Freeholder candidates share their shape of Charter

Citizens will have an opportunity to hear the 28 District 1 freeholder candidates at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at a forum at Maple Hall organized by the La Conner Weekly News. This article finishes the responses candidates made to three questions posed to them in September. The first two questions and candidate responses are in the Sept 19 and 26 Weekly News.

The earlier questions: What will be your chief contribution to making the process of developing the charter successful? What is the one key factor that qualifies you to be a freeholder?

Below are the candidates’ responses to this question: What is the one result you want a charter government to provide to citizens?

Position 1: Daniel Hagen, La Conner; Danielle M. Thomas, Burlington; Elizabeth (Liz) Lovelett, Anacortes: Broader representation from the diverse communities that make up Skagit County; John T. Burke, Burlington.

Position 2: Annie Lohman, Bow: I am NOT in favor of the more complicated and costly charter form of government - the citizens should be very wary of changing; David James Groves, Anacortes; Donald Clark, Anacortes; Margery Hite, Bow: Citizens deserve a county government that is more effective, efficient and responsive, so that Skagit County can preserve what we love and shape the changes to come.

Position 3: Keith Rubin, Anacortes: The one result that I believe will best serve the citizens is separation of the legislative and executive duties; Roger Mitchell, Bow: That a charter government reflects government of the people, by the people, and for the people; Shani Taha, La Conner: Organizational design affects people – employees and citizens. I would look to assure a streamlined government, easy to manage, representative of all jurisdictions and easily accessible by the public.

Position 4: John Doyle, La Conner: A more representative and accessible government for Skagit County; Ken Goodwin, Anacortes; Konrad Kurp, Anacortes: A proactive instead of a reactive leadership, with a vision for the future we can all live with; Mark Hurd, Bow.

Position 5: Andrew Miller, Mount Vernon: More clearly defined separation of powers (legislative and executive) with broader county-wide legislative representation; Ed Stauffer, Bellingham: I will not be submitting answers to your question at this time; Matt Miller, Anacortes: Many [of us] have filed because we strongly believe that more government is almost never the best solution, and have prepared ourselves to assist in a more balanced approach to revising Skagit government, in case the “yes” vote prevails; “ska je tah lo” Lona Wilbur, La Conner.

Position 6: Amanda Hubik, Anacortes: More efficiency through restructuring.

… An updated system with part-time commissioner positions can offer a wider range of citizens more opportunity for participation in their local government; Celia Ponce Sanchez, Bow; Don McMoran, Burlington: If it does pass then we need strong leaders like myself that will create a government for the next hundred years; Larry Wasserman, Bow: The most important result will be a transparent County government that is responsive to the largest number of County residents with a sensitivity and responsibility to those individuals and groups that have been under-represented in the past; Stephen (Steve) Orsini, Anacortes: The one result is to better represent all the citizens of Skagit County.

Position 7: Jack Galbraith, La Conner: A new charter government for Skagit County should be as accessible by the citizens and as responsive to their needs as possible. This would most likely include expanding the number of commissioners and including the right of citizen initiative and referendum; Michael Petrish, Anacortes; Ryan Walters, Anacortes; Todd E. Gordon, Mount Vernon: Efficient government.

These 11 candidates did not respond: Position 1: Daniel Hagen, La Conner; Danielle M. Thomas, Burlington; John T. Burke, Burlington; Position 2: David James Groves, Anacortes; Donald Clark, Anacortes; Position 4: Ken Goodwin, Anacortes; Mark Hurd, Bow; Position 5: “ska je tah lo” Lona Wilbur, La Conner; Position 6: Celia Ponce Sanchez, Bow; Position 7: Michael Petrish, Anacortes; Ryan Walters, Anacortes.

Voters will choose seven of 28 District 1 candidates for freeholders, or delegates, to draft a home rule charter for Skagit County this election. Separately, citizens are voting on approving the drafting of the charter. If the charter measure passes, the 21 freeholders from the three county commissioner districts will work together in developing a governing structure, or charter, for the county. It may take them a year or more. Once the charter is drafted, voters will decide to accept or reject it.

That would be placed on the ballot for approval, probably in 2019. Approving that would change Skagit County’s structure of governance.

District 2 has 18 candidates; 23 candidates will vie for the seven District 3 positions.

Some candidates do not favor a charter but if a charter is mandated, they want to be part of the process of shaping it.

Candidate profiles can be found at the Skagit County elections department website or https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVoteOLVR/onlinevotersguide?language=en&electionId=71&countyCode=sk&Group=Local.

Seven of Washington’s 39 counties have charter government. They are all on the west side of the Cascades.