Who will be the next mayor of Friday Harbor?
Mayor David Jones told The Journal Wednesday that he will not seek a second term.
Jones’ four-year term ends Dec. 31. His retirement as the centennial-year mayor leaves a big question mark on who might run to succeed him. It also raises the possibility that a political ceiling will be shattered.
No woman has served as mayor in Friday Harbor’s 100-year history. But the Town Council is comprised of a majority of women — 4 to 1, as a matter of fact.
At this time, however, Councilwoman Carrie Brooks, who has served as mayor pro tem in Jones’ absence, has said she will not run for mayor.
Councilwoman Liz Illg has said no.
Councilwoman Carrie Lacher, chairwoman of the county Solid Waste Advisory Committee, served as mayor pro tem on April 16 but said she has no plans to run for the top job.
Councilwoman Anna Maria de Freitas, a B&B owner and cookbook author appointed to the council in August, said she won’t run but hopes one of her colleagues will “step up.”
(Councilman Christopher Wolf, elected to the council in November 2007, is leaving the council at the end of May to teach in Qatar.)
The primary election is Aug. 18. The general election is Nov. 3. Besides the office of mayor, others on the ballot are council positions held by Illg; de Freitas, who is completing an unexpired term; and Wolf, who is vacating the position.
The mayor is paid $148 per meeting, with a maximum of four meetings per month (council members receive $85 per meeting).
The mayor is the chief executive of the town. The mayor has ultimate hire and fire authority, although most of that responsibility is delegated to the town administrator.
The mayor has the authority to appoint members of town commissions and committees, although the mayor has traditionally sought the endorsement of the Town Council.
The mayor works with the town administrator and town treasurer to write the budget, but the budget is approved by the Town Council. The mayor also presides over Town Council meetings, but can vote only to break a tie.
