Letter to Editor | Thank you to all for your support and efforts

||| FROM RICK HUGHES |||

Running a campaign is an arduous, enlightening, and sometimes heartbreaking endeavor, but elections play a crucial role in shaping our democracy at every level—federal, state, and local.  Such efforts are not solitary, however.

Campaigns thrive on the support of donors and volunteers and the platforms provided by forums, newspapers, and organizations that help amplify the public’s voice.

I extend heartfelt thanks to my supporters listed below, and the organizers at The No Name Group, Islands United, OWC, and the Women’s League of Voters for their invaluable platforms.

Special appreciation goes to nonprofit groups like The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, Friends of the San Juans, the Resource Centers, Gen Z’ers, and Orcas Exchange. These groups have facilitated important campaign discussions, pushing us candidates to refine and detail our visions and policies.

I am immensely grateful to the newspapers and stations like The Orcasonian, The San Juan Islander, Islands’ Sounder, The San Juan Journal, The Salish Current, Lopez Rocks, CNL2/San Juan Today, and numerous newsletters and blogs for running opinion pieces. Our campaigns add significant workload for editors and producers, all without extra compensation, and we are grateful to you.

A special thank you to my fellow candidates, especially those who have conducted their campaigns with grace and thoughtfulness.

Finally, my campaign team deserves a huge shout-out for their creativity and kindness. Thank you, Samuel W. Gailey, for my website and your sense of humor; Paul Huber, for your exceptional graphics and branding; Cari Simon, for mastering our social media. And to the ultimate volunteer, Ayn Gailey, for building my team and inspiring communications. Thanks also to our weekly volunteer advisors—Gretchen Krampf, Kevin Ranker, Kathleen Lunde, Pete Moe, Amanda Azous, Richard Fralick, Mark Madson, Max Hanson, Thor Hanson, the Mason Family Linda Hamilton, Allan and Mary Schulman, Patty Miller, Dona and Matthew Laslo, Vicki Ron Zee, Steve Ulvi and others—for your invaluable guidance and support.  Id like to think our youth team, Douglas Ha, Molly Troxel, Ayana Berube, Gus Ringo, Bridgit Wright and my son Ricky Hughes and his friends (Tuan, Julian, Bradly, Thorston and Canyon who have supported me and walked with me in the Friday Harbor July 4^th parade) for the time, support, passion, tech expertise and youth perspective.

Finally, thank you to all he amazing Islanders that I know or have met since starting the campaign in April.  I appreciate the time, support and willingness to share your thoughts, dreams, fears and hope for the future of San Juan County.

Supporters: Adam Summers, Representative Alex Ramel, Amanda Azous, Amy Lum, Andrew Stephens, Andy Martin, Angela Hidalgo, Anita Orne, Anna Maria de Freitas, Ayana Berube, Ayn Gailey, Becca Gray, Betsy Wareham, Bill Bagby, Bill Cummings, Bill Watson, Bobbie Cunningham, Bob Distler, Boone Mckinney, Brent Snow, Brett Lensing, Brian Goodremont, Bridget Wright, Bruce Martin, Cathy Ferran, Cal Rogers, Carl de Boor, Carol Wright, Charlie Eon, Chris Gray, Chrissy Hughes, Christina Savell, Colin Baden, Colleen Billings, Crystal Seas Kayaking, Dan Christopherson, Dan Vekved, Darby Wright, David Dotlich, David Mowrey, David Lassen, David Yerly, Debbie Durand, Representative Debra Lekanoff, Della O’Brien, Denna Shannon, Denise Wilk, Donald Drozd, Don Gerard, Don Yerly, Donna Laslo, Doug Marshall, Drew Reed, Duncan Wilson, Dwight Duke, Ed Cunningham, Eddie Williams, Ed Sutton, Edna Fund, Elizabeth Wareham, Eric Bice, Eric Lum, Eric Youngren, Garret Hughes, George Eberle, George Larson, Gigi Carter, Gordon Koening, Greg White, Gretchen Krampf, Greg Sawyer, Gus Ringo, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, Ingrid McClinton, Indranil Ghosh, Island Hoppin’ Brewery, Jackie Monge, Jackie Ryan, Jan Ehrlichman, Jana Daniel-Webb, Janice Williams, Jared Lovejoy, Jean Henigson, Jess Hanson, Jennifer Fralick, Jenny Hemker, Jim Durand, Jim Fowler, Joe Cohen, Johannes Krieger, Josie Barrow, Jenifer Swanson, Jess Hanson, Jim Cardinell, Joan Pearson, Johannes Krieger Jon Shannon, Jon Hookstratten, Judy Hughes, Judy Scott, Karen Wieland, Kate Geddes, Katherine Whitley, Kathy Hughes, Kathy Kantrud, Kate Merek, Ken Hughes, Ken Katz, Ken Speck, Kevin Carter, Kevin Ranker, Kim Ingram, Kyle Ringo, Lael Hughes, Larry Hughes, Larry Vandermay, Lara Kusak, Laudenbach Recycling, Laura Johanson, Leith Templin, Levi Clark, Linda Duffield, Linda Hamilton, Linda Henry, Senator Liz Lovelett, Logan Luft, Lolo Duni, Lopez Island Pharmacy, Lorena Stankevich, Louis Prussack, The Lower Tavern, Maddie Hughes, Marge McCoy, Marion Gerard, Mark Madsen, Marlace Hughes, Maureen See, Matt Battles, Matthew Laslo, Mary Jo Kerr, Max Hanson, Melanie Trygg, Michell Marshall, Mike Wickstrand, Molly Troxel, Manka Dhingra, Noel Monin, Oscar Hanson, Pam Kyle, Pam Loew, Patty Miller, Paul Huber, Paul Mayer, Paul Vierthaler, Pete Moe, Randie Jordan, Ray Chavez, Ray’s Pharmacy, Reed Grace, Richard Fralick, Congressman Rick Larsen, Rick McCoy, Rich Peterson, Ricky Hughes, Robert Coneybeer, Robert Tooms, Robin Lassen, Skagit County Commissioner Ron Wessen, Ron Zee, Rosalyn Montgomery, Sallie Bell, Sally Larson, Sam Gailey, Sara Farish, Sara Ross, Scott Lancaster, San Juan Sanitation, Sandi Parker, Scott Miller, Scott Sluis, Shandra Augenstein, Staci Diaz, Stephanie Solien, Steve Alboucq, Steve Buck, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Sue Aronson, Susan Goranson, Tammy Pollard, Tara Nelson, Thaddeus Douglas, Teresa Boucher, Therese Lancaster, Thor Hanson, Tim Coffey, Timi Ferny, Troy Laudenbach, Tye Tyson, Verne Howard, Vicki Leimback, Vicki Vandermay, Wally Barrow, Wally Gudgell, Wendy Hamaker, White Construction, Wildlife Cycles, and Yusuf Duni