PART 2 of 2: Stephanie O’Day: ‘Restructure County Government’
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 8:45 a.m.
Written by Jeff Noedel
Video directed by: Jeremy Tyler
A CNL2 VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
PART 2: Stephanie O’Day is running for the position of San Juan County County Representative from Residency District 1. She visited the CNL2 Studio for an interview with me at 11:00 a.m. of Monday, June 24. Our interview lasted approximately 45 minutes. This is part 2 of that conversation. Part 1 is here.
Part 2 of the interview begins with Stephanie confirming my assumption that she enjoys a lot of support from the construction industry on San Juan Island, as well as “old islanders who’ve been here for generations,” and many farmers. She also has franchise with some families who don’t have reliable, affordable childcare services. And her messages have some traction with middle income families who are struggling with availability and costs of housing.
“We’re going to lose that “missing middle” if we don’t do something about it. They’re going to all leave,” she warned.
At approximately 2:00 minutes into the conversation, Stephanie is asked if she is pleased that the County has apparently abandoned the twice-proposed Zylstra trail. And she answered the question, “Should the County be in the trail business?”
At the 4:30 mark, she says of the County government should be restructured.
(8:00) Stephanie is asked about the strained relationship between the governments of San Juan County and the Town of Friday Harbor. She believes the conflict grew over years to the point where “it just got polarized.” Political polarization is a repeating theme in her campaign.
(11:00) Stephanie puts in a plug for the Kiwanis’ Pig War Picnic. And then back to restructuring government, it is her view that some County departments don’t coordinate well. She mentioned four departments that could be partially merged.
(13:30) Stephanie is asked if she likes the way all County voters can vote in all County Council district races. “No, I don’t like it. It doesn’t make any sense to me… You can’t be everything to every person,” she said. She also advocates going back to the system of six part-time council members.
(16:30) Referring to newly appointed County Manager Jessica Hudson, Stephanie says — perhaps tongue in cheek — that she hopes Hudson does not resign after 30 days on the job, due to “chaos” in County government.
(18:15) Stephanie is asked if the table of organization in County staff is too inefficient, with too many direct reports. “That gets down to restructuring, doesn’t it?” she responds.
(20:15) In summation, she said, “We have a lot of educated people here. They should not be looking at this as a partisan race. They should look at who is best for this County.”
This CNL2 video is 22-1/4 minutes in duration.
NOTE: To view all 12 CNL2 recorded video interviews to date of candidates for San Juan County Council, one levy lid lift, and two statewide candidates (a Governor candidate, and a candidate for Attorney General), click here. Two recorded CNL2 Radio interviews of Jon Welch will be added to this archive soon.
