Editorial Reprise: YOU Are the Government

— by Margie Doyle, revised, originally published May 2, 2017 —

One of the curiosities of local news publishing is how often “Government” is one of the categories that we check off before posting our stories live.

• School? that’s government.
• Fire and Rescue? that’s government, too.
• As is Senior Services, agriculture, marine, and many of our non-profits and public services that address cultural and lifestyle issues on our “rural and remote” island; basically, any effort that is supported by taxpayers and/or funded by county, state, or federal mechanisms, is government.

For the Greatest Generation, who came of age in the Depression (1930-1945) there’s a built-in ethic of working hard and adhering to long-held principles;

For the Baby Boomers, born between 1945 and 1964, our ethic is best captured by the inalienable, god-given rights and social service ideals expressed by JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”

It’s harder for me to speak to the principles of the Gen-Xers and the Millennials, but I’m heartened by the thoughtfulness and activism of Orcas Islanders of those generations: speaking up for the environment; starting new schools, businesses, and food coops; instilling new standards of playfulness and creativity: and incorporating the technological “personae” of the internet, electronics and now, drones and robots.

What holds true for all of us is that we need each other’s assistance, goodwill, and conversation. It was startling to read the notice from the County Elections office [in May] and realize how many taxing district positions were open for election this fall:

• 3 positions for the School Board
• 3 positions for Park and Recreation
• 2 positions for Fire and Rescue
• 4 positions for Port of Orcas
• 2 for Eastsound Sewer and Water District

This is not to knock any currently-serving commissioners, who may re-up for another term in their office; rather, those elected officials are to be commended for their usually-thankless service to our community. But this is a reminder to all our neighbors fortunate enough to live on Orcas Island and in San Juan County, that now is the window of opportunity to make our own mark in these positions, to implement ideas, and advance policies that we’ve been longing to see happen.

Retiring Director Tony Ghazel said of his 12 years of service on the Orcas School Board:”You have to have a passion for excellence in education, and you will get out of it in proportion to what you give in to it.”

Now, in 2018, the list is even longer for volunteers to serve on County boards: see from Dec. 2017 https://theorcasonian.com/county-open-spot/

It’s generally acknowledged that one of the outcomes of the 2016 national Election is the galvanized electorate and an increase in civic discussion and activism. Now is the time for those concerned about public policy and government to put actions behind their words and serve officially in local government. We have a history of dedicated, public servants expressing the desires, challenges, and standards of San Juan County. Let that tradition continue as we face the challenges and opportunities of our times.

For more information about filing for office, contact the Elections Office at 360 378-3357. Additional information about each committee is available on the County’s website at: sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or Contact the Council Office at: (360) 378-2898 sueko@sanjuanco.com