||| FROM KEVIN RANKER |||
If San Juan County is going to have better ferry service, state funds for important projects and advocates for other critical islands issues, we need County Council Members who maintain relationships with key state officials. This however must be more than just our supportive State Representatives, Senator or key Agency leads. What we need are County Council Members who are also willing to spend considerable time in Olympia and, when necessary, in other Legislative Districts, building and maintaining relationships with other critical decision-makers. This is not just a phone call or just going to Olympia when the Association of Counties holds their lobby day, and dozens of county officials swarm the capital for 15-minute meetings. What is required of our County Council is that they spend significant time at the Capital so that they are present when state officials have the time to listen to our island needs and more importantly, come to recognize and trust the messenger.
In the past twenty years, there is no San Juan County official who has spent more time in Olympia than Rick Hughes. There is a direct correlation between the personal relationships our county officials maintain with state officials and the level of service we receive. When I was our State Senator there were several occasions when I would randomly bump into Rick at the capital. I would say, “Rick? I am so sorry; I didn’t know we had a meeting today!” Rick would respond, “We don’t, I am here to meet with the Chair of the Transportation Committee about our ferry service.” This happened on several occasions. So much so in-fact that on two occasions I walked into a restaurant for a meal with some fellow Senators and was shocked to see my San Juan County Council Member sitting there with other legislators talking about island issues – making sure they not only understood, but genuinely appreciated our unique island needs.
I cannot underscore how critical this work is. For San Juan County to be successful, we must have County Council Members who spend significant time advocating for us far outside of this county… and it must be in person and not just for a hearing! Far more important than a Zoom meeting or attending a hearing are the random deeper conversations you can have in the hallway or off campus.
Rick Hughes not only knows how to do this and will hit the ground running, but he has maintained all of these relationships. It is why he is endorsed by our full state delegation and many more state leaders.
If we want better Ferry service and state support for our natural resources, economic drivers and more, we must elect the candidate who knows what the job requires and how to do it… and has proven he is willing to spend dozens of days a year off island powerfully advocating for us.
Without impugning Rick’s competition, my experience with Rick is as a doer, not a talker. You may or may not feel warm and fuzzy after a conversation with Rick, but if the issue is crucial, Rick is on it and if at all possible (sometimes it isn’t) something is going to happen.
Fully agree County Council should maintain contact and good relations with state decision makers.
But hope for better WSF service is not going to come about from one or more San Juan County Commissioners working the decision makers in Olympia.
The fundamental issue is a historical one that dates back to pre-WSF ”s acquisition of the most the state ferries in 1951. Maritime unions have always wanted more money and benefits. They can’t strike by state law. But there are other legal ways to put pressure on contract negotiations, and that appears to be happening with crew shortages (they are currently only operating 15 or 16 ferries from the normal 19) and possibly late ferries … overtime pay is time and a half or two and half time, depending on circumstances.
Representation in Olympia is SUPPOSED to be taken care of by our state legislators, whom we elected and PAY to do just that. The county council should not need to be running to Olympia every week. County councilors hanging out in Olympia look like they are preparing for running for state office. A little of that is appropriate and may even help keep SJC issues on the front of our state legislator’s minds in an emotional context. But I expect my county councilors to be in Friday Harbor, taking care of county business, not eating lunch in Olympia scoping out their next job.
“Representation in Olympia is SUPPOSED to be taken care of by our state legislatures”.
Operative word is “SUPPOSED” which, in my opinion, has not happened and we have recently reelected these same state representatives.
As important as ferry service is to our county I would expect ferry service would be at the top of the council agenda and they would be rattling a few cages in Olympia.
A former state Senator, endorsing a former County Councilor who both were active and involved in a ferry operation which fell into full disrepair under their watches.
I don’t know that all that time in Olympia was incredibly valuable.
Decisions in Olympia greatly affect us and, because our mainland friends have more access to legislators, therefore, more influence, their needs can become prioritized over ours. In-person face-to-face time with legislators in Olympia is something even our School Board Directors engage in every year to inform and impact the laws and budget allocation that impact our rural island schools. Our environmental non-profits spend significant time with the governor, senators and representatives, too, and I hope that all of our county council candidates understand that we need them to build relationships for us, ensure our needs are known, and fight for us on the hill in order to tackle issues like the ferries and affordable housing.