Our leaders in Olympia have issued a statement endorsing Lovel Pratt for the San Juan Island residency district. It hews closely to Ms. Pratt’s principal campaign talking point: her connections and advocacy for County issues in Olympia.
I have no doubt that Ms. Pratt spent considerable time in Olympia during her term in Council. My question is, why? Isn’t that the job assigned to our elected representatives in the Washington State Legislature–advocating for San Juan County’s interests in Olympia? Surely, with a County resident serving as a ranking Democrat in the Senate, our interests are protected there?
I believe that this County needs Councilmembers who are available to focus on local problems using local solutions, not agendas driven by legislators exchanging favors, or federal or state agencies dangling grant funds that arrive with conditions that are inconsistent with the priorities of the people of the County. It seems unwise to rely upon ephemeral grant funds when the state and the federal government are facing staggering deficits.
I believe that we need Councilmembers willing to review existing spending and determine why —with a population that grew very little over the last decade, our County budget ballooned from $35 million to $50 million. I believe that we need Councilmembers who will ask questions when staff proposes new spending, and will refrain from placing on the sacrificial altar of threatened budget cuts the most important and appreciated County services, like senior services or 4-H, in an effort to persuade us to pass yet another levy lift.
Last November, the voters in San Juan District 1 considered Ms. Pratt’s record and elected Bob Jarman to replace her. Bob Jarman has 30+ years of experience living and working in the islands, knows first-hand what working families and small businesses require, and has been successful in “balancing checkbooks,” as it were, for several real-world enterprises.
I am voting for Bob Jarman, and encourage you to join me in doing so.
Peg Manning
Orcas
I have only met Bob a couple of times over the years but I work every day with two men whom I respect very much. Both of these men have worked with and for Mr. Jarman in the past and only have great things to say about him both personally and professionally.