While I am disappointed by my loss, I congratulate Bob Jarman on his election.

It has been an honor to serve on the San Juan County Council and to represent the citizens of District 1 and all my fellow islanders. I thank the voters for giving me this opportunity to do work that I mostly love.

I thank my fellow council members and all the members of the community who supported me, questioned and challenged me, and worked with me on the many issues we have addressed these four years. San Juan County is fortunate to have highly qualified and effective elected officials, department heads, and staff, and it has been my pleasure to work with all of you.

I am especially grateful for everyone’s resourcefulness and dedication during these years of budget cuts and staff reductions. I am proud of my accomplishments: my leadership on the council in communicating with our state and congressional delegations on a wide range of significant issues, and seeing the council’s priorities addressed at the regional, state, and federal levels; my focus on the Cattle Point Road realignment project to secure construction funding; the establishment of reserve policies and the fiscal responsibility I exercised during this term; my leadership on the levy lid lift and my gratitude to the voters for creating a local mandate to retain those programs, services, and jobs; and my work to improve oil spill prevention, readiness, and response.

I am particularly proud that I considered and did my best to address the diverse concerns and viewpoints of this community, meeting with everyone who wanted to meet, answering emails and taking phone calls — from community members throughout SJC. I thank every voter who participated in this election; I especially appreciate and thank all my supporters.

I want the voters to know that I am reexamining my work on the council for the remainder of this term in light of the election results. I will continue to be dedicated and accessible and make decisions in the best interests of our entire community.

I wish all the best to Bob Jarman in his representation of District 1 and the new council in their governance of this wonderful community.

Lovel Pratt/San Juan Island