Annie Taylor chosen for vacant council seat

Democracy was in action at the La Conner Town Council meeting Nov. 9. Following robust and diverse participation by residents urging Annie Taylor’s and, alternatively, applicant Bill Bruch’s selection, the council voted 3-1 to place Taylor in the council position vacated by Jacques Brunisholz’s August resignation.

Residents did most of the talking: When Councilmember Bill Stokes motion for an executive session to discuss the choice in private among the council failed for lack of a second, Councilmember John Leaver nominated Taylor. Councilmember Mary Wohleb seconded the motion and the vote was called, MaryLee Chamberlain also voting yes and Bill Stokes nay.

Sandy Stokes kicked off the citizen endorsements of the candidates during public comments at the meeting’s start, striding to the front of the filled small Maple Hall meeting room. People were crowded outside in the doorways, with strict social distancing observed.

Stokes, Bruch’s campaign manager in his failed bid to defeat Dave Paul in the 2020 District 10 state representative election, made a forceful case against “a barrage of partisan … political hatred (and) he was ostracized by the La Conner paper” in that election, referring to the October story of two 1990s default judgments against Bruch in Whatcom County Superior Court for fraud in providing financial advice to two seniors, court cases he did not contest.

Stokes said his reputation was “destroyed, ruined” but that he was courageous for applying for the position and that the council would show courage to appoint him.

The three other people speaking for Bruch emphasized his character, integrity and experience, including his being able to be neutral and nonpartisan while being chair of the Skagit County Republican Party.

Half-a-dozen people championed Taylor, citing her roles on the town’s park commission, as owner of Crescent Moon Yoga and a server at Nell Thorn and her understanding of the tourism nature of La Conner. Many of them brought up her trait of compassion, resident Jim Airy noting that in writing screenplays Taylor “must imagine another person’s life, that Taylor has the ability and the willingness to understand the lives of other people.”

Gretchen Dyker summed up the community’s sentiment, saying, “Taylor, politics aside, is a very good person. She is not a politician. Alleviate that by having Annie on council.”

Filling the council seat was midway through the agenda. Mayor Ramon Hayes said “tonight is decisive” when the vacancy came up.

The council was that, declining Administrator Scott Thomas’s option of an executive session. Once Leaver nominated Taylor and gained Wohleb’s second, Bill Stokes put in a last word for Bruch. Hayes called the question and only Stokes voted nay.

Taylor was immediately sworn in by Finance Director Maria DeGoede. Attendees applauded. Taylor came to the front of the room and took the first chair on the right side, next to the American flag, Brunisholz’s seat, and started her tenure as a La Conner town councilmember.