||| FROM JUSTIN PAULSEN |||
If 2020 has highlighted nothing else within our country it is that political division has seeped into every function of our society. As our current generation navigates social, health and economic waters which have never before been explored, one factor continually crops up, which although completely irrelevant to the issues, seems to exert undue influence: Partisanship. Partisan political influence has driven discussions of solutions and compromise off the table, instead creating division that paints success as only attainable at the demise of the opposing viewpoint. We live in a time where political polarization is a tool that is used to divide, enflame and turn us against our neighbors. “If you’re not with us, then you are against us.” As we have seen all too often, this mentality not only stifles progress, but actively creates barriers that prevent positive, creative compromise.
It is in the shadow of this pervasive national backdrop that we should take solace in our local political structure. We are lucky in San Juan County to have non-partisan local governance that is not beholden to the financial and ideological influence that partisan politics inputs into decision making. The wisdom of those who drafted our County Charter envisioned the need for impartial representation, driven by community concern, not political affiliation. Unlike many of our neighboring counties, our charter intentionally places our legislators in a position free from partisan affiliation. Through this design, our local legislators are free to execute their work without consideration of or influence from party. Perhaps more importantly, the voices of our county residents are to be equally heard by our representatives regardless of personal, political beliefs. Inevitably there will be issues for which we hold opposing viewpoints but elimination of a partisan filter removes one, unnecessary, obstruction in achieving a suitable compromise.
As we head into what is perhaps the most tumultuous national election in recent history, it is important to step back and remember that our local election is not about political division. Our community is not defined by its political affiliation, but instead by our common focus on providing for the good of one another, the environment and our economy. While our discussions of local policy and legislation are sure to stir emotion and cause disagreement, as citizens and voters, we must continue to demand that our local leaders maintain the distance from party affiliation that our charter envisions. As was recently pointed out to me, there is neither a “d” or an “r” in “San Juan County.” Let’s keep it that way.
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Amen.
Thank you Justin for your extemely well said article. I have been recently distressed to notice that there seems to be a move to turn our election of council members into a political race. That has never been the case and I sure hope it will never be the case. This race is about who is the best qualified person for the position not about which party endorses them. It is a shame to me that we have such an endorsement at this time. In my opinion it is wrong and divisive not what we are about in SJC
I have had the same regrets about this tendency, and fully support the tenor of this article. I am being supported by a party but did not request that support.
The voters of this county are the hiring committee, and under certain circumstances also the firing committee. It’s a job and those elected represent and work for the betterment of all of us, not just a party.
Thank you to those of you who have raised the question as to political parties endorsing in nonpartisan races. I can only speak for the county Democrats, of which I am chair, but I can tell you that we thought long and hard about this. Part of the purpose of political parties is to advise their members about candidates, but that doesn’t necessarily turn the races partisan. If you were to examine the questions we asked candidates, they have nothing to do with partisan political issues. Instead, they are questions related to what is best for the county. For instance, we asked about affordable housing and vacation rentals, growth versus sustainability, tourism and diversifying the economy. and mental health services. Etymologically politics is rooted in Polis= affairs of the city or, in this case, county. Therefore County Council is a political office.
As I said, we gave the idea of endorsement serious consideration, and all but one member of our group decided that it is important to endorse and support county level candidates. It puts running for office in the realm of possibility for regular working people. Political parties exist for the purpose of helping candidates, preferably good ones, get elected. At the county level we can help put together a campaign organization and volunteer base and give a little seed money to pay for ads, signs, mailings and a website. If we choose to endorse, we can provide access to our voter database and candidate training. This year we are pleased to support two very talented County Council candidates. We know them well because they are part of our leadership team. We are proud of them and glad they are proud of their service to the County Democratic Party. It is worth noting that although our Republican counterparts did not choose to send a postcard, they did send out an email to their membership endorsing Rick Hughes and Christine Minney. Should our two endorsed candidates, Ryan Palmateer and Cindy Wolf, win election as county councilors, they will be working for the good of the people of this county, not working to serve the local Democratic Party.
(Well, David Turnoy beat me to the punch. So read what follows with the understanding that I wrote it before he submitted his comment.) All of the above is nonsense. It’s also a transparent attempt to discredit Cindy Wolf’s candidacy and, by implication, Ryan Palmateer’s. Political parties exist for a number of reasons. One of them is to advise its members which candidates in any given election best represent the values and policies that party espouses. When political parties issue endorsements in a non-partisan race that does not suddenly make the race partisan. This allegation gets trotted out periodically in this county. It almost always comes from the Republican party because the county is so heavily Democratic. The Republicans find it threatening when the Democrats endorse non-partisan candidates. However, in the current races for two county council seats the Republicans endorsed Rick Hughes and Christine Minney and the Democrats endorsed Cindy Wolf and Ryan Palmateer. Hughes was a known Republican before his first run for county council and it’s becoming apparent that Minney is the candidate of Friday Harbor business interests. Wolf is a Democratic precinct committee officer and Palmateer is the executive secretary of the SJC Democratic party. So who is honestly surprised by any of this? Trust me, no one is. And, guess what, tomorrow the county council and the council races will still be non-partisan. (Full disclosure: I’m an Independent and have been for years.)
As a psychiatrist, I assure you that every human has biases, some are just more obvious or some people are more willing to admit honestly and openly what they feel and believe. Failing to see this is not different than saying that systemic racism doesn’t exist because you don’t see it or haven’t been a victim or beneficiary, when it would be impossible not to be. Since the beginning of time, no one has been able to invent a system of governance that is free of bias or influence. Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Moses, Marx, Lenin, and even out illustrious “founding fathers” all tired but none have succeeded. So if you think SJC has done so, there is clearly “something rotten in Denmark…”
Thank you for this letter, Justin.
As a core principle of my campaign I chose to not seek any endorsement from a political party. Having been endorsed by the Republican Party was not at my request or affiliation. I would like voters to choose to vote for me because they feel I am representative of them personally and not because a political party advises them to do so. I have chosen to run my campaign as the long standing, competent community member that I am. I do own a small business, yes. It has been a labor of love and is very locally driven and supported. I am proud of that. I do not have a special interest in representing the business community but rather the community as a whole.