Ramon Hayes ending remarkable four terms as mayor

This completes the two-part look at Ramon Hayes time as La Conner's mayor

For 16 years while mayor of the Town of La Conner, Ramon Hayes has championed the successes teamwork has created, deflecting attention from himself. He did it again in August at the La Conner Rotary Club's annual dinner and auction. When the chapter presented the Paul Harris Fellow recognition to him, a $1,000 contribution to the national Rotary Foundation in Hayes' name, he recognized another accomplishment.

He – typically – lauded former state lawmaker Mary Margaret Haugen for having championed the La Conner boardwalk cause in Olympia a decade earlier. She came as his guest and he had the audience provide a round of applause.

Hayes is likewise proud of the role the Town played in support of the drive – once more, in partnership with other entities – to build the new La Conner Swinomish Library at Sixth and Morris streets. It was dedicated two weeks ago.

"I would say that we achieved 90-95% of our goals," he reflected to the Weekly News.

There were, of course, speed bumps along the way. Mere weeks into his fourth and final term, in early spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Many businesses, including the jewelry store Hayes then owned, were forced to close by state-mandated public health policies. The potential loss of significant sales tax revenue to the Town loomed as a daunting prospect.

"We were worried about budget cuts of as much as 30%," said Hayes. "So were the other towns and cities in Skagit County."

Hayes, who was born in Toronto, Canada and spent his teen years in the Clearwater, Florida area – later graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in performing arts – looked outside the box to find a fiscal remedy for both local merchants and Town coffers. He was among those taking the lead during COVID-19 to promote online marketing. Results surpassed expectations. Despite pandemic-related restrictions, sales tax revenue in La Conner reached new heights in 2021.

Coinciding with the outbreak of the virus crisis, Hayes and the town council mulled an offer by the Hedlin family to sell to the Town at a reduced price their two-acre property on Maple Avenue that for decades had served as a youth sports venue. The Hedlins were willing to sell the ballfield – a site many locals considered hallowed ground – and a residential property in the Snee-Oosh area to purchase adjoining farmland in a necessary long-range move to remain viable in agriculture.

The hope was the Town would retain the Maple Avenue site as a ballfield. Town leadership determined that would not pencil out, especially given the financial uncertainties during an expanding pandemic.

But Hayes felt the Town could afford to save 25% of the property as a park if the remainder was sold for development. Ultimately, Landed Gentry constructed 10 homes on what had been the main baseball diamond and outfield. In the end, 30% was preserved as green space.

Despite criticism that the bulk of the property wasn't saved for public use and recreation, Hayes doesn't second guess what he calls a "middle ground" decision.

"Of all that we were able to achieve," he said, "Hedlin Field is probably the one I am most proud of and the one I received the most heat for.

"Why would that be?" asked Hayes, rhetorically. "Because we were able to preserve a significant portion of land that otherwise would have been lost.

"Understandably," he added, "this was a very emotional sale with the loss of the ballfield, but folks should be bending over backwards to thank the council, as a governing body, for preserving as much of a park as they possibly could."

During that time, the Town approached La Conner Schools and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to consider options for an alternative youth league sports site. The school district designated a couple campus locations that remain in use. However, development of John K Bob Ball Park in Swinomish Village as an area youth sports complex – a plan Hayes discussed with then-tribal senator Joe Williams – has yet to gain traction.

Hayes has great confidence turning over the reins of town government to mayor-in-waiting Marna Hanneman.

"I believe Marna has the temperament necessary to be successful as mayor," Hayes said.

As for his own future, Hayes, who insists that "it has been a pleasure to serve as La Conner's mayor for the past 16 years," is playing it close to the vest for now, not yet ready to reveal specifics. He already sold his Trumpeter Gallery on First Street, closing that deal in 2022.

"My wife and I are excited about what is coming," Hayes said, "and grateful we are young enough to contemplate another career."