ISLAND COUNTY NEWS & UPDATES

From Commissioner Melanie Bacon, July 2026 …

I have been watching this year's County races from the sideline. I invited all three District 3 Commissioner candidates to meet with my Monday conversation group but have not made an endorsement. Nor do I intend to.

Running for public office was the most miserable experience of my life.  Candidates spend months being bombarded with vitriol, lies and deceptions. Sleazy behavior abounds. I’m watching all of the candidates going through what I had to go through, and I’m watching how they respond to those stressors. I don’t want to further complicate anyone’s life by adding my opinion to the cacophony. Whoever wins, I will spend two years working with them side-by-side. Whoever wins, I want them to feel successful and fulfilled in their job, for the betterment of the residents of Island County. It will be easier for me if a Democrat wins because there will be a better chance that I will be able to work with them on environmental and other policy issues of importance to me and the residents of my district. But whoever wins, I will work with them. Because that’s the job.

I am worried that the vitriol I’m witnessing now between the campaigns for Island County Democratic candidates for District 3 Commissioner could make it more likely that I will be working with a Republican for the last two years of my term. I can tell you absolutely—because I have developed these relationships over the years—that the Republicans are watching the Democratic infighting with delight. And they are planning to use all the ammo they’re gathering now to win in November.

And I will make this one prediction: unlike last time, when two Democrats appeared on the November ballot, this year will see one Republican and one Democrat candidate for District 3 Commissioner. The Republican candidate this year is pretty strong, and more moderate than other Republicans who’ve won that seat in the past. Don’t discount him. And if all the Democrats can’t bond tightly together behind the last Democrat standing, Democrats will be in the minority for my last two years as Commissioner.

From Commissioner Janet St. Clair, May 2026 …

As we enter the summer months, I find myself rediscovering our beautiful islands.  The trees soar to the sky to delight us, they also protect us as they allow the spring rains to recharge our aquifers and as they capture carbon, doing their part to reduce GHG emissions. It is why I have worked for forest protection and the partnership we now have with Washington State DNR for our county’s forest health and wildfire mitigation. 

The same is true for our coastal waters. Carbon sequestration is even more significant in our coastal ecosystems.  It is why I am so proud of the work of our Island County Marine Resources Committee, partners like our Conservations Districts, Whidbey Camano Land Trust, Northwest Straits and Sound Water Stewards, on shoreline restoration. It is why Island County promotes the Shore Friendly Program for soft armoring as an alternative to hard armoring on the shoreline. The return of forage fish and salmonids has been both measured and remarkable.  In turn, those forage fish feed our iconic orcas and other marine mammals. 

The link between the commitment to protect our islands and infrastructure resiliency was never clear to me until I became a County Commissioner. Now I know.  As we approach the finish line on our Comprehensive Plan, with additional emphasis on climate resiliency and infrastructure like our water and septic, I know that will help us with housing and ensure we invest in innovations, identify solutions like our point source pollution programs, and help incentivize conservation and coordination to reduce infrastructure failures and strengthen the future of island county.  By reducing pollutants in our streams and outflows, through partnerships that help soil health and transform agricultural practices, through education and regulation that manages our resources, Island County is working for a balanced future that manages housing needs with sustainability.  

So, step outside, take in the beauty and thank you for your advocacy for our islands.

Janet St Clair