We have an important election coming up, and I am genuinely encouraged to see so many in our community willing to step up and serve. Five candidates, including the incumbent, are running for mayor of Friday Harbor. On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, we will hold a primary election to narrow the field to two candidates. Then, in November, we will choose a new mayor in the general election.

According to the San Juan County Elections Office, ballots will be mailed on July 17 and must be postmarked or placed in an official drop box by 8 PM on August 6 to be counted. Drop boxes will be available starting July 18. The level of interest in local leadership is heartening. That is a good sign.

 

So far, however, I have seen very little from the candidates themselves. Voters need to hear who they are, what they believe, and how they intend to lead. Candidates should be out front now, introducing their ideas and answering questions.

 

Many people think the mayor is just a figurehead, someone who attends events, runs meetings, and occasionally casts a vote in the event of a tie. While that is all true, the real power lies in hiring and, if necessary, removing the Town Administrator. The Council can approve a contract, but only the mayor has the power to decide who fills that job.

 

The Town Administrator is the boss, akin to the Chief Operating Officer of a corporation. The Town Administrator oversees all things within the town, including the budget and employees, negotiates contracts, oversees the water and sewer systems, creates and implements policy. This position is central to the daily functioning of local government.

 

Friday Harbor is the only incorporated town on San Juan Island. All county residents on the island are connected to town. Decisions made at Town Hall affect everyone on the island. Even though county residents cannot vote in the town election, they still have a stake in the outcome. If you live in the county, talk to your friends, neighbors, or family members who are registered voters in town and encourage them to pay attention and vote.

 

Elections matter, and specifically, the election for this mayor matters. In a town like Friday Harbor, a small number of votes can decide who holds that power. We have fewer than 2,800 residents. In 2021, only 433 people voted for mayor. In last year’s Town Council race, some contests saw fewer than 300 total votes. A few dozen ballots can swing an election. This is not a popularity contest. It is a serious civic choice, and voters and candidates alike need to treat it as such.

 

VOTE and RUN Like your town depends on it. Because it does.

 

Jeremy Nash