When saluted by La Conner Rotarians Saturday night at Maple Hall, Mayor Ramon Hayes didn't speak at length about accomplishments that have marked his unprecedented four terms in office.

He instead chose to focus on a task left uncompleted until that very moment, when he was presented the Paul Harris Fellow recognition, a $1,000 contribution to the national Rotary Foundation in Hayes' name.

Hayes, who is bringing his 16-year tenure to a close, used his remarks to shift attention from himself to former Washington state Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, to whom he had extended a special invitatio...