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01/03/2006: "An Open Letter Of Thanks To Gary Boothman"

Dear Gary,

I want to thank you for all the years that you have put in first on the town council and then as mayor of Friday Harbor. Like so many on San Juan Island, I do not live in town, but all of us here, and even most residents of the other islands, rely on the town of Friday Harbor for many aspects of our lives. Friday Harbor takes much of the brunt of the ever-increasing tourism in the county, is the seat of county government of course, hosts probably more than half of the restaurants in the county, and provides diversions, shopping and commercial opportunities of many kinds.

We need Friday Harbor to be healthy and vibrant, and as a long-time resident who in general wouldn't mind turning back the clock in San Juan County, I believe that the town has, for the most part, improved over the past decade and a half while you have been in some way at the helm. Again, thanks for putting in countless hours in additional to all of those city council meetings over the last 14 years.

Claudia Mills
San Juan Island