||| FROM ED ANDREWS |||
Toni Knudson is a dear friend of mine. She’s as loyal and hard working as they come. Like a true Orcasonian, she’s there to lend a hand when you’re in need. She’s full of passion and love, especially when it comes to the things she cares about. Nothing tops that list more than this small rock in the middle of the Salish and the people that call it home. These are just some of the qualities that make Toni an excellent choice as a Fire Commissioner on Orcas.
As many of you know, Toni and Mark Sawyer are the owners of Buck Bay Shellfish. Buck Bay is a highly successful business that employs over 40 people on the island and manages a six-month budget that exceeds the yearly budget of the Fire Department. She has a degree in Accounting from Shoreline Community College. Her management and vision have led to the rising success of her business.
Prior to running her own business, Toni was a building inspector for San Juan County. During her time there, she often managed over 60 projects at any one time and conducted numerous building inspections to ensure that building projects were adhering to County codes.
We have all witnessed or at least heard of the turmoil that has ravaged the Fire Department over the last few years. It has led to a Fire Commission composed of four appointed Commissioners and only one that was elected.
The Fire Chief has resigned. The Finance Manager has resigned. Many talented and skilled employees and volunteers have also resigned. Thankfully we still have exceptional firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs serving on our behalf, but this certainly cannot be the definition of an organization firing on all cylinders. We can do better.
If elected, I believe Toni will work to reengage with the staff, volunteers, and residents of Orcas Island to ensure that we are listened to, heard and respected. She’ll also ensure that the Commission becomes more transparent with the community. Doing these two simple things is the first step to reestablishing our trust in the Commission.
She’s on record for opposing this levy, as it was created and put before us with little to no public input by a Commission composed almost entirely of unelected officials. If passed, the levy will almost double your fire taxes — an 82% increase. Forever. This is not the way levies should work, and it will hit those on fixed incomes, blue collar workers and their families, and renters, the hardest. It will certainly make it more difficult for many of our friends and neighbors to remain on the Island when they already have so much working against them to remain here.
I know you all love this community as much as I do. While I hope that you’ll vote for Toni, it’s okay if we don’t see it the same way. We are in a fortunate position to have choices in this very important race. I just ask that you vote for the candidate that you believe can lead our Fire Commission to a healthy and thriving future.
To learn more about Toni, visit Toni For Change and vote by August 1st!
Well said. Even eloquent.
Toni impressed me at the Voters Forum. Not only did she educate us about the levy, but also about what was bought equipment-wise when it should have been money put into functioning and safe fire engines. That was a wake up call for me. I didn’t feel she ever once shamed us, as I did from the appointed incumbent – no matter how hard she worked. There are many truths the public doesn’t know and may never know because it has been hidden and kept from us – some of that, illegally. But Toni stressed that we need to move on and learn from mistakes – not blame each other. I saw her sincerity and caring in her presentation. She was there to witness the mass exodus of career staff and volunteers. She was there to see the dug-in resistance to our questions and Public Records Requests; the hurtful behaviors toward staff and volunteers, the unanimous vote of no confidence – can they all have been wrong? I think not. I know she can manage money well. I know she understands that we need a levy – just a different one than this monstrous idea of a permanent 82% increase with no checks and balances for protecting Capital funds. I am not sure if we can separate monies out in a levy – capital funds from operations fund – but if we can, I want a levy that does that; and I think most people critical of a levy want that too. We want at least an explanation of why decisions were made without considering public input. What impressed me most is, I know where Toni stands and what she will work for – that counts a lot when people are trying to figure out who and what they are voting for, and why. I was most impressed with Toni’s clarity and unwavering commitment to helping fix and heal the divide.
I was also with Kate’s fire district experience and balanced attitude. I hope people will choose one of them in this primary. it’s a tough choice! I wish they were running for different seats. We need this kind of commitment to change that is healing and will put us on solid foundation again. I hope the Public realizes that this may take some time but I feel certain it can be done with the participation of all.