Fair Winds and Following Sea PNW, Inc,

With Orcas Island roots tracing back almost 90 years, Rick Hughes’ entire life has revolved around San Juan County. Rick is a third generation Orcas Islander. Prior to moving full time to Orcas, Rick was an executive with ESPN.com and one of the first online advertising sales executives with clients ranging from Nike, to Electronic Arts. Part of the Administrative, Executive and Legislative authority for San Juan County, Washington, representing Orcas, Waldron and Blakley Islands for a county wide elected position. San Juan County has a $100,000,000 operational and capital budget, with 245 employees serving nearly 18,000 residents and 1,000,000 visitors per year. Served as Chair of council during Covid-19 pandemic, San Juan County was the first county on West Coast to pass a Mask Order and first County to prohibit short term lodging. San Juan County, during my term as Chair, was the safest county in Washington and top in the country. Budget and budget authority is the number one responsibility of San Juan County Council. I have eight years of complex local government budgeting experience. Over this time, San Juan County lowered the debt to under $9,000,000, achieved a AAA- bond rating, began bi-annual budget process, established budget stabilization fund and was able to adopt revised budgets during pandemic that reduced two-year budget by $4,000,000 without a reduction of services to the community and prevented employee layoffs and no tax increases. As an elected official passed ground-breaking legislation: Shoreline Master Plan, (prohibited underwater natural resource shipment, banned fish net pens, established PMT Marina zones, protected salmon) anti-vaping, marijuana, First Leave No Trace County, first county wide drug take back program, plastic bag ban, DEI resolution, Climate change resolution and led a path toward zero waste at the solid waste facility. Installed 400kw solar panels on county buildings. During my term in office, lobbied at the state and federal level for affordable housing, transportation, WSF, land protection/preservation, local government support, reduced waste and accessible health care. Rick’s duties as owner of Ray's Pharmacy and General Store, highlights Rick’s ability to serve. He has served on Island, County, Regional, State and National boards.