San Juan County Council seats for district 1 and 2 are up for election this year, and both councilman Rick Hughes, district 2, and Bob Jarman, district 1, will be running for re-election. Hughes made his candidacy public last week.

This week Jarman said, “I will be releasing a public statement soon, but it is no secret. I do intend to run for re-election”.

He has filed with the state, however filing with the county does not start until April. According to his biography on the county council website, Jarman is originally from Palo Alto California, but has lived in San Juan County for nearly 40 years.

His wife Susan was born and raised in San Juan County, her parents built and maintained the Island Airport until they sold it to the port. After moving to the islands, Jarman, shown right, worked for a local telephone company and became known as the telephone man.

He helped bring universal single party dial up data, and high speed DSL to the San Juans, worked with the county commissioners, sheriffs department, and first responders to create 911 and E911 services, and worked with a Lopez citizen group, and councilwoman Darc Neilsen to create the first cell phone tower ordinance adopted by the county council.

“The love of the islands and the people who make up these islands is what inspires Bob to work as a council member” his biography says.

If more than two people file for the district 1 position, a primary election will be held and the winners will face off in Novembers general election.