ISLAND COUNTY: Advisory vote on fireworks set for 2026 but city residents can’t take part
Jessie Stensland reports from the Island County Commissioners’ board meeting of Tue., Nov. 4, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity.ai
Island County commissioners approved a historic advisory vote for November 2026 to gauge public support for banning consumer fireworks in unincorporated areas. The nonbinding ballot measure, passed 2-1, excludes residents of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and Langley. Commissioner Jill Johnson opposed the move, arguing it disenfranchises some residents and creates unequal representation. Commissioners Melanie Bacon and Janet St. Clair supported it, saying it reflects only those directly affected. The vote follows years of debate and community lobbying by Citizens for Safe and Humane Fireworks, who cite fire risks, pollution, and animal distress as reasons to restrict personal fireworks use across the county.
They Said It
This issue was a bone of contention for Commissioner Jill Johnson, a Republican who represents the greater Oak Harbor area and cast the vote against the resolution. She previously questioned the validity of an advisory vote since some residents — particularly members of the Navy — aren’t registered voters in the county. She has said that the majority of people in her district want fireworks to remain legal, albeit just three days a year.
Johnson pointed out that some people who live in municipalities may have a second home in the county but wouldn’t get to express their opinions in the vote.
“I just don’t like creating different classes of citizens,” she said. “Some people’s votes matter and some people don’t as it relates to the communities they live in.”
Commissioner Melanie Bacon, a Democrat who represents South and Central Whidbey, said it wouldn’t be fair for people in municipalities to weigh in on an issue that only affects people who live in unincorporated areas. She used Langley residents as an example since the city banned fireworks altogether.
“I’m not sure they have the right to be telling people who live out in the country, you can’t have fireworks either,” she said.
Commissioner Janet St. Clair asked about people who live in unincorporated areas but have P.O. boxes within city or town limits. Bacon pointed out that the county auditor knows where people live.
Bacon said she received assurances from anti-fireworks proponents in the community that they would cover the cost of placing the advisory vote on the ballot.
St. Clair said she proposed such an advisory vote two years ago during discussions about a proposed fireworks ban. She said she felt at the time that it would be too heavy handed for the commissioners to adopt a ban since there was a mixture of opinions in the community.
