Dear Editor and San Juan County Voters,
I strongly urge you to vote for Stephanie O’Day for San Juan County (SJC) Council this November. I met Stephanie in 2018 while I was working for the San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD). I was working as a Land Use Planner processing building permits. My interactions with Stephanie were related to these building permits, where she represented clients’ concerns as a Land Use attorney. I found Stephanie to be professional and extremely knowledgeable regarding Land Use issues in San Juan County. We did not always agree on the Land Use issues of concern, but I found Stephanie approached issues ethically and with a zest for her clients concerns.
I resigned my position at the DCD in July of this year, 2024. I was frustrated with working to approve permits without a Director or any middle management in the Department for over a year. Many DCD staff members were operating outside of their authority, and I found myself overwhelmed as one of the few planners that SJC citizens found they could work with, answer their phone calls, and questions. Stephanie is fully aware of these issues and if elected, is committed to working to resolve these problems so landowners in SJC can experience respect and quality service from the County.
Since my resignation I have had the pleasure to know Stephanie outside of the work environment and I continue to respect her knowledge as an attorney, 30 plus years as a San Juan County resident and her desire to pursue elected office in order to “Protect the Island Way of Life” that she and so many of us have enjoyed over the years. Please vote in Stephanie for San Juan County Council.
Peter Harrison, Orcas Island
Former Land Use Planner – Team Lead, Department of Community Development, SJC