Other News
Apr 11, 2024: Community Meeting: Sea Level Rise Adaptation for Outer Bay and Agate Beach Areas on Lopez Island
Mar 11, 2024: Queers in Unexpected Places: Searching for (and Finding) Gender and Sexual Non-Conformity in the Rural and Early PNW
Mar 7, 2024: DRAFT Richardson Marsh Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Dec 5, 2023: County Council Member Jane Fuller and Senator Liz Lovelett to Host Public Meeting on Lopez
Nov 3, 2023: County and Town Send Open Letter to State Officials Regarding Impacts of Poor Ferry Service
Sep 29, 2023: Conservation Land Bank Announces Special Meeting to Discuss Watmough Bay Preserve Addition
Sep 14, 2023: The mobile dental van is coming to Lopez! // ¡La camioneta dental móvil ya llega a López!
Aug 22, 2023: San Juan County Adopts 32-Hour Work Week in the Name of Fiscal Health, Recruitment, and Islander Wellness
May 25, 2023: Recap of Lopez Neighborhood Meeting Regarding the Relocation of Public Works Facilities
May 23, 2023: District 3 Councilmember Jane Fuller Opens Office on Lopez and Hosts Community Conversation
Apr 17, 2023: Give Lopez Starts April 17th - A two week fundraiser benefiting 15 Lopez Island Non-Profits
Sep 22, 2022: Interim Watmough Preserve Addition Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Rick Hughes Announces His Candidacy for San Juan County Council
Feb 27, 2024
By Rick Hughes for Council
I am delighted to announce that my good friend Rick Hughes has decided to run for the Orcas position on the San Juan County Council in 2024.
Rick is a former County Councilmember and I think exceptionally well qualified. Please join me in supporting his candidacy.
Rick Hughes is a third generation Orcas Islander who, with his wife Marlace, owns and operates several businesses on Orcas Island. As a small business owner, Rick understands what it means to balance a budget and meet payrolls.
Rick served on the County Council from 2013-2020 during which time he proved he could get things done. Under Rick's leadership:
- For the first time in 25 years the County, as required by law, became fully compliant with the Washington State Growth Management Act.
- The County operated with a balanced budget while reducing its debt and increasing its Rainy-Day, Capital and Lodging Tax Reserves.
- Resources were generated and used to improve the County's infrastructure. Bridges were replaced, walking paths added and roads improved. The Park-N-Ride facility on Orcas was completed.
- Good working relationships with neighboring counties and state legislators were established. This resulted in synergistic approaches to solving shared problems. Rick has a strong understanding of ferry issues and has established relationships within the ferry system that can help resolve this major concern for San Juan County.
Governance is complicated and requires making difficult choices. Over 8 years of decision making, it is not possible to please everyone all the time. What is important is to make decisions honestly with an open mind, examining the issues and listening closely to the community's concerns. While in office Rick did just that.
Rick's pledge to the Community, "To operate a fair, honest and transparent government, to work for better communications and interaction between county employees and the public and to have county government serve as an aid to the public." In short, to give the government back to the community. I know this will not be an easy job, but I promise to listen, learn, be fair, honest and to act in the best interest of Orcas Island and San Juan County."
I admire Rick's integrity and respect his approach to governance. Please join me and vote to return Rick Hughes to the San Juan County Council.
Richard Fralick, Deer Harbor, County Council Member 2009-2012
Rick Hughes is a third generation Orcas Islander who, with his wife Marlace, owns and operates several businesses on Orcas Island. As a small business owner, Rick understands what it means to balance a budget and meet payrolls.
Rick served on the County Council from 2013-2020 during which time he proved he could get things done. Under Rick's leadership:
- For the first time in 25 years the County, as required by law, became fully compliant with the Washington State Growth Management Act.
- The County operated with a balanced budget while reducing its debt and increasing its Rainy-Day, Capital and Lodging Tax Reserves.
- Resources were generated and used to improve the County's infrastructure. Bridges were replaced, walking paths added and roads improved. The Park-N-Ride facility on Orcas was completed.
- Good working relationships with neighboring counties and state legislators were established. This resulted in synergistic approaches to solving shared problems. Rick has a strong understanding of ferry issues and has established relationships within the ferry system that can help resolve this major concern for San Juan County.
Governance is complicated and requires making difficult choices. Over 8 years of decision making, it is not possible to please everyone all the time. What is important is to make decisions honestly with an open mind, examining the issues and listening closely to the community's concerns. While in office Rick did just that.
Rick's pledge to the Community, "To operate a fair, honest and transparent government, to work for better communications and interaction between county employees and the public and to have county government serve as an aid to the public." In short, to give the government back to the community. I know this will not be an easy job, but I promise to listen, learn, be fair, honest and to act in the best interest of Orcas Island and San Juan County."
I admire Rick's integrity and respect his approach to governance. Please join me and vote to return Rick Hughes to the San Juan County Council.
Richard Fralick, Deer Harbor, County Council Member 2009-2012
Rick Hughes