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The candidates vying to represent Washington in the U.S. Senate went head-to-head Oct. 8 at a debate in Spokane, sparring over affordability, immigration, foreign affairs and fentanyl. Democratic incumbent Maria Cantwell and Republican Raul Garcia, a Yakima emergency room doctor, met at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University for a debate hosted by The Spokesman-Review in partnership with Gonzaga University, KSPS, the Black Lens and the Washington State Debate Coalition. It was the first debate between the two...
During the week they shifted historic South First Street one-way southbound traffic flow, La Conner’s leaders put the brakes on any free-wheeling budget plans for 2025. Town Administrator Scott Thomas shared a tight financial forecast with Town Council members at their Oct. 8 meeting, confirming projections submitted in writing by Mayor Marna Hanneman. “This is a tight budget year,” Thomas stressed. “Inflationary costs have risen dramatically. Expenses are going up. I’ve told the staff this is a year that we have to cut and choose....
The state’s Public Disclosure Commission issued a fine of $20,000 Oct. 9, half of it suspended on certain conditions, finding political action committee Let’s Go Washington violated state campaign finance laws. The PDC found that LGW failed to report subcontractors used by signature-gathering firms and failed to produce campaign records when requested by PDC. The decision and order includes: “LGW has an obligation to inquire and confirm whether its contractors have used subcontractors. Failing to ask or failing to follow up on a contr...
BREW WAS SAMPLED CLOSE TO THIS SLOUGH - Visitors young and not so young flocked to Maple Hall Saturday for the La Conner Chamber of Commerce's first Brew on the Slough since 2019. There were 12 breweries pouring, a room full of people tasting, and the CC Adams Band performing. Plus a silent auction to raise money for the Chamber....
Why are you seeking office? This is a moderate district that expects its legislative leaders to bring people together to find practical and bipartisan solutions that best serve our community. As we see our nation become increasingly polarized, I'm proud to continue to work across the aisle to serve our community and state. I am committed to building bridges that help connect diverse people, groups and communities within our District and finding points of bipartisan consensus. It's especially...
Why are you seeking office? I am running for State House LD10 Position 2 because I feel that with one party control in Olympia, we are not getting good policies. As an example, HB 1589 which my opponent voted for and coincidentally Democratic Lt. Gov. Denny Heck called "a hot mess" is one example. The Seattle Times just endorsed I-2066 stating "The legislature could have and should have done better". I think the fact that there were seven initiatives, four of which are on this year's ballot, is...
Why are you seeking office? With soaring costs, our economy isn't working for us. That's why I fought to lower property taxes for more seniors, veterans and people with disabilities; and cap medication costs. I increased retirement benefits for teachers and public employees; and funded affordable housing across our district. I'm 100% pro-choice, an environmental advocate and champion for veterans and military families. Over the past two years as your representative, I'm proud of the progress...
Why are you seeking office? If one's dishonest or outed during an election, why would anyone trust or listen to anything they say or plan to do? I believe LD-10 Position 1 deserves an individual who is honest and trustworthy to represent them. I believe as a We The People candidate, I wish to represent the citizens of LD-10, Washington state and America to the best of my abilities of bring common sense honesty with integrity to represent the community, state and country I love! How will you...
Why are you seeking office? My experience in business and governance has provided me with a broad understanding of important issues. I've lived and worked in this district my entire life, giving me an understanding of this district that few have. My moderate perspective and accountability-first attitude not only align with the values of this district but also enable me to work with legislators across the aisle to get things done. How will you increase funding for public school special e...
Why are you seeking office? I have made my career in public service. First as a bilingual teacher, then as a social worker. I ran for Island County Commissioner to address healthcare challenges in our community. Now, I am running for state senate because I know that critical environmental and healthcare policy is happening at the state level. I want to continue my efforts on forest stewardship and conservation. I will increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment and protect...
Why are you seeking office? I believe we have a responsibility to leave our community better off for future generations. We have challenges with aging infrastructure, increased population and housing shortages. I want to work together with our community to come together for solutions on these issues. What will be the solution to zoning for agritourism? We need everyone to have a common understanding of what agritourism looks like in our Washington State Growth Management Act and County Code....
Why are you seeking office? To provide innovative solutions and restore common sense governance while upholding the rule of law. My main three points are to 1. lower taxes. 2. promote affordable housing. 3. protect farmers and their farms. I believe it is my duty as a resident of Skagit County to serve this county's people and answer the call to help them with their issues while providing them with better opportunities to thrive. Because frankly, government was designed to help people with...
Why are you seeking office? Because I believe in local government and its importance. The Skagit is a special place with extraordinary people. I want to leave this place better than I found it, because that's what future generations are entitled to expect from today's leadership. What will be the solution to zoning for agritourism? I am firmly committed to protecting and preserving the Skagit Valley's farmland for future generations. I also understand that tourism can help provide farms with a...
Why are you seeking office? I'm running for office because I think most Skagitonians believe we can and must do a better job in tackling our biggest challenges to make our lives better and our children's futures brighter. We should be driven by science and listening to one another again. I enjoy helping other people solve their problems and succeed in their own efforts. I have the energy, time and humility to focus solely on working for you if honored with election. What will be the solution to...
They're calling them signs of the times. Those are the traffic signs installed by the La Conner's Public Works Department alerting motorists that First Street downtown is now one-way southbound and Commercial Street's single block in front of Maple Hall has been converted to an eastbound only flow. The changes have taken some getting used to. Reaction on social media has been mixed. Some posters have praised the relative ease of driving on the narrow street even with parking spaces filled on...
YOU CAN HELP La Conner Kiwanis and the La Conner High School student body are sponsoring a Halloween blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the Landy James Gym. Your donation will preserve a life. Visit bloodworksnw.org, then go to its donor portal and search for La Conner. Please call if you have clinical questions, Dorothy, RN 360-431-9234, or about required registration, Lori, 360-630-0809. LIBRARIES La Conner Swinomish Library. 520 Morris St., La Conner. 360-466-3352. www.laconnerswinomishlibrary.org/events. Open 10 a.m. to...
Building affordable housing in La Conner is a groundbreaking development, worthy of celebration. Skagit Habitat for Humanity will break ground at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at its Caledonia Cottages Project at Third and Caledonia streets. The public is invited. The community event will celebrate the construction of three affordable single-family homes in La Conner with the families selected through the non-profit housing organization's Homebuyer Program. "This is a huge moment not just for...
Skagit County’s collaborative effort in the Great ShakeOut 2024 includes the county government, sheriff’s office, the cities of Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley, the towns of Concrete, Hamilton, Lymon and La Conner, the Skagit County Fire Chiefs Association, Skagit County Dike District Consortium, Skagit 911 and Skagit County Emergency Medical Services The Great ShakeOut drill is Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m. and aims to educate and prepare the community for the possibility of an earthquake. Tsunami sirens will sound and an ale...
OLYMPIA —Following a public process, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission voted Oct. 10 to keep the cabins at Cama Beach Historical State Park permanently closed. Significant septic and infrastructure failures led to the closure of the cabins and other buildings in the beach area of park in February 2024. In addition to this issue, impacts of rising sea levels have damaged buildings in the area. Data shows these impacts will only increase in the coming years. There are also known cultural and historical complexities that i...
I am a border in Mexico. I am a border in Gaza. I am a child getting shot through a border fence as I play in the sand. I am a word. I am a phosphorous cloud. I am a sprinkling of stars. I am an echocardiogram. I am the smell of a pony. I am a poem with "promises to keep / and miles to go before I sleep." The Skagit River Poetry Foundation's biannual festival Oct. 4-5 at Maple Hall and other venues around La Conner inspired the above paragraph. The festival was attended Friday morning by over...
MOUNT VERNON - The four candidates for two county commissioner seats were tested with a lightning round question-and-answer format during a one-hour Skagit League of Women Voters public forum Monday night. Final grades on their candidacies will be issued by voters after mail-in ballots are returned. A large crowd of close to 100 squeezed into the Skagit PUD's Aqua Room for the briskly paced event, in which opening and closing statements by challengers Richard Brocksmith and Rylee Fleury and...
By Ken Stern OLYMPIA – Four Skagit County organizations won $2.8 million in grants, 5.6% of the $50.3 million the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board awarded for 145 projects across the state to improve habitat for salmon, steelhead and bull trout, the board announced Sept. 30. Almost half ($21.6 million) was funded through the Climate Commitment Act and targeted restoration of shorelines and riverbanks – riparian areas – essential to salmon. Forested riparian areas create micro...
The Center Square — Incumbent Chris Reykdal and Peninsula School Board member David Olson found some common ground during Saturday’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction debate at the Bellevue Public Library. Both think the state’s funding model for public education is flawed. “Our state only spends about 3.1% of its GDP on education, and the national average is 3.6%,” said Reykdal, who is running for a third term. “Even with all the gains we made over the last seven or eight years, we still only barely got close to the national av...
The Concrete Herald is for sale, Publisher and Editor Jason Miller announced in the October editorial of his monthly newspaper. “After more than 15 years at the helm, I’ve decided to pass our hometown newspaper to its next caretaker,” his editorial starts. Interested? Call Miller at 360-630-4603....
A jigsaw approach was taken to solve the puzzle that is the old Moore Clark property at a Sept. 30 public forum. Attendees at the three-hour workshop at Maple Hall divided into three breakout rooms to brainstorm and then report to the whole group potential future uses for the former fish food production plant and adjoining parcels in what was once La Conner's bustling south waterfront industrial hub. The consulting team charged with drafting a plan for revitalizing the 4-acre area, which has...