Just one race is on the primary ballot mailed to Orcas voters: the San Juan Island Fire Protection District #2 Commissioner 2 position. Ballots for the Aug. 18 primary were mailed only to those within the Fire District on Orcas Island.
Voters returning their ballots by mail must have them postmarked by election day. Voters may also deposit their ballots at the ballot drop box located at the Orcas Island Senior Center, or bring their ballots to the elections office in Friday Harbor by 8 p.m. on Aug. 18.
The Sounder asked the three candidates, Henry “Duff” Andrews, Clyde Duke, and Jonathan Loop, questions about the fire district and why they are running.
Henry “Duff” Andrews
What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the fire district?
The biggest concern and challenge is the unbridled spending on salaries and equipment that will result in problems when the current levy expires.
What are your ideas for overcoming this challenge?
Restructuring administration, avoiding duplication of tasks/personnel.
The fire department is carefully watched by the community. How do you intend to deal with that?
As a past Orcas Island Fire Commissioner I have always encouraged open communication with the public. There has been entirely too much controversy and misunderstanding. Public opinion counts and should be heard.
What experience or expertise do you bring to the board?
I was a Fire Commissioner for eight years and instrumental in designing the long-term planning for facilities and equipment and volunteer benefits. The current board has exceeded the intent of the levy and the long range plan.
Why are you running for this position?
Public support has encouraged me to again run for this position. I respect the department, care about the community needs and want to encourage volunteerism and provide the best possible department within our means.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your interests.
I have a record of community service in the Lions Club for 35 years as well as support of numerous community endeavors. My support of volunteerism throughout our community is a hallmark of my past experience.
Clyde Duke (incumbent)
What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the fire district?
I feel that the biggest challenge for the department is communicating with the community. I feel there are those who don’t understand that the mandates of the levy lid lift and the strategic plan’s benchmarks are being met in a timely and financially responsible manner and that the department is endeavoring to have all goals met and still have a reserve after the levy lid lift has expired.
What are your ideas for overcoming this challenge?
To overcome the challenge of clear communications with the community the department has established a web site at www.orcasfire.org, and we are doing annual reports for the community showing benchmarks met and the financial status. I would like to see the department start a quarterly report to be printed in the newspaper.
For me personally, I’m most concerned with attracting and maintaining an active volunteer corps, which we are addressing with online training, the health and wellness program, and by providing the environment for each volunteer to find the best in themselves and to become part of an amazing team.
The fire department is carefully watched by the community. How do you deal with that?
I don’t have a problem with the community carefully watching the department. I encourage it.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for commissioner position #2 again because I’ve been asked to continue on the board by members of the community and the department. I became aware of the challenges as a volunteer and now as a commissioner of the changing needs of Orcas. When the strategic plan for the fire district was completed in 2004 with the community’s involvement, we realized for long term stability within the organization that certain objectives needed to be met. Three simultaneous studies for fire service, emergency medical services and communications were done and the findings became our benchmarks to achieve.
What experience or expertise do you bring to the board? Tell us a bit about yourself and your interests.
Our family moved to Orcas Island in 1990. We started our roofing company in 1991. I was exposed to the extreme danger of wild land fire during the Panorama fire in San Bernardino when 365 homes were lost in 48 hours. I joined the Orcas Fire Department in 1992 and served as a volunteer and a lieutenant at Rosario station 23 and later Eastsound Station 21. I was Firefighter of the Year in 1995. I served as vice president and president of the Volunteer Firefighter Association. I’ve been on the Board of Fire Commissioners since 2004 and was chair for three years. I chaired the chief search and fire service committees.
Jonathan Loop
What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the fire district?
All entities that serve the public good continue to be more expensive as time goes on and taxpayers are always reluctant to pay more to cover the costs of their essential needs.
What are your ideas for overcoming this challenge?
I don’t know if you can overcome the public’s resistance to more taxes, but as commissioner my job will be to oversee the expenditures and educate the electorate as to the choices versus the risks that arise.
The fire department is carefully watched by the community. How do you intend to deal with that?
The community should watch how all taxing districts spend their money.
At this point in time the Orcas Island Fire Department was authorized by the voters in 1999 to accomplish specific goals. Fire commissioners are elected to represent the entire community and be sure that the mandate of 1999 is accomplished.
As commissioner I will inform the community in advance of short, as well as long term plans.
What experience or expertise do you bring to the board?
The fire department is a business. They are in the business of responding to the emergency needs of its customers. I owned and operated a very successful manufacturing company for 31 years. The experience I gained in those years was all about taking care of the needs of my customers. To successfully provide emergency services the fire department must be sure to take care of our customers while controlling costs for the taxpayers.
Why are you running for this position?
When I first considered running for this position I had some good reasons. As I encountered people who had become aware of my candidacy the most often asked question was “Why are you doing this?”, often with negative overtones. These negative overtones need to be changed. This is a hard job and needs someone who can change the pessimistic attitudes that exist between the public and government agencies in general.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your interests.
I love Orcas, I love my life here and I love pursuing my primary hobby of woodworking. It is a great place to live.
