Ranker wins sole endorsement of 40th

Seventy-four percent of 40th Legislative District Democrats voted Thursday to endorse Kevin Ranker for state Senate.

The vote follows endorsements from the Washington Education Association, Skagit County Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt, Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell, and others.

At the conclusion of the 40th Legislative District endorsement process, Stephanie Kountouros, a Whatcom County Human Rights Task Force member, dropped out of the race.

Other candidates are Democrat Hue Beattie of Bellingham, state Democratic Party committee member; Democrat Paul Gonzalez of Mount Vernon, a 22-year State Patrol officer; Democrat Ken Henderson, a former Whatcom County Council member; Timothy “Cleaver” Stoddard of Anacortes, who put SalmonYoga Party as his preference; and Republican Steve Van Luven of Samish Island, who formerly represented Bellevue in the state House of Representatives.

Ranker’s campaign reported raising $28,167 in May, nearly double the amount raised ($14,953) by the second-closest candidate during the same period. This brings Ranker’s total campaign contributions to $39,990.

Ranker is a member of the San Juan County Council. He lives on San Juan Island with his wife and daughter.

Peterson says he’ll bring vision to council

Former San Juan County freeholder Gordy Petersen said he’ll bring “practical experience, common sense and vision for the future” to San Juan County Council as the representative from San Juan South.

He is one of four candidates for the position in the Aug. 19 and Nov. 4 elections. The others are Lisa Guard, a former Friday Harbor business owner; Daniel Miller Jr., a landscaper and former candidate for state Legislature and County Commission; and Lovel Pratt, a county planning commissioner.

Petersen and his wife, Lori, owned Orcas Store and Friday Harbor Grocery. He served as chairman of the county Planning Commission and as an elected freeholder helped draft the county charter.

“I am a believer in responsible spending and efficient use of tax dollars,” he said. “Our quality of life in San Juan County depends essentially on the protection of the marine environment. The risk of an oil spill is high. I will work hard in the effort and join our council and other groups in their commitment to support state and federal funding for permanent rescue tug operations.”

His Web site address is www.gordyforcouncil.com.

‘Balance’ is theme in Guard’s council platform

Lisa Guard, a San Juan Valley farmer, is running for San Juan County Council, San Juan South, in the Aug. 19 and Nov. 4 elections.

She is one of four candidates for the position. The others are Daniel Miller Jr., a landscaper and former candidate for state Legislature and County Commission; Gordy Petersen, former San Juan County freeholder; and Lovel Pratt, a county planning commissioner.

Guard and her husband, Rex, have owned and operated the Lazy G Ranch for 20 years. She worked for Roche Harbor Resort for eight years, RE/MAX for four, and owned and operated Sunshine Dry Cleaning & Commercial Laundry.

She is active in the Kiwanis Club, was a 10-year 4-H leader, and was one of the initiators of Project Grad Night.

“A central difficulty lies in the need to ensure the beauty and tranquility of our homes without crushing our local economy and business,” she said in a campaign statement.

“We need to find a balance that we can all live with.”

As a sixth-generation islander, “My knowledge and history of the area will add a unique vision. As a farmer and a business owner, I have encountered daily obstacles, which I have met and solved with a level head. I believe that I possess the common sense and level thinking to help steer our county in the right direction, and I have a proven record of working well with others.”

She and her husband have two sons: Brandon, 21, who just graduated from Duke University with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering; and Blake 19, a sophomore at Texas A&M, majoring in bio-medical science.

Guard’s e-mail address is lisaguard08@gmail.com.