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Heather Dudley-Nollette (Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1, Washington, candidate 2024)

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Heather Dudley-Nollette

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Candidate, Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1

Elections and appointments
Last election

August 6, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Washington, 1993

Personal
Birthplace
Portsmouth, Va.
Religion
Buddhist
Profession
Nonprofit executive
Contact

Heather Dudley-Nollette (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1 in Washington. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.[source]

Dudley-Nollette completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

[1]

Biography

Heather Dudley-Nollette provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 9, 2024:

  • Birth date: March 20, 1971
  • Birth place: Portsmouth, Virginia
  • High school: Edison High School and Woodinville High School
  • Bachelor's: University of Washington, 1993
  • Gender: Female
  • Religion: Buddhist
  • Profession: Nonprofit Executive
  • Incumbent officeholder: No
  • Campaign website
  • Campaign endorsements
  • Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1

Heather Dudley-Nollette and Ben Thomas ran in the general election for Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1 on November 5, 2024.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1

Heather Dudley-Nollette and Ben Thomas ran in the primary for Jefferson County Commissioner Board District 1 on August 6, 2024.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.


Election results

Endorsements

To view Dudley-Nollette's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Dudley-Nollette in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Heather Dudley-Nollette completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dudley-Nollette's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who we are is something much bigger than we can imagine. My experiences tell me I’m a dedicated and loving mother, a passionate performing artist, a deeply engaged citizen and a grateful member of many communities and extended families that have created a solid foundation for my well-being.

As much as my experience makes me “who I am” as a candidate: I currently serve as the Deputy Executive Director of Bayside Housing & Services. In the 2000’s, I helped create the Young Professionals Network with the Jefferson County Chamber. I was the Vice Chair of Jefferson County’s Economic Development Council and served on their board for 13 years. I co-founded a small business, The CoLab, over 11 years ago; and I served as the President of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, with over 6 years on their board. Prior to my life in Jefferson County, I served in King County’s Office of Management and Budget, helping to manage a multi-million-dollar project. I was then hired to conduct new employee, benefits, and public disclosure trainings for all King County staff.

I’m someone who loves people, for better and worse, and who works tirelessly to serve in every way I can.
  • I believe our strengths lie in our ability to listen to each other, to think critically, and to make clear decisions that are the best for the most people. We're stronger when we band together to support each other's needs.
  • Jefferson County has so many existing assets that make our community great. When we work together, we will sustain what we love the most about living here while preparing for growth and change in the future.
  • We must focus on improving the well-being of Jefferson County citizens from all walks of life and backgrounds. We all deserve housing, safety, food security, comprehensive healthcare - including mental and dental health, support for family resources like childcare, access to fulfilling employment, open space and recreation, a clean environment, fair elections, an efficient judicial system, and functional transportation options. When we focus on what's good for people and the environment, we can create the community we want to live in together.
In my first term, I am especially interested in focusing on policy in the areas of public health (especially mental health), housing, energy, transportation and trails, sustainable forestry, and growth management.
Integrity, creativity, efficiency, critical thinking and an open mind. And it doesn’t hurt to have a good sense of humor.
What sets me apart is my years of experience and proven success in project management, human resources, permitting, policy creation, budgeting and public/private partnership. My 13 years on Jefferson County’s Economic Development Council opened my eyes to the diverse cultures and concerns within the three districts of Jefferson County, in addition to what it taught me about local government’s role in creating and maintaining infrastructure and jobs.

I know our community well and I see our potential for a bright future. I have the skills and the work ethic that this job demands. I do my research, ask good questions, and come prepared to participate and to nourish the goodwill that builds our capacity to solve problems together.
A Board of County Commissioners is the legislative authority for a county. In the 32 non-charter counties in Washington State, the county commissioners also serve as the chief administrators for most county operations. Jefferson County is a non-charter or "constitutional county."

Chapter 36.32 RCW outlines the duties and authority of the county commissioners and council members. Primarily, these duties include the adoption of ordinances, resolutions, and motions. As outlined in chapter 36.40 RCW, the Board of County Commissioners must also perform certain financial duties, such as levying taxes, appropriating revenue, and adopting the final budget for the county.

The Board of County Commissioners generally confirms appointments to county boards and commissions and appoints members of the boundary review board and planning commission in counties that have created these entities (like Jefferson County). The commissioners also sit as the board of equalization (basically, the county board of property tax appeals) to review disputed assessments. They also serve on the election certification committee (one at a time, via a committee assignment to certify elections. The committee includes one county commissioner, the Auditor and the Civil Prosecuting Attorney.)

The Board of County Commissioner also has quasi-judicial duties, such as hearing appeals of local land use decisions. Since the BoCC makes land use policies, Jefferson County has established a hearing examiner system and appointed a hearing examiner to hold hearings on quasi-judicial land use matters. If the people do not like the hearing examiner's decision they can appeal in Superior Court.
My local roots go back five generations to a founding county commissioner of Jefferson County who was my great-great-great grandfather, Loren B. Hastings. And my family and community culture places a high value on learning from history while we look to the future.

If I’m elected, I hope to serve multiple terms in the role as County Commissioner so that I can give back to the community exponentially as my expertise and connections grow. Although I’ve still not learned how to see the future, I would like to look back on my service to Jefferson County and know that I helped to support Department of Community Development staff to transform our county permitting processes through a commitment to continuous process improvement. I would like to invest in our county staff and systems from all departments to make sure that they are fully equipped for true sustainability in their roles.

I would also continue the county’s dedication to exploring sustainable forestry and energy conservation practices, maximizing our capacity to responsibly manage our resources. I support affordable housing and comprehensive mental health services for everyone in our community. And I would like to be part of team who lobbies our state and federal legislature to expand Growth Management Act provisions to better meet the needs of our rural county – as well as to bring much needed resources to our community to support all of the goals above.
Jefferson County does a great job providing access to information, accountability and financial transparency through its robust public reporting systems. The County Treasurer posts reports prior to the next public monthly budget meeting, ensuring that financial data is available to the public on ongoing basis. The minutes are also posted and remain posted for many years. At the meeting, the treasurer reviews basic concepts and terminology definitions, and explains the meanings of all the numbers. Her explanation appears verbatim in the minutes. There is no legal requirement for that meeting to occur, nor is it required to be public because usually only one commissioner attends at a time.

Annually, every county receives a performance audit done by the State Auditor's staff. There is an entrance interview and an exit interview which can both be attended by the public. These audits are also discussed in the public BoCC meetings, as usually the commissioners are not present at those interviews, as the audit normally focusses on the County Auditor and Treasurer procedures. The audit takes about three months to complete and auditors focus on any prior shortcomings (reported as findings) and whatever the area of annual focus might be. So, over time, almost every function of county government has been audited.

Although this all points to a highly transparent process, one way that the county's financial information could be more public is if the county did more to reach out to notify the public when the information is posted – within reason and practicality. Washington State has some of the strongest transparency laws in the nation. But individual citizens and families are busy and engaged in their lives, so specifically reaching out – especially to typically underrepresented populations in our community could help to engage people in the process and make sure their voices are heard.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also


External links

Footnotes