After attending the recent mayoral candidate forum, it was clear to me that both candidates would be new political faces who were committed to getting and responding to public input. It was also clear to me that only one of the candidates, Evan Perrollaz, has the experience and ability to act on that input in order to lead Friday Harbor.

Evan’s years of work running senior care facilities and currently as a Deputy Superintendent in the Hospital District have given him countless opportunities that he has repeatedly seized upon to get things done and make real changes for people. That is a skill set that one can only learn over time. Friday Harbor’s government has been in a 4-year dysfunctional rut with a mindset that knows only how to say no or deflect. Evan, with his leadership and problem-solving experience, can and will come in on day one and change the entire tenor.

He will also approach that effort with the additional experience of owning two small local stores – the types of businesses that are central to town life. Owning a business here requires pragmatism and determination, both of which we desperately need.

We can turn a corner this election and get on a path that will get us affordable housing, will bring sanity back to our permitting process, will get public works projects done in a timely and cost-effective manner and will address the multitude of other challenges we have here. Evan Perrollaz is the candidate who is best suited to make that happen.

Dan Grausz

San Juan Island