County Council Member

District #6

San Juan County, WA

San Juan County's Home Rule Charter

Bob on the New Home Rule Charter:

On November 8, 2005, the voters of San Juan County approved a new county Charter and its first amendment. The new Charter will bring changes in county government. (To view a copy of the 17-page new Charter with Amendment, visit the county website: www.co.san-juan.wa.us). The Home Rule Charter will go into effect January 9, 2006. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will meet on January 10 as the new County Council, with three members through 2006. As a current County Commissioner and future Council Member, I believe my role is to effect a smooth transition to the new charter government and continue to strive for excellence in serving the citizens of San Juan County.

Administrator

The first order of business of the County Council will be to appoint a temporary County Administrator and formally begin a search for a regular County Administrator who will serve at the will of the Council. It is anticipated that the County Administrator will be hired by mid-2006. We at the BOCC have already begun a process for selecting the temporary administrator and for hiring the regular County Administrator. This change of county government will simply incorporate an action that we already had underway for an administrator.

County Council

Under the new Charter, our current three-member BOCC will be renamed the County Council immediately. It will be expanded to a six-member Council in 2007, composed of six Council Members elected from new council districts (not at-large countywide as commissioners are at present). The new council districts are as follows:

District 1 - San Juan South: San Juan Precinct 1, San Juan Precinct 5.
District 2 - San Juan North: San Juan Precinct 2, San Juan Precinct 3, San Juan Precinct 4, and Stuart Island.
District 3 - Friday Harbor: Friday Harbor Precinct 1, Friday Harbor Precinct 2.
District 4 - Orcas West: Orcas 1, Orcas 2, Waldron Island.
District 5 - Orcas East: Orcas Precinct 3, Orcas Precinct 4.
District 6 - Lopez/Shaw: Lopez Precinct 1, Lopez Precinct 2, Shaw Island, Blakely Island and Decatur Island.

Commissioner Kevin Ranker will become the County Council member from the District 1 through 2008. Commissioner Alan Lichter will be the Council member from District 4 through 2008. I (Commissioner Bob Myhr) will be the Council member from District 6. My position and the District 2, 3 and 5 positions will be up for election in the primary and general elections in 2006 to create the six- member Council. I intend to run in the 2006 election. The winners will take office in January 2007 and serve four-year terms except for the member from District 3 (Friday Harbor) who will serve a two-year term. In 2008, county Council members from District 1, 3 and 4 will be up for election. They will then serve four-year terms.

Council Action and Duties

Four votes are needed to pass any legislation. The change to six council members broadens representation and will retain a requirement for a two-thirds affirmative vote for action. We in the new District 6 will continue to have to work hard to keep our voices heard in county government.

Administrative and budget duties will be carried out by the Administrator who reports back to the Council. Council Members will continue to be responsible for all county ordinances and serve as liaisons to county departments, other elected officials, and commissions in order to stay apprised of countywide business and issues. Requirements for ordinances in the new Charter may require the county Council to meet more than the statutory provision of at least twice a month. A salary commission composed of 10 county residents will determine the salaries of the Council Members and all other elected officials: sheriff, county clerk, auditor, assessor, treasurer, and prosecuting attorney.

Non-partisan Elections

In 2006 and beyond, the election for sheriff, county clerk, auditor, assessor, treasurer, and county Council Members will be non-partisan. The only elected office to remain partisan is that of prosecuting attorney as required by state law.

Initiative and Referendum

Finally, the Charter allows for citizens to initiate new legislation through the initiative process and modify existing ordinances by referendum.

Moving Forward

At the BOCC, I am already moving ahead to carry out the transition plan outlined in the Charter. I am working with my fellow members of the BOCC to develop detailed plans, with timelines and key milestones of action to be taken over the coming transition year—2006.

In the meantime, I consider that all of us in county government have important jobs to do and things to get done. In the year ahead and beyond, my aim is to continue to serve the citizens of our county and, especially Lopez, Shaw, Center, Decatur, and Blakely, in the best way that I can. I will continue to strive for excellence in our government. I see my role as helping to make the transition to our new form of county government as smooth as possible…for everyone. It is my hope that many others will see it that way as well. There will be an incredible number of i’s to be dotted and t’s to cross as we draft new code to meet the Charter requirements; appoint an administrator; and establish commissions and new working relationship patterns. Stay tuned!

And thanks again for your support!

I welcome any and all suggestions and comments as we move forward to address the will of our citizens.

Detailed Analysis

Read the paper "Bob's Perspective on the Separation of Powers under the New Charter Government ".

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For questions and comments about county business:
bobm@co.san-juan.wa.us

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© 2005 - 2007 Bob Myhr