Political Notebook

‘Party for the

President’ July 15

Local supporters of President Bush will host a “Party for the President” July 15, 5-8:30 p.m., at The Big Red Barn, 1721 Cattle Point Road, San Juan Island.

The party is sponsored by E.J. and Elizabeth Thorndike, John and Sharon Towson, Jim and Minnie Knych, and Ray and Julie Bigler.

Look for the “God Bless America” banner.

Free food and drinks will be served. Bumper stickers, buttons and yard signs will be available. Antique cars and vintage farm equipment will be on display. There will be live music, dancing to oldies, and prizes and surprises.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck salad or dessert. RSVP to 378-3851.

Whatcom freeholder

talks home rule on S.J.

Joe Elenbaas, a former freeholder in Whatcom County, will visit San Juan Island July 29, 5:30-7 p.m., to talk about home rule. The forum was rescheduled from July 27.

The forum will be in the Friday Harbor Grange.

Elenbaas will speak and answer questions from the public.

He was the youngest member of the Board of Freeholders when Whatcom County drafted and adopted a Home Rule Charter in 1979. He was one of the citizens elected to review the charter in 1989, and again in 1999. Whatcom County’s charter specifies that it will be reviewed by the voters every 10 years, at a minimum.

Elenbaas' background includes farming and contracting. He will detail how the 21 Whatcom County freeholders drafted the charter in about 4 months, and how the freeholders presented the draft to the citizens of the county.

He can also speak to the question of how the charter made a difference in Whatcom.

Home Rule Charter presentations will be made July 12, noon, League of Women Voters meeting, San Juan Island Library; and at 5:30 p.m. at the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce meeting, San Juan Vineyards.

A presentation is also scheduled for July 15, noon, Kiwanis Club, American Legion basement; July 20, noon, San Juan Lions Club, American Legion basement; and Aug. 18-21, San Juan County Fair.

Visit www.sjcgoodgovernment.org

Tom Fenley says he’s

got signatures for ballot

Tom Fenley said July 5 he has 303 signatures — enough to nominate him for the ballot as an Independent candidate for County Commission.

Fenley said he expects about 150 signatures to be certified, because several signatures were collected before the start of his Independent convention.

Third party and minor party candidates are required by state law to have nominating conventions; a candidate must be nominated by 100 qualified voters during the convention.

Fenley’s convention began June 27 and ended July 3.

Dan Miller considering

commission candidacy

Dan Miller is considering running for the Republican nomination for County Commission, District 1.

Miller, 34, of Friday Harbor tested the waters Sunday by driving in the Fourth of July Parade. He said he expects to make an announcement this week.

Miller graduated from Evergreen State College in 2004 with a degree in Political, Economy and Public Policy. He is a landscaper.

Miller won the Republican primary for state Legislature in 1996, and ran again for Legislature in 1998.

Miller said he would bring good public policy skills to county government. “I trained under public policy professionals at Evergreen,” he said.

League of Women Voters

meets July 12 in library

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans will meet July 12, noon, in the San Juan Island Library meeting room. Topic: Candidate and issues forums.

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