COUPEVILLE — When longtime South Whidbey Island Port Commissioner Linea Slinden decided to join the Peace Corps, her resignation from the port required a special filing period for the Nov. 3 election ballot.
Running for the District 3 seat on the port commission are Ed Jenkins, Curt Gordon, Mona Newbauer and Callahan Campbell McVay.
While that race lists four candidates, nearly 60 of the names on the Island County general election ballot are unopposed.
There are uncontested races for seats on the Port of Coupeville, Port of Mabana, Whidbey Island Public Hospital District, Coupeville School Board, Oak Harbor School Board, Stanwood-Camano School Board, and numerous fire district commissions, parks commissions, cemetery districts and water districts.
That’s not an anomaly, said Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider.
“This is a year that a lot of the small district offices are up for election, and those seats don’t attract a lot of attention,” Crider said. “What’s surprising this year is how slowly the ballots are being returned, especially with the two state ballot issues.”
The auditor’s office expects to see the bulk of ballots returning on Monday or election day.
“We want people to vote and have their votes counted,” Crider said. “People need to remember their ballots must have a Tuesday postmark to be counted as being mailed on election day.”
Also running for the Port of South Whidbey are Dean Enell and Chris Jerome in the District 2 contest.
Tom Tack and Sue Cunningham are running against each other in the race for the Position 5 seat on the Coupeville Town Council. Dianne Binder is running unopposed for the Position 4 council seat.
Thomas E. Gill and Russell Sparkman are vying for the Position 2 seat on the Langley City Council. Rene Neff in Position 1 and Robert Gilman in Position 5 are running unopposed.
Scott Dudley and Gerry Oliver are running campaigns for the Position 5 seat on the Oak Harbor City Council. Bob Severns, Position 4; James M. “Jim” Campbell, Position 6; and Danny Paggao, Position 7, are running unopposed.
Leigh Anderson and Leo Langer IV are running for the District 4 seat on the South Whidbey School Board. In the District 5 race, the contest is between Jill Engstrom and Tom Fisher. Fred O’Neal in District 2 is running unopposed.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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