Deciding on council seats

All of a sudden the political season is upon us, with the signs of three La Conner council candidates on lawns around town. Voters will decide in November whether to continue with or replace three council members. The pairings are Ivan Carlson versus John Leaver, Rick Dole against Bill Stokes and Glen Johnson facing MaryLee Chamberlain.

Well before the election, hopefully, council will pick a town resident to replace Jacque Brunisholz, who announced his retirement Aug. 24 after 12 years on council. Brunisholz leaves just as his colleagues are sharpening their pencils and discussing the 2022 budget with staff and Mayor Ramon Hayes.

Council is responsible for replacing Brunisholz. They must work quickly with staff to post the position, develop and agree to a process and schedule for applicants, review applications, interview candidates and choose a new member. The new councilmember will be doing a real service to the community by filling the position and jumping into the budget process.

Who is needed on council? A younger person, a parent, someone employed – not retired – one who will bring a 21st century perspective to town deliberations. “Age is no better, hardly so well, qualified for an instructor as youth, for it has not profited so much as it has lost” Thoreau wrote in “Walden.” Sometimes.

A younger person could be 30, but folks perhaps in their fifties, with or without children at home – or at all – someone perhaps tied down by a generation or three of La Conner ancestors. It would be good to have homegrown persons share their experiences, hopes and concerns about their hometown.

The council candidates for election also need to be thinking about and looking into next year’s budget. Indeed this is an opportunity for every resident to assess, discuss and focus on the town’s next year, next four years and next decade.

Residents will best be served by having conversations with the mayor, councilmembers, candidates and town staff – and neighbors and family members, if the latter live locally. We can all sharpen our pencils and focus.

Consider the very real possibility that four of the councilmembers may be new in December. Maybe you will be one of them. Consider that you may be critical of and not satisfied with either council incumbents or their opponents. You do not have to settle for the binary choice the ballot offers. You can add your name, throwing your hat in the ring.

Election campaigns traditionally have an eight week run, taking off after Labor Day. Washington state law makes it very easy to run as a write-in candidate. And it is free to file, if you beat the Oct. 14 deadline.

Filing is the easiest part. Serious candidates will have serious friends and families thinking through why their candidate has thrown her hat in the ring. Serious candidates will attract attention and gain votes when they have a platform – a plan of specifics.

The town’s budget may be $4.5 million dollars next year. Infrastructure is aging. Law enforcement is expensive and the response times and coverage are questioned. Development continues apace and there is not an affordable house being built anywhere on the west side of I-5.

Perhaps this is a time that tries your soul. Maybe the way to ease your concern is to offer to help your town reach the future that makes sense to you.

Residents say all the time how much they love La Conner. Here is a chance to embrace the community and help in the next year and even for the next decade.

There might be four new people on council next year. There will certainly be a replacement for Brunisholz. Is one of the positions yours?