||| FROM MIKE CARLSON, et. al* |||
Kari McVeigh has sought and received the endorsement of the San Juan County Democratic Party. In doing so, she has demonstrated her newness to San Juan County and that she lacks the local knowledge and background about what the citizens of San Juan County thought to be an important condition written into article 5 of the San Juan County Home Rule Charter:
5.32: “Qualified voters of the County shall nominate candidates for the County Council. Such candidates shall be nominated by countywide primary election for non-partisan office in the same manner as candidates for other County offices”.
It’s common in our small county to understand what party a given candidate prefers but to openly and blatantly run a campaign that flaunts partisanship as a prominent aspect of her campaign is violation of the spirit of our County Charter. The McVeigh campaign has run roughshod over the non-partisan tradition of our County Charter.
The McVeigh campaign has insensitively chosen “Team Blue” in lieu of representing ALL islanders regardless of party affiliations.
Mutual tolerance must be well rounded. Kari’s choice to ignore the spirit of non-partisanship is offensive and comes across as intolerant to many island folks who would rather view islanders as neighbors instead of Republicans vs. Democrats.
At a candidate forum I was at, Kari boasted that she has the endorsements of our House and Senate Representatives (all Democratic) in Olympia so she will “hit the ground running”. In my mind that’s a “gee thanks” circumstance so we can look forward to more “gifts” from Olympia and even D.C. such as the Trails through San Juan Valley, the Destination Management Plan, Subsidized Solar Farms on our San Juan Valley farm land and Electric Ferries over a common sense reliable ferry system.
San Juan County does not need a county counselor who comes from an urban, out-of-state bureaucratic background, but rather a counselor who has had real involvement with the working families who work hard to survive and raise families, farm, run-work in small businesses and the locals who make this county of islands such a special place to live. “Saving the Islanders” must be a priority for San Juan County.
- Mike Carlson
- Amrita Ibold
- Bob Brunkow
- Gail Mosk
- Ralph Gutschmidt
- Ellen Johnson
- David Schroder
- Tom Starr
- Kyle Wampler
- Paul Arroyo
- Richard Shorett Jr.
- Elaine Mason-Stewart
- Deborah Laura Nash Strasser
- David and Sondra Bayley
- Steve Hudson
- Jere and Joy Lord
- Rich Peterson
- Rex and Lisa Guard
- Bill and Katia Robinson
- Ron Whalen
- Bob Wells
- Robert Anderson
- Jim and Minnie Knych
- Lorianne David,
- Jerry St. Dennis
- Steve Schramm
- Scott and Theresa Lancaster
- Brien Sesby
- Michael Ausilio
- Leif Edwards
- Paul and Kay Berg
- Karl Bruno
- Peter and Brenda Schmidt
- Kelby and Tracy Anderson
- Christine Hinkle
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Mike Carlson et al. have misunderstood or distorted the meaning of article 5.32 of the San Juan County Home Rule Charter, which says only that the office of County Council member is a non-partisan office. They concede as much when they assert that it is “common in our small county to understand what party a given candidate prefers.” In the past, other candidates for non-partisan offices have sought and received endorsements from local political organizations. It is absurd to suggest that such endorsements constitute a violation of either the letter or the spirit of our County Charter.
It is equally nonsensical to suggest that Kari McVeigh’s campaign has “blatantly run a campaign that flaunts partisanship.” She is simply letting the voters know that the local Democratic Party considers her positions on many issues to be in line with their own. The letter’s assertion that Kari “lacks . . . local knowledge and background” is utterly unfounded. Further, she has made clear that she will represent all the County’s citizens regardless of their political affiliations.
Kari McVeigh has demonstrated that she is the better candidate for the County Council based on the positions she has taken and on the professional experience that has prepared her so well to serve our community.
Marc Cohen and Eleanor Hoague
Just curious. Are any of the folks who signed this letter calling for a non-partisan county council Democrats?
And as for who constitutes a local based on how long they’ve lived here or where they came from; who has the right determine this? Because one thing is for sure, we all came here from somewhere else no matter how long ago or how many generations ago.
My vote goes to Kari Mc Veigh in no small part because of attitudes like this.
In the 30 years I have voted in SJCo, it has been the norm for our local political parties to endorse candidates running for the council. John Evans, who served on the council for many years, was endorsed by the Republicans and proudly so. As a neighbor and a Democrat, I felt he served me as well as he served his fellow Republicans. He was open to conversation about issues where we differed, far from intolerant or unaware of the varied and complex community he served. I believe Kari McVeigh shares those qualities and will be a productive and dedicated leader for all who are lucky enough to call San Juan County home. National politics are divisive enough- let’s not mimic that behavior here.
What does a democrat running for county council in SJC call himself? “A democrat.”
What does a republican running for county council in SJC call himself? “An independent.”
Interesting to observe that Mike Carlson and other signees of his letter are evidently in disagreement with two basic tenants of our democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of association. And what do they have against full disclosure?
It is also disingenuous for the signers to hide behind the wording of the county charter which does not prohibit candidates from receiving endorsements. If that were the intent of the authors, they would have explicitly stated so.
David Dehlendorf
San Juan Island
What does a non-partisan running for county council in SJC call himself? “A citizen”