Have an idea of how to make the community a better place in which to live, play and work? There’s no better chance than now.
Run for public office. As a candidate, you will contribute to public discussion about issues. If you win, you will — depending on the position with which you will be entrusted — make decisions that affect our level and quality of local education, fire protection, health care, port services, recreation, sewer and water service, and other public services.
A public office is not a normal object of ambition. As a local elected official, you will be on the front lines in confronting the big issues of the day. Our school boards are trying to balance budgets and maintain education service levels amid declining enrollment and decreased funding from the state Legislature. San Juan’s hospital district commission authorized PeaceHealth to build and operate a hospital for 50 years on San Juan Island. The Friday Harbor Town Council has tried to achieve necessary public works projects without more burdensome rate increases for town residents.
The candidate filing period opened Monday. You can file by mail for one of 40 local positions. All you need to do is be a registered voter in San Juan County and be a resident of the district you want to represent.
The primary election is Aug. 18. The general election is Nov. 3.
The county Elections Office will accept in-person candidate filings beginning June 1 at 8 a.m. The deadline for filing in person and by mail is June 5, 4:30 p.m. Candidate packets are available at the Elections Office, 55 Second St., Friday Harbor, or at http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/sanjuan/Pages/default.aspx
Following is a list of offices up for election. If a vacancy occurs in any office before June 1, that office may also be added to this list.
Town of Friday Harbor
— Mayor, full term
— Council Position 2, unexpired term
— Council Position 4, full term
San Juan Island School Board
— Director 1, full term
— Director 2, full term
Orcas Island School Board
— Director 1, full term
— Director 2, full term
— Director 3, full term
Lopez Island School Board
— Director 1, full term
— Director 2, full term
— Director 3, full term
Shaw Island School Board
— Director 1, full term
— Director 2, full term
Fire Protection District 2 (Orcas Island)
— Commissioner 2, full term
— Commissioner 3, unexpired term
Fire Protection District 3 (San Juan Island)
— Commissioner 2, full term
Fire Protection District 4 (Lopez Island)
— Commissioner 2, full term
Fire Protection District 5 (Shaw Island)
— Commissioner 2, full term
Port of Friday Harbor
— Commissioner 3, full term
Port of Orcas
— Commissioner 1, full term
— Commissioner 2, full term
— Commissioner 4, full term
Port of Lopez
— Commissioner 3, full term
San Juan Island Park and Recreation District
— Commissioner 2, full term
— Commissioner 3, full term
— Commissioner 5, full term
San Juan Island Cemetery District
— Commissioner 2, full term
Orcas Cemetery District
— Commissioner 2, full term
Stuart Cemetery District
— Commissioner 1, unexpired term
— Commissioner 2, full term
— Commissioner 3, unexpired term
San Juan Island Hospital District
— Commissioner 3, full term
— Commissioner 5, full term
Cape San Juan Water District
— Commissioner 2, full term
Cattle Point Water District
— Commissioner 1, unexpired term
— Commissioner 2, full term
— Commissioner 3, unexpired term
Eastsound Sewer and Water District
— Commissioner 3, full term
— Commissioner 4, full term
Fisherman Bay Sewer District
— Commissioner 3, full term
