News and Views
Other News
Nov 7, 2024: How Has Extreme Weather Impacted You? Participate in the County’s Climate Resilience Planning Effort
Nov 1, 2024: UPDATE: Sea Wall Repairs Temporarily Close MacKaye Harbor Dock and Boat Ramp on Lopez Island
Oct 22, 2024: DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Oct 21, 2024: Reminder: You’re Invited to Attend Open Houses for the 2025 Comp Plan Update This Fall
Oct 1, 2024: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN JUANS SPONSORS OCTOBER COUNTY COUNCIL VOTER FORUMS ON SJI, ORCAS, AND LOPEZ
Sep 24, 2024: County Hosts Community Meeting on Lopez Island to Discuss Public Safety during Hunting Season
Sep 24, 2024: SJC Reviews Shoreline Habitat & Infrastructure Adaptation Strategies in the face of Sea Level Rise
Sep 23, 2024: DRAFT Watmough Bay Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
Aug 29, 2024: San Juan County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Survey Sets Baseline for Ongoing Change
Aug 27, 2024: 2024 San Juan County WSU Master Gardeners Gardening Workshop Series, October 15-24, 2024
Aug 27, 2024: County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
Aug 21, 2024: County Council’s Request to Governor for Relief from Ferry Service Disruptions Not Fulfilled
Aug 20, 2024: San Juan County Certifies Primary Election Results & Celebrates Highest Primary Turnout in Years
Aug 13, 2024: WSF Commits Additional Crews to Interisland Route to Ensure Service During County Fair Week
Aug 13, 2024: Ferry Data from Staff and Local Partners Shapes Council Request for ‘Executive Relief’ From WA State
Aug 5, 2024: The Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival returns to Lopez for its 27th Summer Concert Season
May 2, 2024: WA State Governor and Assistant Secretary of WSF Talk Ferry Service & Solar Power with SJC Officials
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
Building Trust, Fostering Inclusivity
Oct 30, 2024
By Paulsen 4 Council
A Vision for Effective Government Representation
In order for people to feel included in the governmental process, they must first have trust in the officials which represent them. Building and maintaining that trust is the cornerstone to effectively representing the community.
I am proud to have worked with individuals from all parts of our community at all levels for well over a decade, building that level of trust. It is this investment in building trust that earned me an overwhelming majority of support, by almost 10%, amongst Orcas Island voters in the primary. I was able to win this sweeping majority on the island where both my opponent and I live and where we are best known.
It is not enough to make vague promises which have no hope of being fulfilled. We must be honest, forthright, and most importantly realistic in our work to assure that we don't lose the trust that our community invests in us.
Our county has an opportunity to move forward in an open and transparent manner with new leadership that is not coming to the table believing that they have all of the answers. Instead, we need leadership that understands that it is the responsibility of our leaders to do the hard work of seeking out citizen input, collaborating with partners, and honoring the efforts and time of every county staff member.
We must acknowledge that for too long, marginalized and underrepresented individuals in our community have not had their voices properly elevated in a way that makes them feel heard, respected and included in the governmental process.
The challenges facing San Juan County in the coming decade cannot be met with the same approaches used in the past. To do so will only perpetuate the growing disconnect that our residents feel they are experiencing with county leadership.
I look forward to working with my fellow Councilmembers to bring new, inclusive, and most importantly effective processes to San Juan County government.
I am proud to have worked with individuals from all parts of our community at all levels for well over a decade, building that level of trust. It is this investment in building trust that earned me an overwhelming majority of support, by almost 10%, amongst Orcas Island voters in the primary. I was able to win this sweeping majority on the island where both my opponent and I live and where we are best known.
It is not enough to make vague promises which have no hope of being fulfilled. We must be honest, forthright, and most importantly realistic in our work to assure that we don't lose the trust that our community invests in us.
Our county has an opportunity to move forward in an open and transparent manner with new leadership that is not coming to the table believing that they have all of the answers. Instead, we need leadership that understands that it is the responsibility of our leaders to do the hard work of seeking out citizen input, collaborating with partners, and honoring the efforts and time of every county staff member.
We must acknowledge that for too long, marginalized and underrepresented individuals in our community have not had their voices properly elevated in a way that makes them feel heard, respected and included in the governmental process.
The challenges facing San Juan County in the coming decade cannot be met with the same approaches used in the past. To do so will only perpetuate the growing disconnect that our residents feel they are experiencing with county leadership.
I look forward to working with my fellow Councilmembers to bring new, inclusive, and most importantly effective processes to San Juan County government.