Rick Hughes Signs In as Orcas West County Council Member

Rick Hughes is sworn in as County Council Member for Orcas West on Dec. 28 at the Eastsound Waterfront Park.

At 1:10 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 2012, Rick Hughes officially took the Oath of Office of County Council Member District 4.  District Court Judge Stewart Andrew, gave the oath to a gathering of friends and family as well as County Council Members, Richard Fralick and Patty Miller at Waterfront Park in Eastsound.

“Being sworn-in for Orcas West District #4, in Eastsound, by an Orcas Judge, was very important and emotionally significant for me. Eastsound is the commercial hub for Orcas Island and an economic driver for San Juan County and I felt that I needed to begin my term in San Juan County Council from the district that I represent,” Hughes said.

“I’m honored to serve Orcas Island and San Juan County for the next four and a half months,” Hughes continued. “My main goal in office will be to maintain fiscal responsibility of Government.”  Hughes said he’d also make every effort to improve the communications of all county employees to citizens and to improve customer service.  Hughes further stated his desire to “simplify county code, assist small business across the county by making rules easier to understand and less restrictive and to immediately provide clarity to property owners and small business that will be directly affected by the recent passage of the Critical Area Ordinance.”

Hughes said he will not accept county medical coverage and will purchase a computer at his own expense, as examples of his focus on fiscal responsibility.

In addition to his work in the council chambers, Council Member Hughes will maintain public office hours at the Senior Center in Eastsound on Fridays and will work  to provide improve access to county staff and materials on Orcas and Lopez.