Big Wins: Obama-McCain-Rosario & Schools

San Juan County has followed the nation in how they vote, choosing McCain and Obama by large margins. In the school levy measures, all of the school districts won, as did the Rosario Water Annexation measure. Complete breakdowns of the SJC elections can be accessed by clicking HERE

Summary of elections results follows:

[more..]

Caucus Results

The San Juan County Democrats and Republicans caucused Saturday, and both broke previous attendance records.. While both parties had assumed the participation would be larger than in 2004, it was the Democrats who showed up in overwhelming numbers.

The Democrats filled the SJI School Commons room for a general meeting, and then as they filed out of the room to caucus in various classrooms, it was an impressive swelling sea of humanity that filled the width and length of the long hallways leading to the class rooms.
The Republicans met in the SJI Grange building, and while the turnout was greater than in 2004, it was a far less number than the Democrats had been able to generate.

San Juan County has a history of not always being in lockstep with the rest of the state when it comes to voters issues, but on Saturday the county very much seems to mirrored the rest of the state in voter preferences.

The 1600 voting Democrates went big for Barack Obama
The Breakdown by Island:
San Juan Hillary Clinton 11 delegates Barack Obama 56 delegates Uncommitted 1

Orcas Hillary Clinton 7 delegates Barack Obama 35 delegates D. Kucinich 3

Lopez Hillary Clinton 4 delegates Barack Obama 19 delegates D. Kucinich 1

Shaw Hillary Clinton 1 delegate Barack Obama 2 delegates

Waldron Hillary Clinton 0 delegates Barack Obama 2 delegates

The Republicans were split, but McCain was the winner
Orcas ------------ Huckabee 4; McCain 7; Paul 4; Romney 3; Uncommitted 4

San Juan ------- Huckabee 4; McCain 14; Paul 5; Romney 10; Uncommitted 3

Lopez --====== Huckabee 2; McCain 4; Paul 1; Romney 2; Uncommitted 0
(No results available for Shaw and Waldron)

[link]

Citizen Alert!

Approximately 12 miles of beach in San Juan County are identified as spawning sites for “forage fish.”
A development setback restriction of 150 feet to 250 landward of these beaches is under discussion by the County Council appointed Critical Areas Committee. Similar buffers, for wildlife riparian zones, are being discussed for upland properties.

If these setbacks are adopted, homes located within the new setback will become non-conforming which places restrictions on any future changes. For new homes, the current 50’ or 100’ shoreline setback regulations would no longer be in effect.

The process for the new critical areas ordinances and regulations is as follows:
The Citizen Committee will take public input and write a draft Critical Areas Ordinance that will be forwarded to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will take public input and forward their recommendations to the County Council. The County Council will hold hearings and adopt a Critical Areas Ordinance.

Citizens for Responsible Government will be sending a notice of this to property owners that may be affected by this action, so they you will be aware of this matter in time to provide input to the discussion.


( Citizens for Responsible Government is a non-partisan 501c6 organization that comments and takes positions on local governmental issues of general interest. Donations are welcome to defray mailing and newspaper ad costs.

Citizens for Responsible Government
PO Box 91
Olga, Wa. 98279)


[link]