Island News
Local headlines from around the San Juans
Letter to Editor | Protecting your vote
Many people have shared their concerns about election security with me and how election officials can address those concerns. I believe the biggest issues are cybersecurity, ballot security, chain of custody, staffing, and misinformation. My approach would be to be proactive-review our security procedures, make sure ballots are properly tracked and secured, maintain strong cybersecurity, and make sure staff are trained and prepared for unexpected situa
Heather Lee: Protecting your Vote
Many people have shared their concerns about election security with me and how election officials can address those concerns. I believe the biggest issues are cybersecurity, ballot security, chain of custody, staffing, and misinformation. My approach would be to be proactive – review our security procedures, make sure ballots are properly tracked and secured, maintain […]
Schuman: Supports Swanson for county council
Dear Editor, We’ve known Jennifer Swanson for over 20 years and worked with her on numerous community events on Shaw. She’s empathetic, smart, and seemingly tireless. On issues that impact our islands’ way of life, she’s purposely well-informed and open to hearing all views. Jennifer’s a proven leader, having served on the Ferry Advisory Committee, […]
Plain talk on the budget
During the course of my campaign for County Council, I have had countless conversations with people across the islands and have learned a great deal about their concerns. These conversations have given form to how I will, as councilmember, approach the budget. In April, 60.67% of San Juan County voters rejected the county’s levy lid lift. The message was clear: residents are not looking to pay more in property […]
Supporting our strong community
Strong communities are built by people who choose to engage, learn, and lead, and this fall we have several ways to support that work on Orcas. In August, Eric Liu visited Orcas Island for our National Nonprofit Day program, Beyond the Echo Chamber: Strengthening Civic Culture on Orcas Island. His message about listening across differences and taking part in civic life resonated with everyone in the room. If you missed […]
Getting to Know Katherine | People-first leadership & proven results
Excellent council members bring neighbors together, build on community strengths, identify solutions by focusing on shared goals, and lead through change and crisis with empathy and compassion. I have a proven, professional track record of effective community facilitation, mediation, and equitable outcomes — even in circumstances where diverse viewpoints seemed irreconcilable. With the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition, I helped bu
Joint statement of Governor Bob Ferguson and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller on west coast oil pipeline
OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson and Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller offer the folllowing joint statement regarding the Oct. 1 decision by the Canadian Major Projects Office to list the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a “Project of National Interest”: “We are disappointed in the decision today by the Government of Canada to list the proposed oil pipeline as a project of national interest. The classification puts the project on a [
November 3, 2026, General Election Ballots | Vote! Sign! Ballot Box it!
All registered San Juan County voters will receive a ballot for the 2026 General Election. Ballots will be mailed on October 9 Mark your calendars for the upcoming General Election on November 3! Races for important Federal, State, and County positions will appear on the ballot, as well as vital ballot measures for the State, the San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 4, the Port of Lopez, the Orcas Island Park & […]
November 3, 2026 General Election Ballots: Vote – Sign It -Ballot Box it
SAN JUAN COUNTY, WA. October 1, 2026 – Mark your calendars for the upcoming General Election on November 3! Races for important Federal, State, and County positions will appear on the ballot, as well as vital ballot measures for the State, the San Juan County Fire Protection District No. 4, the Port of Lopez, the […]
Guest Column: Getting to Know Katherine: People-First Leadership & Proven Results
From Katherine Bryant Ingman for San Juan County Council: Excellent council members bring neighbors together, build on community strengths, identify solutions by focusing on shared goals, and lead through change and crisis with empathy and compassion. I have a proven, professional track record of effective community facilitation, mediation, and equitable outcomes — even in circumstances […]
Guest Column by Jennifer Swanson
During the course of my campaign for County Council, I have had countless conversations with people across the islands and have learned a great deal about their concerns. These conversations have given form to how I will, as councilmember, approach the budget. In April, 60.67% of San Juan County voters rejected the county’s levy lid […]
Letter to Editor | Swanson will be a great addition to county council
I endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Council. She is a great listener, and strives for communication, not conflict, to resolve issues. She has worked to better our community through communication and respectful dialog. She considers all sides of an issue before making a decision, and will make a great addition to county council.
Letter to Editor | My enthusiastic endorsement of Jennifer Swanson
I have been a voter in San Juan County for more than 50 years and am writing to enthusiastically endorse Jennifer Swanson for County Commissioner. Jennifer and I worked together on the Shaw Island school board for several years. During her term as chairman she was called upon to steer the board through the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a challenging time but Jennifer based her leadership on the facts and the science. […]
San Juan Island Fire District considers false alarm fee
League of Women Voters summary of Fire District #3 Commissioners Meeting, September 22, 2026 meeting. Division Chief Jordan Pollack presented a report on the Outer Island Brigade Program. There are currently six brigades on Brown, Henry, Johns, and Stuart Islands. Brigades are trained in eight modules, wilderness first-aid, and in apparatus training. Stuart West will […]
County Council completes series of September budget meetings; Oct. 5 public hearing to follow
Submitted by San Juan County.
Leadership for our future: Katherine Bryant Ingman for County Council | Letter
Katherine represents the future leaders that I want to see locally and nationally. Energetic young people dreaming of a better future who are ready to listen and eager to work.
Katherine Bryant Ingman’s budget spotlight | Letter
San Juan County is set to spend more than it takes in for 2027. To legally balance the budget, it needs to cut $3.7M.
Swanson for County Council | Letter
Your vote for Jennifer Swanson for the San Juan County Council will be a vote for the right person. She recognizes that the tough issues facing the County demand leadership to bring islanders together to sustain and honor our values. She understands there are no easy answers to address the challenges of affordable housing, reliable ferry service, a balanced budget of prioritized countywide needs, and a healthy environment. The path forward will require a proven record of personal strength and re
Support for Jennifer Swanson for Council | Letter
There are many reasons I support Jennifer Swanson in her bid for Council Position #3. I’d like to focus on two of her strengths: Jennifer is hard working and displays equanimity when leading.
Letter to Editor | Candidate’s dreams are spendy
I read Katherine Ingman Bryant’s goals to improve health care services in San Juan County and was struck by one glaring omission: How much will all of this cost—and where will the money come from? San Juan County is facing a serious budget crisis. Health Services have already been cut to the bone, and 2028 is expected to bring even deeper cuts. Against that backdrop, promising expanded health care services without explaining the price tag isn’t a plan. […]
Letter to Editor | Ingman has our full support
This is to share how my husband and I know Katherine Bryant Ingman candidate for San Juan County Council District 3, and why she has our full support. We first met Katherine when we began to volunteer at the Lopez Food Share in 2020, during the Covid epidemic. Lopez has a long history of food generosity but as the impact of the epidemic hit the island like a tidal wave, the need […]
County to test vote counting equipment in October
Testing will take place on October 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. San Juan County’s Elections Office will be holding a “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used for the County’s November 3, 2026, General election. The test is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. and will take place in the Elections Office located at 55 Second Street, Suite A, in Friday Harbor. Logic and accuracy testing is a standard pre-election […]
Washington, multistate coalition victory protects social services for low-income families
Submitted by the Washington State Office of Attorney General Nick Brown.
Larsen fights for guardrails on data centers
Submitted by the Office of Rep. Rick Larsen.