This coming November, there will be 16 commissioner positions on the ballot for Orcas. These include two seats each on the School Board, Park and Rec, the Port of Orcas, and the Orcas Health Care District. Both the SJC Fire District 2 (Orcas Fire Department) and the Eastsound Sewer and Water District will have four open seats.
That is quite a number of opportunities to serve the community and support these vital programs. If any are of interest to you, I hope you will consider tossing your hat in the ring.
Similar to nonprofit board members, commissioners provide fiscal oversight and help set goals and strategies for their organizations. Because all of these enterprises are funded by taxes, commissioners are put to a public vote during the November election.
While November seems like a long way off, the filing period to run is coming right up — May 15-19. The County Elections Office has put together a great handbook for candidates that explains the process and lays out the timeline. There should also be time to sit in on a meeting of the current commission you are interested in joining to get a feel for how they operate.
OICF is planning to host a panel discussion with commissioners who will share their experiences with those who are interested in learning more about the opportunity. If you would like to attend, please contact OICF, and we will get you on the list and let you know as soon as the date has been set.
Have a lovely weekend —
Hilary