To the Editor:
A few months ago, I received a phone call.
“Hi, I’m Katherine. I’m running for county council, and so-and-so suggested I reach out to you for advice.”
My sage advice? Don’t do it. The county is at an inflection point. Budget tightening is coming, hard decisions lie ahead and it’s not going to be fun.
She paused, then said simply, “I know. I get it. But I’m still going to run.”
That’s why Katherine Bryant Ingman has my vote.
Like most endorsement letters, I could list her credentials — her years in philanthropy, her focus on equity and inclusion or her healthcare advocacy on Lopez. But the experience I want to talk about is her experience as an islander.
When Katherine moved to Lopez, she did what so many young people must do to stay here: she worked multiple jobs at once. She understands what it takes to struggle, adapt and persevere. She represents a group that often goes unseen — the working people who are too busy making ends meet to attend evening forums or serve on volunteer boards, but whose voices matter just as much.
We need those perspectives in county government now more than ever. Katherine doesn’t just talk about community issues — she has lived them.
When real-world experience meets intelligence and genuine care, you get the kind of council member we need right now. Katherine Bryant Ingman is all of those things. Learn more about her vision at katherinebryantingman.com, and join me in voting for Katherine for San Juan County Council, District 3.
—Janet Brownell, Orcas Island; Oct. 12, 2026