The Journal of the San Juan Islands | SanJuanJournal.com
LOCAL
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 — 3
Election briefs Landslide win for GMO ban
It’s a sweeping triumph for the Initiative Measure 2012-4 with 61 percent of the vote. The measure, proposed by organic farmers and others in San Juan County, makes it unlawful to propagate or grow plants or animals in San Juan County which have been genetically modified and provides for penalties and destruction of such organisms. The measure gained an overwhelming 60.89 percent of the initial ballot tally versus 39.11 percent against. “It does give the prosecuting attorney the power to seize and to prosecute but I don’t know where to begin with this,” Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord said about enforcement of the initiative. “It’s hard enough for me to get laboratories to send me blood results for offenders ... and those we need.” In response to passage of the initiative organic grower and chicken rancher Marta Nielson from Orcas Island said, “I’m proud to live in a county that could see the immense benefit of passing this forward-thinking initiative.” Larry Soll, a molecular biologist from San Juan Island, was disappointed but not surprised the initiative passed. He said, “The practical effect on San Juan Island is not large because
Almanac TEMPERATURES, RAINFALL LOPEZ High Low Precip Nov. 5 55 42 — Nov. 6 53 42 .07 Nov. 7 51 40 — Nov. 8 49 35 — Nov. 9 47 33 — Nov. 10 45 29 — Nov. 11 46 34 .28 Precipitation in November: .93” Precipitation in 2012: 22.01” Reported by Jack Giard Bakerview Rd. San Juan High Low Precip Nov. 5 57 44 — Nov. 6 51 44 .20 Nov. 7 52 44 — Nov. 8 50 42 — Nov. 9 47 39 — Nov. 10 43 33 — Nov. 11 45 34 .57 Precipitation in November: 1.24” Precipitation in 2012: 18.75” Reported by Weather Underground Roche Harbor Water Systems Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 16 Nov. 17 Nov. 18 Nov. 19 Nov. 20
Sunrise, sunset Sunrise Sunset 7:19 a.m. 4:34 p.m. 7:21 a.m. 4:32 p.m. 7:22 a.m. 4:31 p.m. 7:24 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 7:25 a.m. 4:29 p.m. 7:27 a.m. 4:28 p.m. 7:28 a.m. 4:27 p.m.
the few plants that have been genetically modified are unlikely to be planted here. I think this is a misdirected initiative.”
Full-time council posts to earn $75K
It took about 70 minutes for the Citizen’s Salary Commission to fix the pay of the new council members under the voter-approved plan that reduced the council from six part-time legislators to three full-time elected officials. The three new council positions will be paid $74,930 per year, plus a benefit package substantially similar to the package for present council members. The vote, confirmed by the county Human Resources Manager Pamela Morais, was five in favor, two opposed, with one abstention. Two members of the 10-person volunteer panel were not present at the Nov. 9 meeting. According to Morais, the commission doubled the present council members’ part-time salaries and added 10 percent to bring the total up to 100 percent of an average council member salary, calculated when the six-person council salaries were set six years ago, at the time the charter was first implemented. Under the amendments proposed by the Charter Review Commission and
approved by the voters Nov. 6, the current six-person council will continue in office until the new threeperson council is selected in a special election in April. Existing council members can file for election to the new council by filing a declaration of candidacy and paying a filing fee before Dec. 15.
Local voters back gay marriage, legalized pot
San Juan County led the state in voting for legalizing marijuana and same-sex marriage, but Lopez Island did even better in approving a property tax hike to fund operation of their beloved dump. Initiative 502, which legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and authorized state-regulated stores to sell locally-grown pot, won statewide with a 55.4 percent “yes” vote against a 44.6 percent “no” vote. Twenty counties voted for 502, led by San Juan County with a 68 percent “yes” vote. Neighboring Island County tallied a 55.6 percent “yes” vote. Referendum 74, which validated a state legislature-
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approved bill permitting same-sex couples to marry, garnered a 53 percent “yes” vote versus 47 percent “no”. Only eight of 39 Washington counties voted “yes,” with San Juan County recording a state-leading 71 percent “yes” vote. The largest approval margin, however, was the 85 percent “yes” vote by which Lopez Island increased their own property taxes by 9.5 cents per $1000 valuation to fund solid waste operations, including recycling and reuse. This margin may be the largest percentage “yes” vote for a tax increase in state history, but that could not be immediately verified.
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