There were newspaper articles, public notifications, pleas for activist involvement and 200 people running around gathering signatures.  There were negotiations with the County Council and Randy starting in February, public comments at Council meetings from 7/18 on.  This process involved no fewer than three progressive political groups (Orcas Women's Coalition, Our Revolution, Lopez Huddle), the San Juan County Democrats,  the Episcopal Parish on Orcas, the Lutherans on Lopez and nearly the entire population of Shaw Island.  Getting signatures from nearly 25% of the eligible voters who participated in the last election in thirty days, which conformed to the county's deadline, would not have been possible if this measure did not enjoy wide public support.  

This effort was grassroots all the way and it was tightly written by a retired immigration atty sponsor who even came over to talk at Green Drinks, so yes,  public education was a huge part of this.  Sorry you were not aware of it.