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WEDNESDAY, May 30, 2012 n VOL. 45, NO. 22 n 75¢
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Lancaster runs for council When fires rage, there is a plan
by COLLEEN SMITH ARMSTRONG Editor/Publisher
And then there were two. Scott Lancaster has announced he will run for county council in the upcoming November election. He will run against Rick Hughes, who released a statement about his candidacy in early May. The two men are competing for council position #4, Orcas West. “After living here for 20 years, running one of the largest businesses on the island and being president of the Builders Association and on the school board, I think I have a good feel of the issues – from the Critical Areas Ordinance to the shoreline to solid waste,” Lancaster said. Lancaster was general manager at Island Hardware and Supply before purchasing Ace Hardware in Eastsound four years ago. He and his wife Therese run the business together. Their son Patrick lives in California, where he works at an Ace Hardware in Oceanside. Their daughter Lindsay will be a junior next year at Orcas Island High School. Scott has been on the Orcas School Board for seven years. His terms expires in November 2013, but if he wins the council election, he will resign. He has also been a Kiwanis member for 35 years and on the San Juan Builders Association for eight years. One of Scott’s goals was to replace the county administrator, but Pete Rose recently resigned from that position. Last week, the council approved a consultant agreement with veteran government manager Robert W. Jean, who will serve as administrator until
‘Wildfire Prevention’ has projects ranging from better house fire protection to helping the Garry Oaks on Turtleback by CALI BAGBY
on Turtleback Mountain. Some areas of vital interest on The fire rages, enveloping green Orcas are Mt. Constitution, the trees in orange and red bursts of vegetation around Rosario and flames and turns the black sky into various historic sites. “If something is not in the plan a smoky copper. And as the minutes go by, the fire grows stronger it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything, it just means these are areas and faster. For islanders concerned about of concern,” Parrish said. The plan focuses on mitigation their homes and forest, there is of wildfire rather now a document than prevention that can help. and offers site For the last specific remedies, four years the San For more information, go according to King, Juan Fire Chiefs’ to www.orcasfire.org. which could be as Association has little as clearing been working brush away from with the Bureau of Land Management to create the a driveway to as extensive as brush Wildland Fire Risk Assessment so clearing pruning and vegetation that San Juan County can better removal, but not as drastic as cutunderstand wildfire vulnerability ting down a tree. A series of meetings on various and resources. According to Richard Parris, San Juan Islands this month were assistant fire management offi- held to gain feedback from the cer at the BLM Spokane District, community about what should be the assessment is the “meat and included in the plan. “The meetings were all about potatoes,” but another document called the Community Wildfire the community input, which is Prevention Plan is what will be of vitally important to the document,” interest to islanders, as it focuses O’Brien said. more on the community. The plan, prepared by Northwest Management Inc. combines information from the assessment, the Display advertising: San Juan Fire Chiefs’ Association Friday at noon and the community to promote awareness of wildland fire hazard Classified advertising: and reduce risk. Monday at noon “One thing it does is to tell us as Legal advertising: first responders what we can do to mitigate fire risks,” said Fire Chief Thursday at noon Kevin O’Brien. Press releases, Letters: Tera King of Northwest Friday at 3 p.m. Management Inc., is hoping to have the plan finalized by mid-July before firefighting season begins. King said it’s important for peoOffice: 376-4500 ple to know the plan does not conFax: 376-4501 tain regulations or requirements. “It’s more of a tool to use for Advertising: advertising@ finding information and to use as a islandssounder.com leverage to seek funding,” she said. The plan has projects ranging Classified: 1-800-388-2527, anywhere from better defense from classifieds@ fire in a private home to protecting soundpublishing.com wildlands from home fires to helpEditor: editor@ ing the Garry Oak fire ecosystem Staff reporter
contributed photo
Scott Lancaster is running for county council.
a permanent replacement is found. Scott is also concerned about the Community Development and Planning Department. “The CDPD is a mess and needs to be seriously addressed,” he said. Hughes said he is running for office because as an operator of a small business in Eastsound – Ray’s Pharmacy – and a former Fortune 100 executive, he has seen what it takes to run an organization in an efficient manner. “I look forward to a good campaign with Rick,” Scott said. “It’s not going to get nasty. We will still be friends when this is over. But I think I have the edge on him with experience.” Richard Fralick, who currently holds the Orcas West position, says he will not be seeking reelection.
See LANCASTER, Page 6
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