When I came to Friday Harbor last fall, I was eager to understand the issues facing the town and got hooked on watching the Town Council meetings on public access cable TV.

My first impression of Carrie Lacher was that she is articulate and knowledgeable when discussing the many complex issues facing the town.

I could also see that Carrie puts time in outside the council meetings to help resolve issues such as solid waste management and affordable housing. I noticed how patient she is when voicing her opinions. Her concern for the good of the town is clear. She assertively, and respectfully, makes points and explains the reasons behind her opinions.

Then, in early 2009, I had the pleasure of meeting Carrie at the first meeting of the Soroptimist Pink Ladies team for Relay for Life. Over the seven months we worked together on the team, I got to know Carrie as a person. Carrie is a resident of the town who cares about the same things I do as a resident. She takes an intelligent, reasoned approach to solving problems and planning for the future of the town.

Like me, Carrie is an avid walker. I often see her walking here or there around town. When you do that, you get a perspective you don’t get from a car. In addition to giving one a pedestrian’s eye view of what works and what doesn’t work about the town, walking is better for the town and it’s better for the environment. It’s also a good way to stay centered and focused as a person, two qualities I see in Carrie.

In my opinion, Carrie’s bid for mayor is a natural next step in her effectiveness in looking out for the residents of Friday She has a good working relationship with the other Town Council members as well as the current mayor and the town administrator. Carrie’s personal integrity stands out among her many excellent qualifications as a candidate for mayor.

As a resident of Friday Harbor, I look forward to having Carrie Lacher as our mayor.

Melanie Rollins
Friday Harbor