Candidates Adrian Kilpatrick, Kari McVeigh and Stephanie O’Day share their visions
Since May 13, 2013, San Juan County has been organized into three residency districts. Voters countywide elect a three-member county council, with one member who resides in each district. Members serve four-year staggered terms.
Primary election ballots to decide the top two of three candidates for the San Juan County Council District 1 (San Juan and Stuart islands) position will be mailed on July 16 and must be returned no later than Aug. 6. Salish Current asked the candidates to answer 10 questions; responses follow (alphabetically and edited for clarity and style). [District 2 candidate interviews were posted July 16.]
What are your qualifications and why are you the best candidate to enter the general election for the county council position?
• Adrian Kilpatrick: I grew up on San Juan Island and have maintained deep lifelong relationships with a large portion of the island community. Throughout my life this community has acted like an extended family to me and has provided me with love and support over the years. This has ultimately led to my involvement in local committees like the Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee and the Friday Harbor Arts Commission. My involvement within these groups along with my deep connections to this community have given me a unique outlook on what it will take to keep this community thriving, going into the future.
• Kari McVeigh: I am the only candidate with the skill set and experience to help secure our islands’ future. I have proven experience in balancing multimillion-dollar budgets based on shared priorities and values. I’ve created collaborative partnerships with municipal, regional, state and federal entities. I use communication strategies that ensure others feel seen, heard and understood. I’ve led large and small public organizations with transparent and inclusive decision-making processes that have achieved excellent results (I am building teacher housing with Shaw Island School District). I am committed to protecting our future by securing our resources, and instilling effective governance practices.
• Stephanie O’Day: Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest; UW undergrad and UPS law school. My family and I have lived in San Juan County for 33 years. My practice as a land use and real estate attorney gives me the insight and knowledge to assess the problems facing our population.
What are the three most important issues that must be addressed in the comprehensive plan update and why?
• Kilpatrick: I believe the three most important aspects of the comprehensive plan are access to affordable housing/rental properties, our overall response to a changing climate/preparation for climate catastrophes, along with reducing our demand for off-island services/goods by expanding our capacity for local energy and food production. I find that these aspects of the comp plan will help provide resources to enable the success of our working-class population, provide a plan to protect and conserve our natural environments and will create new economic opportunities with the construction and development of alternative energy sources and expansion of local food production.
• McVeigh: The next comprehensive plan update must thoughtfully address our planning concerns, and not simply stack up statistics about the county. The three most important areas to focus on are the land use element, which must be updated with a process that allows for siting affordable housing and renewable energy generation; the water resources element needs significant updating given population growth and increased pressure on our water sources; and finally, all elements of the comprehensive plan need to be revised to reflect the realities of state climate legislation since that legislation places real constraints on how the county must operate.
• O’Day: Housing Housing and Housing: The county must recognize the very real need our population has for housing. The comp plan needs to focus on protecting islanders’ ways of life. Recognize the importance of allowing more accessory dwelling units within the county. Allowing construction or placement of modest sized ADUs on a property allows more long-term renters the chance to have a home and can supplement the landowner’s income.
How do you define “affordable housing” and what do you propose the county can do to create more affordable housing to purchase and to rent?
• Kilpatrick: I would define affordable housing as housing that someone who is working full-time at or around minimum wage can afford to rent or purchase. Last year on San Juan Island the median price for sold homes was $830,000, which is more than double the median home price in America. As our real estate market is becoming completely inaccessible to our working class, major associated issues have come to light. I plan to provide more resources to our existing affordable housing programs and county planning department, and look at starting a permanent affordable housing program here within the county.
• McVeigh: Affordable housing has very specific state and federal definitions of what level of income is required to qualify for “affordable” housing. But affordable housing should also be available to those middle-income earners who earn $1,000 a month over the guidelines and are a million away from being able to purchase. For both definitions of affordability, we must continue to partner with local home trusts, we must seek more public private partnerships to provide rentals and we must incentivize local property owners to provide below-market rentals whether they be houses or ADUs.
• O’Day: Affordable housing affects low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Without a place to live, businesses cannot find staff. Without the ability to buy a modest home, middle-income families will continue to leave the islands. The county needs to modify development regulations to be more user-friendly. Our current critical area regulations often clash with shoreline regulations, development regulations and use regulations, causing massive delays, chaos and costs affecting the price of housing. The county planners are supposed to be working for the people — but at present are working against the people. Allow the construction of more accessory dwelling units.
Do you think that the affordability of housing also depends on wages and is raising wages in the county a way to address affordability?
• Kilpatrick: I think raising wages is an obvious way to help islanders create more financial stability and provide a path to home ownership. Yet right now I think it is less critical than creating a larger stock of housing in general. Today, the cost and obstacles of development on island are much too restrictive. If you’re looking at developing raw land, just the costs of installing electricity, a well and septic system are extremely prohibitive to most people making a “normal” working wage. This makes the production of affordable housing and housing developments in general key to expanding our housing stock.
• McVeigh: Of course, affordability depends to a large degree on wages, but due to supply and demand issues creating a lack of affordable housing, regardless of whether you are low-income or middle-income, there just isn’t the housing inventory we need for the vast majority of our working people. And the reality is, many of our small businesses find it difficult to raise wages while keeping prices reasonable. As a council member, I can be most effective working on the supply side of the affordable housing issue.
• O’Day: Yes.
The county’s aging population seeks as much as possible to age in place. What would you propose are ways for the county to make that possible?
• Kilpatrick: For the elderly population to age in place it is going to be extremely important for this community to maintain the overall health and success of the working class. Development of more nursing homes/convalescent centers will be crucial to keep our aging population on island at the end of their lives. I know elderly islanders who are reaching an age where they need in-home assistance but can’t find anyone due to lack of housing and high costs of living on island. We must provide enough housing for our working class to meet the needs of our aging elderly population.
• McVeigh: One of the greatest impediments for county residents to be able to age in place is the shortage of caregivers and the lack of workforce development. We need to incentivize through housing, providing medical benefits, and training folks who are already providing these services to their families, to procure state funding. We must work with and strengthen our partnerships with the hospital district, EDC and state agencies so we can better match caregivers and housing with those in need. And we must incentivize all middle-aged and elders to convert their homes for accessibility to age in place.
• O’Day: Create an area where tiny homes, modular or manufactured homes are acceptable and clustered.
Do you anticipate more alternative energy projects to be proposed in the county and, if so, what issues should be considered in their siting?
• Kilpatrick: I firmly believe … the expansion and development of local alternative energy sources to be essential in creating energy independence and to bring down our ever-growing electric bills. I think finding suitable locations for these projects to be a bit more complicated here on San Juan Island. For many there isn’t much of a sense of urgency in getting these projects off the ground, which makes the placement of them extremely difficult. I hope to work with OPALCO and island residents in finding the best locations for these projects so that they can move ahead with a shared consensus.
• McVeigh: Yes, because we cannot assume that in another four years when the Bonneville Power contract will be up for renewal that our current low contract costs for power will continue. We must diversify our renewable energy sources to help us protect our future energy needs. This certainly means we will need more alternative energy projects. I like OPALCO’s plans to work with the farming community in determining how to site such solar projects and am in favor of siting that helps to preserve or promote our natural environment.
• O’Day: Sure. Open space requirements, development regulation constraints, protection of farmland vistas must be considered for placement.
Do you support the work of the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank and why, or why not?
• Kilpatrick: I support the land bank. I think it’s important that we continue to protect our natural habitats through the purchase and establishment of protected areas. While the purchasing of new public land is an important first step to conservation, I find it also increasingly important to continue to put money and resources into the continued stewardship of those purchased pieces of property. This includes the rehabilitation of damaged habitats, creating fire lines and firebreaks on land bank properties to help prevent the spread of island wide forest fires, along with the management/maintenance of forest undergrowth and invasive species.
• McVeigh: I unequivocally support the work of the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. It preserves our islands’ rural character and gives all citizens places to go to enjoy the natural beauty of our islands. The Land Bank provides habitats for wildlife and preserves key watersheds and clean water, a dwindling resource due to climate change. Additionally, money for affordable housing is linked to the Land Bank. The Land Bank REET helps all islanders preserve, promote, protect and restore the natural and resilient landscapes of the islands.
• O’Day: We love open space and trails. But enough already. I believe the Land Bank has served its useful purpose and should not continue in its present state. Its state mandate should be relaxed to allow the sale of unused Land Bank properties and proceeds allocated to affordable housing subsidies. Don’t buy more properties. Conserve and resell what you have with a reduced density and get many of these properties back on the tax rolls. Take steps to flip the real estate excise tax so that .5% goes to Land Bank property care and 1% goes to affordable housing.
What do you think is within the county council’s power to improve ferry service and what would you do with that power?
• Kilpatrick: I think providing scholarships and housing for people who would like to take the training to become ferry workers would be great for attracting new personnel to Washington State Ferries. A solution to expanding our aging fleet of ships is … creating an emergency clause in the Jones Act, allowing WSF to purchase new or used ferries from our neighbors in B.C. or Europe. This would allow us the ability to expand our aging ferry fleet quickly, without having to wait the potential 6–8 years that it will take to bid out and build new hybrid ferries.
• McVeigh: The county has the power to advocate with the state and, to some degree, the federal government on behalf of the county’s main transportation needs. To this end, we must be diligent in building relationships at the state and federal levels regarding these needs. We must prepare specifically both long- and short-term asks of our legislative partners that detail how much money we need and how such money will help us to improve our transportation needs. This requires careful, thorough and collaborative planning and leadership to drive the planning process and move it into action.
• O’Day: This is a state issue. We need to stay vocal in Olympia and keep the pressure on. Our island community is not being treated equally — our highway to the mainland is severely compromised.
How efficiently and effectively is the county serving its residents with a 32-hour work week or should it return to a 40-hour work week?
• Kilpatrick: I have no issues with the 32-hour work week. I believe a healthy work/life balance will promote productivity and keep our overburdened county workers happy and healthy. I believe there could be a few exceptions to this in order to keep county offices opened five days a week, potentially by creating alternating shifts or having some people come in all five days but still have the reduced work hours.
• McVeigh: The 32-hour work week is a legitimately negotiated contractual agreement between the County and their employees and therefore cannot be reverted to 40 hours outside of another negotiated agreement. Early analysis has shown that it has saved the county nearly a million dollars in ongoing expenses, significantly reduced the use of sick leave and increased the job applicant pool. However, the county can and should ensure services are available to the public Monday through Friday by requiring that county offices with public counters are open five days a week, and by determining where efficiencies can be achieved and adjusting staffing accordingly.
• O’Day: Steps must be taken to serve the public on Fridays — this may mean a restructuring of government to use money more efficiently and pay some for extra hours. The 32-hour work week may be great for staff, but not so great for management. The decision did not serve the people, who expect government to be at the ready.
After your first complete term in office, what would be your two most important accomplishments and why?
• Kilpatrick: I hope to create … a comprehensive wildfire response plan which includes a forest management plan, a mapping of potential firebreaks/lines on public and private property, along with the creation of an islandwide coordinated plan of action for wildfire outbreak. The second thing I hope to accomplish is the establishment of a permanent affordable housing program within the county. My hope would be to use or acquire county land to begin the development of a clustered housing development that would provide affordable housing along with employee housing/rental units which could be prioritized for county employees/ferry workers/trainees.
• McVeigh: My greatest accomplishment will be in building effective governance practices that increase meaningful engagement with the community so that folks feel seen, heard and understood. As solutions to countywide problems — budget deficits, transportation, permitting, infrastructure, energy, climate, etc. — are found, the public will have a clear understanding of the problem, the solution, the costs and the impacts. Additionally, the council will have increased the availability of housing for low-income and middle-income workers throughout the county, thus ensuring a bright economic future in which all islanders can thrive.
• O’Day: Modify development and housing regulations to be consistent, less ambiguous and more user-friendly. Relax ADU requirements and encourage the use of small modular or manufactured homes for this purpose. Reestablishing a more moderate conservation land bank charter.
— By Salish Current Editorial Staff
Also read in Salish Current: “Where San Juan County District 2 candidates stand,” July 15, 2024.