Ramon Hayes will run again for mayor

Much has happened in La Conner over the past dozen years, from completion of the popular waterfront boardwalk to a series of major street and infrastructure upgrades to creation of new public recreation and park areas.

Yet more remains on the drawing board.

Which is why three-term Mayor Ramon Hayes, a trained classical pianist who has been conductor of the Town of La Conner’s Council for those aforementioned projects, is seeking re-election.

“I’m very pleased with what all of us over the past 12 years have been able to accomplish,” he told La Conner Weekly News last week, “but there’s still some unfinished business to take care of.”

Remaining on the to-do list for Hayes and Town officials – with whom he is quick to share credit when it is given – is securing sustained funding for a ring dike on the northeast edge of town, leading the push to convert the vacant former Moore-Clark industrial site into a productive space, and encouraging development of additional affordable housing here.

For his part, Hayes has gained a reputation for taking care of business – both in his daily work and at Town Hall.

When not ending to Town business, Hayes owns and operates his Trumpeter Gallery on First Street, fulfilling the entrepreneurial spirit he has embraced since he was a teenager.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Hayes has been a fixture in La Conner for more than a quarter-century, dating to when he played piano gigs at the Channel Lodge. Among his more loyal fans was the late renowned artist Guy Anderson, who regularly tipped the 21-year-old Hayes $50 per evening.

Still, Hayes is quick to note that his wife, Heidi, is “the real musician” in the family. Growing up, she played bass with her sisters in their home studio on Maple Avenue. Today, she is much in demand as a professional studio musician.

The couple’s daughter, Victoria, a La Conner High student, is following in her parent’s footsteps. Her musical focus at present is the piano.

The Mayor often draws upon his twin backgrounds in music and business, seeking harmony on issues that can have both emotional and fiscal impact.

The proposed ring dike project, designed to protect La Conner from catastrophic flooding, is one example.

“The ring dike is a priority,” he said. “We just have to make sure that our team puts the Town Council in a financial position to construct the dike when the time comes for them to do so.”

After investing an estimated $20 million in capital improvements since 2008 – “some visible and some not visible,” Hayes is fond of saying – he acknowledges the Town will need to “take a breather” for a while on big ticket items.

But what can be spent – time and energy – is currency Hayes said can go a long way toward helping solve La Conner’s housing crunch and putting idle properties to productive use.

He would like to see the Town extend its density bonus that benefits housing construction for persons age 55 and above. Cottage-style housing, offering affordability and featuring smaller footprints, has the potential to create a positive economic ripple effect here, Hayes said, increasing the number of residents to support local merchants while also providing relief for all La Conner ratepayers.

“It’s something the Planning Commission would have to look at and see what works best,” he said.

Solving the generation-long dilemma of how best to foster revitalization of the Moore-Clark property, once home to a thriving fish feed production facility, was a key factor leading Hayes to run for a fourth term this fall.

“I think the Town should have a role in that,” said Hayes, who envisions the Moore-Clark location being a point of discussion at this year’s joint Council-Planning Commission conference.

Hayes has also taken a lead role this year in getting a new building for the La Conner Regional Library, which is separate from the Town. He shepherded Library board and Library Foundation staff and board members to Olympia in February for visits with state legislators. For good measure, Skagit County District 1 Commissioner Ron Wesen participated.

The Library seeks $700,000 this year and an extension of the $500,000 appropriated in 2018. Hayes is confident that if the $700,000 is approved “they will be successful with the $500,000”of Skagit County funds requested as an economic development effort supporting training and new jobs.

La Conner’s general municipal election takes place in November. A primary, if necessary, would occur in September.

Hayes, 49, underwent heart surgery last year to correct a problem linked to an aneurysm. It wasn’t long before the health-conscious Hayes was back up and running on his treadmill.

Now he’s adding another Mayoral race to his running regimen.