OAK HARBOR — As it is on the state and national level, the candidates for Island County commissioner in Districts 1 and 2 share concerns about the current state of the economy.
In the primary election, only the voters in those districts cast ballots in the commissioner races. In the general election, all voters on Whidbey and Camano islands have a say in the outcome.
In District 1, a position that represents central and south Whidbey Island, Democrat Helen Price Johnson is challenging incumbent Republican Phil Bakke, who was appointed a year ago to the fill the job after a resignation. Whoever wins the general election will be sworn in soon after the election is certified because the position’s four-year term is uncompleted.
Johnson took 46 percent of the vote in the primary and Bakke came in second in a field of four with 20 percent. He had just 52 more votes than Curt Gordon, who took 19 percent. Candidate Reece Rose finished fourth with 19 percent of the vote.
In District 2, a position that represents the greater Oak Harbor area, Democrat Angie Homola is challenging incumbent Republican William “Mac” McDowell, who is seeking his fifth four-year term in the commissioners office.
McDowell garnered 57 percent of the vote in the primary to Homola’s 43 percent.
Commissioner John Dean, who represents north Whidbey and all of Camano in District 3, is up for re-election in 2010.
Despite her District 1 win in the primary, Johnson said she is not taking anything for granted and is hopeful to pick up votes from those who earlier supported Rose or Gordon.
“We are out doorbelling because there are some people who just vote in the general. But the primary results do bode well,” Johnson said. “I am honored to have that broad base of support from my community.”
If elected, Johnson said she would bring to the job the perspective of an owner of a small business, a parent and a volunteer. A South Whidbey School Board member, Johnson said she is concerned about open government and the health of small businesses, farms and the environment on the islands.
“I would bring a wealth of experience in building partnerships in the community and those skills will be even more important in the days ahead, with reduced revenues,” Johnson said. “The economy and the environment go hand in hand, both need to be balanced and protected. And small businesses and farmers need to be seen as partners in getting through this tough economic time.”
Bakke, who worked as the Island County planning director before his appointment to his commissioner’s seat, said he is hopeful about the outcome of the general election.
“The feedback I get is that those who voted for Reece (Rose) in the primary will vote for me,” Bakke said. “I also hope to pick up more votes because this is a countywide election.”
Bakke said he wants to retain his job in order to complete some of the work he started during his year in office. He is interested in encouraging more affordable housing and upgrading the county’s technology so as to improve its efficiency and transparency, he said. His primary concern, however, is the county’s budget.
“I am the most qualified candidate to see county through this difficult time. Having worked through the ranks of the county, I know how to save the county money and preserve the quality of service to our communities,” Bakke said. “I don’t need training to do this job. One of the reasons I was appointed was because I was able to come in ready to go.”
Bakke criticized Johnson for not attending all of the commission’s recent 2009 budget workshops and work sessions with department heads.
Johnson said her obligations as a school board member and a business owner have kept her from attending every budget hearing. Because of her work on the school board, she is versed in budgetary issues, she said. In addition she studied last year’s budget and has met with department heads.
“I am not as out of touch as (Bakke) claims,” she said.
In District 2, incumbent McDowell said he has done very little campaigning and noted that he still led his challenger by 14 percentage points in the primary.
“I’m fiscally conservative. I don’t talk about county money but about taxpayer money,” McDowell said. “When I came into office, there were no reserve funds and now we have a rainy day fund that may be useful in this economic downturn. I have been through tough times before and am the only commissioner who can say ‘been there, done that.’ ”
If re-elected, McDowell said he wants to pursue expanding the county’s visiting nurse program to help young families.
He also hopes to rework the county’s septic system ordinance so that the county is not required to do 17,000 septic inspections every year in order to meet state requirements meant to keep inland waters clean. Waterfront lots will still require septic inspections, but other systems should be monitored by taking water samples from ditches, McDowell said.
Homola said she is challenging the longtime commissioner in part because she wants to see Island County residents more involved in the process of county government.
“We need to invite the public to the table so they are welcome, informed and involved in decisions that affect their taxes, property rights, health, safety and quality of life,” Homola said. “We need to provide notification of public hearings written in lay terms instead of bureaucratic language.”
Homola said she wants to look into recouping sales tax that is paid by island residents off Camano and Whidbey. Tax revenue paid on purchases made in nearby cities and on the Internet need to be returned to the county she said.
The economy can be stimulated by encouraging cottage industries, light industry, tourism and local agriculture, she said. Sustainable growth on the island, living-wage jobs and more affordable housing is necessary to keep families on the islands, she added.
“Right now we are creating a population base of retired folks and that creates a tax burden on them. And when we lose young families, we lose our rich culture,” Homola said.
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
District 1
Helen Price Johnson
Residence: Clinton
Age: 50
Party: Democratic
Education: Langley High School graduate, Mills College (Oakland, Calif.) bachelor’s degree in administration and legal processes.
Experience: Longtime resident and owner of small businesses. Owns a construction company with her husband. Former owner of Jones’ Department Store. South Whidbey School Board member and former board president. Mother of four.
Web site: www.helenpricejohnson.org
Phil Bakke
Residence: Greenbank
Age: 38
Party: Republican
Education: South Whidbey High School, Western Washington University bachelor’s degree in land-use planning and economics, University of Washington master’s degree in public administration
Experience: District 1 county commissioner incumbent. Appointed 13 months ago to fill the position after a resignation. Longtime resident and former Island County planning director.
Web site: www.philbakke.com
District 2
William “Mac” McDowell
Residence: Oak Harbor
Age: 62
Party: Republican
Education: U.S. Naval Academy graduate, University of Washington civil engineering degree
Experience: Seeking his fifth term as the District 2 county commissioner. Had own engineering business. Retired as a captain in the Naval Reserve.
Web site: none
Angie Homola
Residence: Oak Harbor
Age: 48
Party: Democratic
Education: Washington State University graduate
Experience: An architect and owner of a small business. Previous work as a laborer, machinist and carpenter. Community volunteer. Navy wife. Mother of two.
Web site: www.electangie.com
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