers seeking to obtain pilot licenses. He and his wife are Resource Stewards in Moran State Park, where they hike trails weekly assisting trail users and reporting problem areas to the Park Director. Lichter has presented several lectures in literature and poetry for the Orcas Library and is a member of its book purchasing committee. Seven years ago, he founded the Tough Trekkers men’s hiking club on Orcas, which he still leads. He has also directed several Readers’ Theater plays for Orcas Center. As a young man living in Boston, he was the owner/manager of a retail business his father had started. After two years in the military, he moved to Seattle, where he was quickly drawn to the San Juan Islands. Lichter considers himself "very optimistic" about the County’s future and about local government. "Politics is the place where things get done. With other citizens, through a process of on-going and respectful dialogue, I plan to help build a government with vision broad enough to meet the needs of all islanders, and wisdom enough to relinquish power to the common voice," he said. Ranker running for commissionerDemocrat, District 1
posted 04/02/04
Ranker spent part of his childhood on Orcas Island where his grandmother, Bea Ranker, was a kindergarten teacher for many years. He moved back to the San Juan Islands in the early 90s. Building up the local economy is a priority for Ranker, "Our county Government needs to fully commit to not just supporting, but enhancing our local families’ ability to live and thrive here," he said. "I look forward to working closely with local business owners and members of the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC)to develop specific plans for local economic development." Before coming back to Washington state, Kevin was a specialist with Los Angeles County Department of Education working with high-risk youth and the county alcohol and drug programs. For the past nine years, he has worked with local and international non- profit organizations, where he focused on local, state and federal policy, community development and conservation. He serves on several local, state, federal and private boards and commissions developing policy and overseeing multi-million dollar budgets. Ralph Hahn running for commissionerRepublican, District 1
posted 03/10/04
Hahn and his wife Marci moved to the San Juans in 1997 when he was offered the position of Friday Harbor High School principal. They have been married for 34 years and have two sons. The couple lived in Sonoma, California before moving to the Northwest. Hahn noted his father was a Washington native. He moved the family to southern California when Ralph was ten years old. "I spent the next forty years, working my way back home," he said. "This is home." Hahn, a Republican, is on the board of Island Rec and is active with the San Juan Public Schools Foundation and Kiwanis. He has been attending BOCC meetings. Economic development of the islands is a top concern for him. A economy based on the service industry is a tough one to keep going, he said. "I'm concerned about how the county is going to sustain itself." Attracting businesses that fit into the county without disrupting the qualities which attracted us all here in the first place would be a priority for Hahn. His goal in running for commissioner is to use his experience in dealing with people to find resolutions to the issues facing the county. At the end of his term he would want people to be able to say: he listened, he heard what we had to say, he paid attention and we felt well represented. Bigler running for commissionerRepublican, District 1
posted 12/05/03
"I have a long background in business," said Bigler, whose wife Julie Palmer owns Velvet Touch Pet Grooming. "I have owned and operated a business for 25 years, and I know how to operate within a budget - which is something we must learn to do here in San Juan County. Our county is a wonderful place to live, and we can be proud of the diversity of our population. I believe it is the job of the County Commissioners to protect and fulfill the promise of our county's future." The couple have lived in Friday Harbor for 11 years. Bigler was owner/operator of Friday Harbor Grocery until it burned down in May 2002. He says since then, a wide range of county residents have been urging him to run for office. "This wasn't an easy decision," Bigler says. "Julie and I discussed it thoroughly before deciding to go forward. What finally made us decide to go for it is our concern, as residents and business owners, that if we don't get the county government working properly it will become impossible for working people to live here. And if working people leave, our problems will worsen. We need them - and they need a County Commissioner who understands their problems, and who knows how to manage our County so they can live here, work here, and raise their families here." Bigler, a Republican, graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Business Administration after serving in U.S. Army Intelligence during the Vietnam era. He is a member of the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce and president of the San Juan Pilot's Association. |
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