New era county government

San Juan County government will never be the same.

On Nov. 8, islanders rejected the bureaucratic model of government handed down by the state 116 years ago and ushered in a new era of county government known as home rule.

With all precincts reporting, 4,306 voters endorsed the “basic” charter written by the Board of Freeholders; while 2,567 voted no.

Islanders also voted 3,767 to 3,027 in favor of the amendment to create a county council of six elected officials to replace the trio of county commissioners.

All told, the elections office mailed out 10,777 ballots in the election; 7,205 were returned, a 66.9 percent turnout.

Local voters had twice before rejected home-rule charters in overwhelming numbers, first in 1972 and again in 1983. With the newly-found status as a home-rule county, San Juan joins five other counties that have moved from the state-mandated form of local government.

Under the charter —- a blueprint for remodeling county government -— an administrator will be hired and take over the executive duties of the County Commission.

The commission will appoint a temporary administrator on Jan. 10 and authorize a search for candidates to fill the position on a permanent basis.

A citizens’ salary commission will be established to determine salaries of the six-member council.

The charter also allows voters to make or repeal laws through the processes of initiative and referendum. Both are critical to keep elected officials from losing touch with the people they’re chosen to represent, freeholder Richard Fralick said.

“Frankly, I think that referendum is more important than the initiative,” he said. “Right now we have a system in which two individuals can determine the fate of the entire county regardless of how the electorate feels.”

Meanwhile, the county’s three legislative districts will be divided into six, and voters in each district will select a member of the council in upcoming elections.

District 1, which includes San Juan Island, will be divided into three districts. District 2, which includes Orcas Island, will split into two. District 3, which includes Lopez and Shaw islands, will remain the same and retain one seat on the council.

Commissioners currently in office will serve out their terms before having to seek re-election. They will also continue to be paid their current salaries, $68,000 per year, even after their jobs are reduced to part-time. Commissioner Bob Myhr's term will conclude at the end of 2006. Kevin Ranker's and Alan Lichter's terms end two years later.