Rick Hughes, President of Ray’s Pharmacy, announced that he will run for San Juan County Council position #4 (Orcas West) in the upcoming November election.

“Our community is at a crossroads, with many tough decisions ahead,” said Hughes, a local business leader and community activist. “I fear that we have taken a path away from community and towards self-interest.  We need to be able to live together, even when we disagree. To settle our differences in a civil fashion and strip the anger away and repair our amazing sense of community.”

Hughes said he is running for office because as an operator of a small business in Eastsound and a former Fortune 100 executive, he has seen what it takes to run an organization in an efficient manner.

“As a concerned citizen I have seen how people can work together to solve problems like a county-wide drug take back program or garbage cans in Eastsound. Everyone can make a difference,” he said. “My pledge to the community is to operate a fair, honest and transparent government, to work for better communications and interaction between county employees and the public and to have county government serve as an aid to the public.  In short, to give the government back to the community. I know this will not be an easy job, but I promise to listen, learn, be fair, honest and to act in the best interest of Orcas Island and San Juan County.”

As owner of Ray’s Pharmacy, Hughes helped develop the San Juan County Drug Take-Back program. He also runs a property management group; serves as treasurer of the Orcas Island Farmers Market Association, and Eastsound Water Users Association; is a board member of Eastsound Planning and Review Committee; volunteers as little league coach; and will serve as the incoming PTSA co-president.

Hughes’ family has been on Orcas Island since 1944 and his wife, Marlace, is a fourth generation Orcas Island resident. Prior to moving to the island, Hughes was an executive with ESPN. A former National Outdoor Leadership School graduate and national board member of Outward Bound Wilderness, Hughes’ passion is youth education in wilderness environments, farm to table sustainability and local produce for local schools.

“The secret to the long-term success of the San Juan Islands lies in all of us…and the re-establishment of small-town community values,” said Hughes. “The future will be bright for our wonderful island home if we all reach inside deep and work together to move community forward.”