Election: Home rule measures approved

Voters approved Propositions 1 and 2 Tuesday, ushering in a new era in how county government operates.

San Juan County residents voted 3,480 to 2,056 in favor of Prop. 1, which establishes a commission-manager form of government, makes the County Commission a part-time legislative body, and gives residents the right of initiative and referendum.

Residents voted 3,058 to 2,412 in favor of Prop. 2, which expands the commission to six members elected to new districts established based on population. Those commissioners will be elected by district, rather than at-large.

Updated story

San Juan County government will never be the same.

Tuesday, 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.

Roughly 3,480 voters had endorsed the “basic” charter written by the Board of Freeholders when Auditor Si Stephens called the election at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters embraced both the “basic” charter and the amendment to create a county council of six elected officials to replace the trio of county commissioners. The amendment, also known as Proposition 2, drew 3,058 votes with 55.4 percent of ballots counted.

On the eve of the election, George Johnson, chairman of the freeholders, was “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome. He said the freeholders took great care to balance the need for change and the fear that calling for too much change might alienate voters.

“The real question is, are there enough people who are informed about it and are there enough people happy about it,” Johnson said. “I think we’ve done about as good a job as we could do to give voters here the best chance to approve home rule.”

Local voters had twice 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 make or repeal laws through the processes of initiative and referendum. Both are critical to keep elected officials from losing touch 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.

County Council members will be elected by district, rather than at large.

Commissioners currently in office will serve out their terms before having an opportunity for re-election.

King County approved a charter government in 1969, Whatcom County in 1979, Clallam County in 1979, Snohomish County in 1980 and Pierce County in 1981.

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