Imagine . . .

How bad can it be to work as the administrator of San Juan County?

It seems like a dream job and it pays top dollar. Imagine moving to these Islands to finish up a successful career in government. Imagine getting paid $15,000 each month to do it. How much stress and “BS” could you put up with for that much money?

Imagine that you only have a few years left before you retire. You just finished building your island dream home. It’s a bad time to sell it and you could lose your investment. If you could stick it out a bit longer the economy might improve and you could retire in comfort. How bad do things have to be for you to pack up and leave?

Imagine that you found a new job. It’s a good job but you must give up your island dreams and take a pay cut.  How screwed up can things be in San Juan County government for you to decide to chuck it all and go back to the mainland and work in a crowded city full of gridlock and gas fumes? It must be real bad.

This county government structure obviously isn’t working. Can you imagine changing this situation so that our future leaders can succeed? I hope you can.

Please take time to read and understand the changes recommended to our charter government structure and vote to change it this November.

Gordy Petersen/San Juan Island

— Editor’s note: Gordy Petersen is chairman of the county Charter Review Commission, tasked with making potential recommendations for changes to the county’s home-rule charter.