by Toby Cooper

Sounder contributor

With barely a pause in the flow, Representative Debra Lekanoff reached for her water. “I am choking on my own excitement,” she said to 75 islanders packed in Orcas Center’s Madrona Room. To the crowd, Representative Lekanoff’s excitement was contagious, and her passion for all the issues Orcas cares about was on display.

Though not stumping yet for 2024, the jocular, straight-talking, Blue-state politician enjoyed an October Saturday of island whistle stops to hear what is on people’s minds.

Elected in 2019 to represent Washington’s 40th legislative district, including parts of Whatcom and Skagit and all of San Juan counties, Lekanoff has established herself as an energetic member of the “Dream Team” – her name for the 40th district’s legislative trio consisting of herself, Senator Liz Lovelett, and Representative (and Majority Whip) Alex Ramel.

For openers, Lekanoff chose water. She makes no apologies for being “a water junkie” as signs emerge that development pressures on the islands are stressing the resource. “Unlike Skagit and Whatcom, you don’t get it from pipes,” she said, noting that island water tables are falling and saltwater intrusion is compromising quality. “They got water; you guys don’t. This is my priority,” she said.

Councilmember Cindy Wolf spoke up, addressing the need for baseline water data to support conservation measures and budgeting for infrastructure. Wolf seeks to fulfill this need in part by budgeting for a county hydrologist. Asked by Lekanoff if a capital budget and feasibility plan out of Olympia would be helpful, Wolf replied with an emphatic “Yes.”

Like Orcas residents and visitors, Representative Lekanoff heaps adulation on the islands we call home.

“You live in the most powerful, most beautiful place in the world. If San Juan County dies, the whole Salish Sea dies — it all depends on the health of the San Juan islands,” she said.

A little hyperbole? Understandable and forgivable. But embedded within was Lekanoff’s support for regulations that allow for development while protecting this special place. “I am not against development,” she said, adding, “If you are going to do it, do it right.”

Congratulations were offered to Lisa Byers and her team for securing development rights for the Pea Patch – OPAL’s visionary plan for affordable housing and a community center just north of town. “This is the kind of community support that needs to come back to Washington, and you guys are doing it here,” she said to cheers.

Talk of ferries — the word that sits prominently on every islander’s kitchen table — spurred a vibrant discussion. Lekanoff reminded the group that Senator Lovelett chairs an informal “Ferry Caucus” of 35 legislators. Moreover, as she swept her hand grandly over the room, she raised the stakes by saying, “You all are on the ferry committee.”

Broad participation in the ferry conversation is essential. While people are fed up with the service gaps, bottlenecks, worn-out boats, and seeming bureaucratic intransigence of the system upon which everyone depends, Lekanoff wastes no time handwringing.

“Data,” she says. “Give me data. How many medical emergencies are missed or made worse? How many children can’t get home from school? You have one way on, one way off. Food, everything, come by these boats.”

She notes the hard realities underpinning the ferry problem. The money is there, new boats are on order, but actual service is years away unless we can change the prioritization – namely which routes will get new boats first? “Your data will give Senator Lovelett and me the ammunition we need to make a case for prioritization.”

All too soon, the conversation ended, and Representative Lekanoff was off to catch a ferry. (“The height of optimism,” someone said.)

“She is a force,” said Mark Mayer of Olga the next day.

That comment touched off a spontaneous word game in search of single-word descriptors that might sum up how people feel about the only Native American currently serving in the Washington legislature.

“Genuine,” said one. “Effective,” said another. And so it went, “devoted,” “harmonious,” “refreshing,” “inspirational.”