Sports
Frosh leads Wolverines to first win with team-high 16 points
Island Scene
Don’t let dark days of winter spoil your sunshine page 11
Ferry Home Companion
Timely reflections on things past, present — and beautiful page 7
page 9
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Vol. 105 Issue 51
of the San Juan Islands
www.sanjuanjournal.com
Top 10 of 2012 The top 10 stories of 2012, based on local impact and interest, as determined by the staff of The Journal of the San Juan Islands.
No. 1:
History repeats itself
O
nly some bells and a few of the whistles remain. On Nov. 6, San Juan County voters unhinged major planks of the county charter and, in an 180-degree about face, put a decisive end to the reign of a sixperson council, its appointed administrator, and to districtonly voting for a half-dozen part-time council members as well. No single issue dominated the Journal opinion pages, or cast a longer shadow over 12 months
of the year, than did the review of the county home rule charter or the subsequent changes recommended by the Charter Review Commission. Battle lines arose quickly, and firmly, with many former freeholders, architects of the six-person council, appointed administrator and districtonly elections, contesting both the process and the ideas of the See TOP 10, Page 5
About the photos
Top left; the Friday Harbor football team reclaims the coveted Island Cup trophy following a 41-0 shutout of its inter-island rival, Orcas. Above, Ron Zee of the Charter Review Commission keeps track of the panel’s proposals for changes to the county home rule charter. Bottom left, islanders enjoy a vast display of local art near the entry way of Peace Island Medical Center.
Primaries in store in Orcas, San Juan county council races Forlenza, Jarman, Pratt to compete for San Juan’s single council seat; Ayers, Byers, Hughes for Orcas By Steve Werhly Journal reporter
Eight islanders — three from Orcas and San Juan islands, and two from Lopez — will compete for three county council positions under the revised county charter passed by the voters in November. Lovel Pratt, Bob Jarman, and Marc Forlenza will face off in one countywide primary election for District 1, comprising San Juan Island and nearby smaller islands. Lisa Byers, Rick Hughes and Greg Ayers have entered the fray for District 2, comprising Orcas, Waldron and neighboring islands. All county voters will be eligible to vote in both the Feb. 12 primary election and April 23 general election. Both primaries will winnow the field down to two candidates for the April election, where the ballot will also feature two candidates from District 3, Lopez Island and vicinity, Jamie Stephens and Brian McClerren. The Stephens and McClerrn race will be previewed prior to the April election
The three new council positions each pay an annual salary of $75,000, plus benefits. Bob Jarman is a two-term fire comBob Jarman Lovel Pratt missioner on San Marc Forlenza Juan Island. Before that, he was a manager of the local phone company, now operated by Century Link. He defeated fellow candidate Lovel Pratt by 90 votes in the November election to the soon-to-be-defunct six-person council. Jarman believes the health of the local economy depends on wellpaying jobs. “Construction, the wholesale/retail trades, healthcare, farming and real estate sales need to be encouraged while respecting our environment and maintaining our island way of life,” he said. Kathleen Dolsen is chairwoman of the Jarman campaign; Keith Busha and Deborah Dickinson are co-chairs. The campaign also continues for Friday Harbor businessman Marc Forlenza, who defeated incumbent Howie Rosenfeld by 99 votes in See Election, Page 4
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