— by Sara Williams —

It is the difference in perspective between candidates Wes Heinmiller and Julie Remington that is apt to determine the future direction that the fire commission will take with regard to Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, a highly regarded but increasingly burdened operation, what with rescue calls reaching historic highs and a newly passed multi-million dollar levy to be administered.

Page 50 in the voter’s pamphlet is a great starting point in which to gauge the two candidates, where Heinmiller speaks for the more traditional businessman’s approach to a commissioner’s position. He promises to operate in a fair and balanced manner, exercise fiscal responsibility, honor public input and listen for community feedback. Heinmiller, a yacht captain, promises not to rock the boat.

However, there are rare instances where a candidate with a unique skill set and depth of knowledge offers a better fit for the job. Julie Remington has the depth of experience as a boots-on-the-ground first responder. In 2010, Julie pursued over 150 hours of continuing education in the Peace Health Saint Joseph’s Emergency Trauma Center in Bellingham. As a volunteer she thoroughly researched the needs of our community. She wrote and received a sizable grant to create a fall prevention program for our senior and at-risk citizens. She was accepted at the National Fire Academy operated by FEMA, for a community leadership program. As it happened, however, having been raised in Springfield, MO, Julie chose instead to assist the Joplin community within hours of the aftermath of the 2011 level five tornado disaster, assisting USAR M0 Task Force 1 and the Missouri State Patrol.

Julie served as an advocate in the field of domestic violence and sexual assault. Her experiences have taken her across the country where she worked in the 2005 Katrina disaster, in the FEMA Joint Field Operations Center dispatching recovery teams. She deployed with the OFIR to fight the 2007 wildland fires in San Diego County.

Being on the scene in a crisis is one thing, but making a study of the management of various crises is what raises Julie’s level of competence to a passion. In 2007, Julie was accepted into a rigorous Master’s program in Geneva, Switzerland and is certified in International Humanitarian Relief Operations through Fordham University and the United Nations. In 2008, she received a Certificate of Emergency Management at UC Davis.

On a daily basis, Orcas Island Fire and Rescue is facing a future of burgeoning demand for EMS services. Meanwhile, we as a region have been made acutely aware that we must prepare for the possibility of a cataclysmic event arising from the geologic stresses of the Cascadia fault and the threat of wildland fires. For us, it is no longer simply a matter of staying the course and working efficiently, but seeking out what resources may be available in the long term. In my opinion, Julie Remington, with her expertise extending to the national and international levels of emergency management, her knowledge and her level of dedication, will best serve the interests of the District 2 fire commission as we face the harsh realities of an uncertain future.

I am endorsing and voting for Julie Remington

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