I came across this black and white photo of Jim Rice the other day while sorting through files from the early 1980s. Jim, who was a family friend as long as I can remember, served on the Anacortes City Council, as part-time Mayor (1969-76), and then as full-time Mayor from 1982-1991. Jim was a carpenter by trade, and this shot was taken in his downtown shop. He was a citizen politician, not prone to seeking the limelight, but he served honorably at a critical time in city history after voters opted to move back to a strong mayor (as opposed to city manager) system. Jim resigned due to illness in 1991, and he passed away in October of the same year. Bud Rock served as mayor until the next election, when the late Doyle Geer was elected. Current Mayor Dean Maxwell, also a carpenter before being elected in 1992, considered Jim his mentor.