Chamber Director Hulst in Mount Vernon council reelection race

For years, La Conner has been a thriving center of small-business commerce in the Skagit Valley. For Mark Hulst, director of the La Conner Chamber of Commerce, who has also served on the Mount Vernon City Council since 2011, it is his job to attempt to foster growth for not just La Conner, but for the prosperity of the wider community as well.

Hulst is contested in his bid for a fourth term on the Mount Vernon City Council by progressive candidate Andrew Vander Stoep. Hulst sees being both a council member and the director of the La Conner Chamber as having given him “the knowledge and the skill set to understand the needs of our business community and the ability to work with local officials and department heads to impact business in a positive way.”

Hulst says he plays “an active role assisting residents with concerns affecting individuals and the community as a whole while working with the community on long-term planning for growth and development,” and his campaign has focused on public safety, property taxes and housing.

The candidates have received significant endorsements, with Hulst’s including the North Puget Sound Association of Realtors, the Mount Vernon Police Guild, County Commissioners Peter Browning and Lisa Janicki, as well as outgoing and incoming mayors of Mount Vernon Jill Boudreau and Peter Donovan.

Vander Stoep has been endorsed by Democratic area state legislators Liz Lovelett. Dave Paul, Alex Ramel and Clyde Shavers, the Skagit County Democratic Party, the Teamsters, several unions and Planned Parenthood, to name a few. The race is likely to be much more competitive than Hulst’s previous elections since he has not faced an opponent since his first campaign.

While the outcome of his race is unclear, Hulst continues to work at the Chamber of Commerce for the priorities he sees as ways to better the economy and well-being of La Conner’s community. He has been business owner here almost a decade, noting he has “been a part of the La Conner business community since 2015, when we opened Skagit Cellars in the Pier 7 building.” He immediately became involved and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Skagit Cellars, now at the Seaport Landing building on Gilkey Square, has been commercially producing wine since 2012. Hulst has expanded to a location in Manson, WA, on Lake Chelan.

Hulst began his work as the Chamber’s director in September 2022 after he sold an automotive repair business he had owned and operated for 14 years. When the director position became available, Hulst “thought it would be a great opportunity to be more involved with our local business community.” As director, he has targeted five priorities for the Chamber of Commerce more broadly, which he detailed in an interview with the Weekly News. Those priorities include economic development, promoting the La Conner community, advocating for the interests of local business owners, community engagement and networking.

Hulst defines his role as to “work with the local business community to create an environment that is beneficial to our local economy … including television and print advertising, working with … publications featuring La Conner as a travel destination, sponsoring and supporting local events that attract visitors,” to name a few. He continues to operate his wine business, balancing his time with the Chamber and as a council member.