Vote to fill three town council seats - MaryLee Chamberlain

Background and experiences

La Conner Town Council 2014-present

Employed as an occupational therapist

Resident of La Conner 1998-present

Residents’ personal safety and security

Residents have shared increasing concerns for safety over the past year with specific mention of diminished law enforcement visibility, traffic speed issues and delayed response times.

Improvement in law enforcement support is a need and a priority as we discuss budget expenditures.

Analysis of criminal activity and law enforcement presence and patterns is a beginning step toward improved town communication with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office.

We need a system of ongoing communication that works for all involved, with regular review.

The addition of a code enforcement officer to town staff may be an option to assist with increasing safety, visibility and communication needs.

This will be discussed further by the town along with details of the contract with the sheriff’s office.

Town approach to starter homes

Buying a home has become a monumental achievement for a first time home buyer in these times of extreme prices and limited inventory, particularly in a very desirable state like Washington.

The Town of La Conner has implemented some practices recommended for creating housing that can potentially be more affordable.

This has been addressed to a degree with lowering the minimum lot size, as land itself is expensive.

Another aspect of the code that can be leveraged is the ADU or Accessory Dwelling Unit option as this may afford a new homeowner to get additional income to help offset cost.

Of course, any time we can create partnerships with Habitat for Humanity or Home Trust Skagit is welcomed as that allows for income targeted housing.

Representing and communicating with residents

Communication is an area of personal interest and a place that requires some focused attention for our town.

Our town has grown and continues to address increasingly more complex issues that impact residents in both the short and long term.

A communication plan that includes regular and timely messages from the town government would help to increase transparency and reduce potential inaccuracies.

This information needs to be delivered in a variety of formats with a clear process for feedback.

The newspaper has been a primary source for reporting information but we need additional and sustainable mechanisms for keeping folks informed and partnering with our community.

I would encourage citizens to always reach out with email, calls, and chats in the neighborhood and at community events.

Financial contribution for the La Conner Library

The La Conner Library is an incredible asset and it is easy to advocate for this vital community resource. Support for regional programs will be addressed in the town budget process.

Positioning La Conner for 2050

La Conner’s future rests on healthy infrastructure and responsible growth with climate, vision and sustainability considerations.