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10/12/2006: "Off And Running!"

(Greg Hertel -seated- and Milene Henley speak to Chamber members)
In what one participant called a "warm-up for the major debates coming up", the two candidates to replace Auditor Si Stephens, who has decided to retire, presented their reasons as to why they should be Si's replacement.

The occasion was the second in a series of opportunities by the SJC Chamber of Commerce for candidates to present their views to the Chamber membership.


Greg Hertel went first, and after giving a short history of his life on San Juan Island as a teacher for 29 years, a small business owner, a commercial fisherman, and a Realtor. he then listed the high points of his involvement in San Juan Island politics, by listing some of the accomplishments of the Port of Friday Harbor, of which he was elected to, and has chaired. Hertel was also an elected Freeholder. In addition to his general experience as a Port Commissioner, Hertel said he was qualified to serve as Auditor due his experience in management and responsibility while serving as a Port Commissioner, which included working on budget matters, bonding and loans.

While Hertel did not list his academic qualifications, he did state that there is training for elected officials at the state level, and that he would receive that training as an Auditor; and in any case, the current staff is experienced and qualified, and that it will be a learning experience for anyone that is elected to the position., He told the Chamber members that "I will ask the staff how to do the job, and I will take the necessary training".

Milene Henley was next, and after congratulating Hertel for giving a good presentation, followed Hertels' lead by listing her own work history, which included owning a local accountant business, former Chief Financial Officer and a co-owner of a computer business, and past owner of Animal Inn on SJ Island.

Henley did list her academic qualifications, which included undergraduate degree from Harvard with a concentration in economics related to Social Studies, and a MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, concentrating in accounting and statistics, and she also served as a teaching assistant Stanford and received a fellowship.

In response to stepping into the job of Auditor, Henley said that "One needs professional accounting experience" and added that in discussion of the job with current members of the Auditor's staff, she was told that while the staff is qualified to do the day-to-day work, there will be times when questions arise that require a decision to be made by someone with professional accounting experience as to what the proper response should be, and that staff wants that input.

The League of Women Voters schedule for the 2006 Candidate Forums is as follows:
Oct. 16 - Lopez: Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Lopez Community Center.
Oct. 17 -San Juan: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at the Friday Harbor Middle School Commons
Oct. 18 - Orcas: Wednesday, 7 p.m. at the Senior Center in Eastsound.

contact is Susan Dehlendorf (at 378-1082) for more information, .