Derrill Fussell has spent his life doing the kind of work where being precise matters, and being honest matters more.
Derrill has deep roots in Skagit County. He farmed the Skagit Valley for twelve years and rose to General Manager of the largest flower bulb farm in the world. He and his wife raised their three daughters in Mount Vernon, where they still call home.
Derrill later moved into the high-tech sector, where he invented and patented a removable hard drive system that helped shape modern computing. He went on to serve as CEO of a technology company whose advanced computer upgrades were recognized by the National Security Agency as critical for government use.
That expertise earned him the highest civilian security clearance granted in the United States — a level of trust extended only to those whose judgment, discretion, and integrity have been tested at every stage of a career. Holding that clearance, Derrill has worked as a contractor at the West Wing of the White House and at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific). In February he visited Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California, as an observer.
Education has always been part of the work. Derrill has two semesters of college, with his most recent studies completed at Skagit Valley College. Passionate about early childhood literacy, he has authored and published ten children’s books under the pen name Dr. Qooz — work that helps children understand kindness, curiosity, and the world around them.
Trying to get children to read without colorful pictures is the equivalence of teaching a child to ride a bicycle blindfolded. Reading to your child until they say “Stop!” is the greatest college education you can give your child — for free.— Dr. Qooz
I spent twelve years farming and thirty years building things that had to work the first time. Somewhere in there I started paying attention to local ballots, and what I found was that most of them weren’t asking me anything. One name for the school board. One name for the fire district. One name, one name, one name.
Nobody was hiding it. Nobody was fixing it either. The people who could run mostly don’t know the door is there, and nobody’s job is to tell them. So that’s the job I took.
Staggered two-year terms. At least one seat is reserved by bylaw for a member under 30. The Treasurer may not be the President.
Seat open — elected by the members.
Seat open — elected by the members.
Seat open. By bylaw, the Treasurer may not be the President.
Reserved by bylaw for a member under 30.
Seat open — elected by the members.
Seat open — elected by the members.