Mark Madsen for Victoria Compton

Elect Victoria Compton for Port Commissioner

I have known and worked with Victoria Compton for many years and I write to urge you to vote for Victoria for the Port Commissioner seat this election. I had the pleasure of serving on the board of the Economic Development Council from 2013 through 2019, as well as president of the board for several years, and in that capacity I had a first hand view of her extraordinary tenacity and commitment to working for the business community and entrepreneurs of San Juan County.

When I joined the board, the EDC had a single part time employee — Victoria herself, supporting classes for small businesses and a handful of other activities. Victoria advocated strongly that we could do more to help the local community and economy, and was unafraid to experiment, leading to successes in trades education and rural broadband especially.

When the pandemic hit, Victoria worked tirelessly to help local businesses. While many of us were reeling from the effects and arguing about what to do, Victoria and her staff were already helping local businesses understand the shifting sands of regulations and assistance qualifications, serving as a clearinghouse for information, and chasing down every scrap of help available.

We live in a world where the issues are sharper and come at us with more speed and difficulty than ever before. They require drive and commitment to address, along with a willingness to experiment and find new solutions. I am voting for Victoria because I have seen firsthand the degree to which she is devoted to making a difference. I am voting for her because of the energy and drive she displays. We need that, more than ever.

I urge you to vote for Victoria as well. Let’s have the leadership we need for the issues of today and tomorrow.

Mark Madsen
San Juan Island