Except as provided in this Charter, nominating primaries and elections of the County Sheriff, County Treasurer, County Clerk, County Auditor and County Assessor shall be conducted in accordance with general law governing the election of non-partisan County offices. Except as provided in this Charter, nominating primaries and elections of the Legislative Body shall be conducted in accordance with general law governing the election of non-partisan County officers. The election of the Prosecuting Attorney shall be as provided by state law.
Each county officer holding an elective office shall be, at the time of appointment or filing a declaration of candidacy for election, at the time of election, and at all times while holding office, a citizen of the United States and a resident and registered voter of San Juan County. In addition, County Council members must reside in the district to which he or she seeks or holds office at the time of appointment or filing a declaration of candidacy for election and at all times while holding office. No person shall be eligible to be elected or appointed to more than three consecutive full terms for the position of County Council Member, regardless of which district the Council Member resides, provided that this term limit eligibility requirement shall expire three years after the end of the third term for purposes of filing for office but shall remain in effect for an additional one year for purposes of appointment. No County Council residency district boundary change shall disqualify the County Council member from holding office for the remainder of the term of office.
(1)
The three (3) Legislative Residency Districts shall be designated as Residency District 1, Residency District 2, and Residency District 3.
(a)
Each Residency District shall consist of whole islands and nearly contiguous islands as authorized by RCW 36.32.020.
(b)
The Legislative Residency Districts are:
Residency District 1 – San Juan: Stuart, Johns, Speiden, Sentinel, Pearl, Henry, O'Neal, Brown, Turn, Dinner, Goose and San Juan. |
Residency District 2 – Orcas: Waldron, Patos, Sucia, Ewing, Matia, Puffin, Clark, Barnes, Doe, Orcas, Obstruction, Freeman, Jones, McConnell, Yellow, Cliff, Crane, Fawn, Bell, Double, Victim, Skull and Blakely. |
Residency District 3 – Lopez/Shaw: Bund, Shaw, Canoe, Lopez, Decatur, Pointer, Armitage, Frost, James, Trump, Center, Ram, Deadman, Long, Charles, Boulder, Hall and Iceberg. |
(Ord. 04-2022 § 1)
The terms of office of County Council members shall be four (4) years or until their successors are elected, qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29A.20.040: PROVIDED, that the terms shall be staggered so that in one even numbered election year one member from Residency District 3 shall be elected and the next even numbered election year one member from Residency District 1 and one member from Residency District 2 shall be elected.
Qualified voters of the County shall nominate candidates for the County Council. Such candidates shall be nominated by countywide primary election for non-partisan office in the same manner as candidates for other County offices. (RCW 36.32.040)
County Council members shall be elected by the qualified voters of the County in a countywide general election. The person receiving the highest number of votes for the position shall be declared duly elected.
The boundaries of Residency Districts may be altered by amendment to this Charter but such boundaries shall not be changed by the Legislative Body or initiative.
An oath or affirmation to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Washington and the Charter and ordinances of San Juan County and to perform faithfully, impartially, and honestly the duties of office, shall be made by each elected officer before entering upon the duties of office. (RCW 36.16.040)
A surety bond shall be required for all elected officers and such County employees as may be designated by ordinance. Bonds shall be in the form and amount required by ordinance and the cost borne by the County. See RCW 36.16.050 for schedule of bonds.
(1)
An elective office shall become vacant when one of the following occurs:
(a)
Death;
(b)
Total permanent incapacity as determined by a panel of three physicians;
(c)
Resignation;
(d)
Recall of the officer;
(e)
A County Council member absent from three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the County Council without reasonable cause.
(f)
Absence from the County for thirty (30) days without being excused by the County Council; or
(g)
Failure to maintain residence within the district from which elected.
(2)
Vacancies in a non-partisan elected office shall be filled at the next November General Election, unless the vacancy occurs after the day for filing declarations for candidacy, in which case the vacancy shall be filled at the next succeeding November election. The person elected shall take office upon certification of the results of the election and shall serve the unexpired term of the vacated office. Until a successor has been elected and qualified, a majority of the County Council shall fill the vacancy by appointment. All persons appointed to fill vacancies shall meet the qualifications set in Section 4.20 of this Charter.
Unless otherwise provided by this Charter the terms of office of elected county officials shall commence on the date specified by general law for public officers elected at general elections. (See RCW 29A.20.040)