06/13/2005: "Rhea Miller To Resign In July"

PRESS RELEASE FROM MILLER

ig_MILLER-1 (10k image) (BOCC photo) Commissioner Rhea Miller will be resigning her public office as of July 31, 2005.
The Democratic Party will appoint a replacement for Miller. The replacement will have to be from District 3. Historically the party will go to the public and ask for anyone with an interest to put their name forward, and then the party will interview, and then a replacement will be appointed by the BOCC. The replacement will serve out the remaining term, and then they could run for election. The press statement from the BOCC follows:

"Life's opportunities do not always coincide with elected terms of office," stated Commissioner Miller. "I have been honored to serve in public office for 10 1/2 years. It's been an incredible experience. I have given it all I have to offer. I now need to take advantage of new opportunities coming my way."

Rhea Miller is currently in her third term as County Commissioner. "More than anything I have wanted to keep our communities healthy by supporting our working people, whether through resources for childcare and families, the owner-builder code, affordable housing, skate parks, the mobile processing unit, or water catchment. I have tried to listen and be fair, and yet make firm decisions - to hold the whole."

As a Commissioner she gained a national reputation for her work in making San Juan County the first jurisdiction to successfully ban jet skis. She has been recognized for her leadership on resource protection on "Good Morning America Sunday" and "CBS Sunday Morning." She was the keynote speaker for the national gathering of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1997. She serves as the Governor's appointee to the Puget Sound Council and served on the State and Federal Long Term Oil Spill Risk Management Panel. She was asked to testify for the Federal Ocean Commission and was a panelist at the Governor's Forum for a response to the Federal Ocean Commission Report. She has served on the Board of Directors for the North Sound Mental Health Administration for her 10 1/2 years and is proud to have succeeded in securing the Human Services Building in the former Windermere Building. She has also been the liaison for the County with the surrounding Tribes.

Commissioner Miller will be leaving for New Zealand on August 2nd at the invitation of the Waitaha, an indigenous people of New Zealand. A New Zealand agency has offered an expense paid trip and honorarium in November to conduct workshops on affordable housing and alternative techniques on building. There has been renewed interest in her book within the scientific community. She will also be accompanying the Waitaha in the Americas at a date yet to be announced.
Commissioner Miller recommends that the choice of her successor take into consideration several factors:

1) be a strong presence - able to walk into any state office or any Congressional office or speak to any Department Head or Elected Official as a strong advocate for our citizens
2) be a quick study - already steeped in community matters
3) have the ability to listen to and relate to the broad spectrum of our community - to be a good steward of this community
4) be dedicated to quality of life consistent with our citizens' vision statement
5) be dedicated to maintaining families and diversity within our community
6) be dedicated to the protection of our natural environment
7) be fiscally responsible
8) support appropriate economic development that sustains our agriculture, forest, and marine resources

Commissioner Miller expresses deep gratitude for her experience as an elected official in this wonderful County. She has great confidence in the remaining members of the Board of County Commissioners and the successor of their choice.