District 2 is lucky to have three well intentioned candidates for County Council. However, what has been missing for a number of years are council members with governing experience. Most recently this resulted in a council agenda driven by the county manager instead of the manager working for the Council. That dynamic has to change. Our elected officials need to answer to the people they represent. The latest firing of five Department of Community Development planners in favor of off island consultants radically illustrates the havoc inexperience can produce.

Rick Hughes has shown himself to be someone that listens to constituents and is willing to change his thinking when presented with facts. I experienced this first hand as a Land Bank commissioner during Rick’s first term. He was the County liaison to the Land Bank and, initially, not a fan. However, once he saw how the Land Bank operated and the many ways it served the community he became an advocate and supporter.

Rick has shown his commitment to maintaining our quality of life through his work to pass the 2020 Climate Pledge Resolution, his focus on increasing work force housing and his understanding that sustainable growth is the only kind of growth needed here. People who have worked with Rick know he is lively, interested in new ideas, willing to go to bat for our county in Olympia and able to work with all kinds of people as evidenced by his numerous endorsements from 40th District and statewide elected officials.

Let’s give Rick another chance this fall to help our county move forward towards a more sustainable future that aligns with our community vision, that supports working families and doesn’t cut corners on environmental protection.

Amanda Azous

San Juan Island