Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Jeff Asher is write-in candidate for San Juan County Sheriff
Wow! I am truly taken aback by the outpouring of support encouraging me to run for Sheriff. Thank you all for the calls and texts requesting my participation in the upcoming Sheriff’s election. When I was first asked to consider this opportunity, I was hesitant, as it is not something I take lightly. As many […]
October 14: Candidate Forums in Eastsound
The League of Women Voters of San Juans is presenting three candidate forums. All forums begin at 5:30 p.m.: Monday, October 12 — Grace Episcopal Church, Lopez Island Tuesday, October 13 — The Mullis Senior Center, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island Wednesday, October 14 — Orcas Senior Center, Orcas Island The San Juan County Auditor oversees county elections, financial reporting, […]
Jeremy Nash: San Juan County by the Numbers
San Juan County recently put out a press release announcing that the Council had adopted the 2027 budget. After all the kerfuffle over the budget this year, I wanted to see what they had actually come up with and try to put the whole thing into perspective for myself. That led me into the County’s […]
Sophia Swanson: In Support of Jennifer Swanson, My Mom, for County Council
I believe that my mom’s candidacy for county council is both unexpected and a long time coming; that is to say, it’s such a natural role for her to step into. The depth to which she cares for our community is obvious: she served on the Shaw Island School Board for eleven years while my […]
Guest Column: Katherine on Housing & Affordability
From Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council I know the struggle of housing in the islands, firsthand. We have regularly housed friends and essential workers in the summers because we know that it takes the entire community to seek practical housing solutions. Before we bought our fixer-upper, we moved around to several rentals that were not suitable or […]
Wolf: Endorsement for KBI – Leadership with a stake in the future
Katherine Bryant Ingman has the vision, strength of leadership and proven negotiating skills to take care of business for the people of San Juan County. She has proven problem solving ability and a collaborative leadership style needed to address the current issues facing San Juan County. I admire her practical understanding for what resources are […]
Janet Brownell: Supports Katherine | She Gets It
A few months ago, I received a phone call. “Hi, I’m Katherine. I’m running for county council, and so-and-so suggested I reach out to you for advice.” My sage advice? Don’t do it. The county is at an inflection point. Budget tightening is coming, hard decisions lie ahead, and it’s not going to be fun. […]
Rob Grant: Endorses of Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council District 3
I am supporting Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County District 3! Decatur is a relatively small outer island in the archipelago, but we are a critical link in the energy chain serving the entire county! We need a fierce advocate on the Council, one who speaks truth to power and will represent not only […]
Sharon Abreu: Endorses Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council
Support for Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council Although I acknowledge that we here in San Juan County are fortunate to have two strong candidates running for County Council District 3, I have decided to endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman for the position. I appreciate Katherine’s energy, and I see her as an independent thinker, which […]
Maureen See: Jennifer Swanson is the best candidate for County Council District #3.
Jennifer Swanson is the right person to tackle our problems. She is articulate and organized and qualified to do the job. She will listen to the community and respect their opinions. She will understand the role of the County Council in our government and in our neighborhoods. She will not engage […]
October 12: Indigenous Peoples Day
Columbus Day which is on October 12, 2026 is recognized as a federal holiday meaning federal offices, banks, and the Post Office will be closed. Indigenous Peoples Day has replaced Columbus Day in many states but is not a federal holiday. Washington state recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day but not as an official state holiday. Washington […]
Governor Ferguson Commits to Addressing WSF Engine Room Crew Workforce Crisis
The Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) represents 417 licensed and unlicensed engineers who operate, repair, and maintain the fleet of vessels at Washington State Ferries (WSF). A growing workforce crisis boiled over this week when crew call-outs resulted in major service disruptions. Eric Winge, the MEBA representative for WSF, shared developments today: “Our union leadership […]
Borner: Jennifer builds community through service and hard work.
I have known Jennifer for 20 years. She is a thoughtful, inclusive leader who brings people with diverse opinions together to find solutions. Jennifer has a proven record of public service and strong relationships throughout the county. She served 11 years on the school board and later led as superintendent through COVID. During that challenging […]
Long-time Lopez Pharmacists Endorse Katherine for County Council
We would like to endorse Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council. During our 30-plus years owning the Lopez Island Pharmacy, we’ve been fortunate to know and work closely with many of the former council representatives from Lopez. Katherine has served in many island and county-wide positions. When management of our clinic transitioned from the University […]
Ferries: I’ll Keep Fighting for Improvements By Jennifer Swanson, Candidate for County Council District 3
Of Washington’s 39 counties, San Juan County is the only one made up entirely of islands, reachable only by boat or plane. Most residents rely on Washington State Ferries (WSF), and for the past eight years I have served on our county’s Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC), currently as chair, acting as a link between WSF […]
October 17: No Kings: Vote Early Rally
Rally | October 17 | 12 noon to 2 pm | Courthouse Lawn | Friday Harbor Hello to all who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your ballot! Good news. Our Indivisible group on San Juan Island is holding a No Kings – Vote Early! rally on October 17th on the Courthouse lawn in Friday Harbor from noon to 2pm. We […]
Gigi Allaway: Supports Swanson for county council
Dear Editor, I write to highlight the excellent work of SJC Council candidate longtime-islander Jennifer Swanson in our community, which is easily applied to the larger islands. Most notably, she has served as an elected official for repeated terms as a school district board member (I served a similar term, staggered to hers, during this […]
Henley: Heather Lee is the right person for auditor
I hired Heather Lee to work in the Auditor’s Office, initially as an administrative assistant. It immediately became apparent to me that she was capable of so much more. Since then, she has gained experience in all areas of the Auditor’s office, including payroll, elections, and customer service. For three years, she served as Chief […]
Nelsen: Wholehearted support for Swanson for county Council
We are writing to offer our wholehearted support for Jennifer Swanson for county council. We’ve known Jennifer since she and her husband Chad moved to Shaw Island in 2003. Jennifer is someone who is thoughtful, trustworthy, and deeply committed to serving our community. Her dedication is demonstrated through action and looking for practical ways to […]
Doug Crosby: Swanson will be a valuable member of San Juan County council
To the Editors I have known Jennifer since 2013 soon after I moved to Shaw Island. Since then she has served as a Shaw School board member and the superintendent, a Ferry Advisory Board member, the founder of the Shaw Island Brown Bag Lunch monthly community meeting, a Shaw Islanders Inc board member and the […]
Andrews: Katherine Bryant Ingman Is a Leader Who Has Lived It
I believe elected officials should understand what it means to walk in the shoes of the people they represent. That means knowing what it’s like to work multiple jobs to pay the bills, and to worry about affording healthcare and keeping a roof over their heads. For many people in this county, a steady paycheck, […]
Guest column: Getting to Know Katherine: Leadership in Action
I’ve been fortunate to benefit from, and contribute to, impressive and impactful volunteer work throughout my life. From an early age, I’ve looked for ways to bring people together with integrity, care, and joy, and to create the kind of culture and environment that we want to live in, born of the priorities and values […]
Easements Keep the Co-op Running
OPALCO does not comment on active legal matters, but some misinformation in a recent King 5 article needs to be addressed. The pole site in question was on the property mentioned, with the previous owner’s permission, prior to the current owners’ purchase of the land. The pole was upgraded in 2023 and is 103 feet […]
Washington residents urged to oppose Pacific Link Pipeline and supertankers in the Salish Sea
Petition calls on Governor Ferguson and state agencies to fight the Canadian pipeline and supertanker project and secure enforceable, fully funded protections for Washington state. Friday Harbor, WA—October 7, 2026—A new petition being circulated by Friends of the San Juans is calling on Washington state to oppose Canada’s proposed Pacific Link pipeline (formerly called the […]