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11/14/2005: "Ex-Freeholders Call For Advisory Committees"

Ex-Freeholders and supporters listen to speakers on the need for citizens' committees)

If anyone expected the ex-freeholders, and the members of the "Islanders For A Charter Government"- the citizens that convinced the BOCC to put the idea of a Charter on the ballot, to now quietly return to their "farms and villages", as was the case after the battles of the American Revolution, they have misjudged these citizens. At a celebration on Sunday at the Pelindaba Downtown in Friday Harbor, a party was held for the supporters of the campaign for Home Rule, at which it was announced that a new group has formed to "ensure Home Rule is smoothly implemented". The new group is called Citizens for Responsive County Government, and its initial focus will be on "seeing that the Charter is responsibly, transparently, and efficiently implemented."

While the group currently has a cross-section of citizens from all of the islands, anyone interested in joining the group is encouraged to contact Richard Fralick, the current chair of the group. The current members are: Charlie Bodenstab, Jeff Bossler, Lola Deane, Richard Fralick, Stephanie O'Day, Linda Thretheway, Cameron Devore, Nanae Nagaoka Fralick, Les Gunther, Dick Keefe, and Stephen Robins.

It was announced that the groups first action has been to send a formal request to the BOCC asking them to name a "citizens' advisory committee with individuals having experience in recruiting senior-level executives to help evaluate candidates for the County Administrator position mandated by the charter."

Susan Robins said that "further requests for similar citizens' advisory committees will be made as various aspects of the transition are enacted." She added that "The campaign for Home Rule was a call to civic involvement that will not abate with the passage of the charter."