Guest Column: Important Questions Asked at County LWV Forums

By Gay Wilmerding

League of Women Voters of the San Juans’ spring forums bring sunlight to transitions in San Juan County.

About sixty people attended on San Juan; ninety-plus on Orcas; and sixty-five on Lopez.  For the first time, Ken Norris of micro station 1650 am broadcast the meeting live to the Town of Friday Harbor,  and Tom Munsey filmed as usual.  Friends and colleagues who missed the event may listen on fhtinyradio.com; or, see candidates at San Juan Public Access Media, sjmedia.org, and Cable 19.

Having chosen last November to change from a 6-member Council with 6 districts in which voters elected a single Council member from just their district,  April’s election is for a new 3-member Council in which all County voters elect one Council member from each of three, newly designated, geographic districts. [Until] April 23rd, you may vote for ONE member from EACH Residency District.  District 1 being San Juan; District 2, Orcas; and District 3, Lopez.

Economics link the islands. On San Juan, islanders express concern for implementation costs of regulation, access to health care and the gasification plant proposed at Sutton and Roche Harbor Roads [on San Juan Island].  San Juan and Orcas share solid waste responsibilities; Lopez is autonomous within the County.  Using tax levies as a tool for community growth and infrastructure quality to balance cumulative debt and environmental degradation, who receives tax subsidy?  Do, for instance, taxpayers benefit equally from the 50-year, +12% assessment on each property in San Juan’s Hospital and EMS Districts?

On Orcas, near growls greet news of Council’s 4-2 vote for placing a 5-member, 5-district proposition on this November’s ballot.  Audience reaction has less to do with merits of proposal than with frustration at constant change.  Confusion in leadership depresses voter turnout and County staff; and, may be resolved in court at taxpayer expense.  Since their vote is first of three required “touches” in the public decision process, let your Council representative and candidates know what you want, soon.

On Lopez, the first hour for candidates drew more audience than the second for the $15.5 million general-obligation bond measure to improve facilities at Lopez and Decatur Schools.  On the one hand, a modern campus acts as a magnet; on the other, higher taxes cause hardship for fixed-income folk.  Upgrading building systems, adding rain catchment and energy efficiencies decrease maintenance and utility costs.  Lopez voters will decide on April 23rd if the educational boost to community and savings of comprehensive renovation combined with historic, low interest rates justify cost.

Given leadership changes and large infrastructure improvements, like $34 million dollar OPALCO broadband initiative which requires cooperation with local governments, islanders need accurate, timely information for decision-making. Visit LWVWA’s VOTE411.org site for Council candidate responses to five questions about local issues. As LWVSJ forums focus more on individual candidates, please access radio and media broadcasts or multiple news articles to inform yourself.

Leadership matters.

Gay Wilmerding is a San Juan Island member of the League of Women Voters of the San Juans.