VOTER INTERESTS PROJECT: Candidate Watch – Island County (May 2022)

UPDATE: This update comes just before the start of Filing Week 2022. Additional Island County candidates may step forward for any of these positions this week; while unlikely, it’s possible that any of the candidates listed below may decline to file. Keep an eye on our Filing Week page for details. Also, please note that the PDC rolled out their long-awaited new website since our last update. We have updated links to candidate filings in our tables below to reflect this change.

Island County voters will elect a Commissioner in District 3 (North Whidbey and Camano Island), and all of the executive offices: Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, Prosecutor, Sheriff, and Treasurer.

PREVIOUS UPDATES: Apr. 20, 2022; Feb. 15, 2022

Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair’s (D-Camano Island) seat is on the ballot this year, and thus far she has drawn two opponents. Tim Hazelo (R-Oak Harbor), who challenged Congressman Rick Larsen in 2020 and is now the chairman of the Island County Republican Party, filed with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) last spring. Former Commissioner Rick Hannold (R-Oak Harbor), who lost to St. Clair in 2018, filed in December. Filing with the PDC allows the candidate to begin fundraising; candidates will still have to file with the Island County Auditor during Filing Week, May 16-20, 2022.

Generally, candidates are required to report campaign contributions, including in-kind contributions, within five business days of receipt. Expenditures must be reported on a monthly basis. Contributions, except from political party committees, are limited to $1,000 per election. Thus, an individual or organization may contribute $2,000 each election cycle: $1,000 for the primary, and $1,000 for the general election.

However, candidates may elect to do “mini-reporting,” which has reduced reporting requirements, but strictly limits the amount of money they may raise and spend. We include information about mini-reporting after the candidate details below.

Commissioner

Janet St. Clair (incumbent), Democrat from Camano Island, filed on May 11, 2019. Mrs. St. Clair started with $17,577.89 left over from her 2018 campaign, and has raised $23,482.02 (up $4,264.56 from Apr.) since filing, bringing her total contributions to $45,324.47. She has spent $11,508.23 (up $791.38). She has reported no loans and no debt. (See Mrs. St. Clair’s PDC filings.)

Tim Hazelo, Republican from Oak Harbor, filed on May 28, 2021. Mr. Hazelo has raised $11,497.18 (up $458.57). His campaign has spent $7,311.85 (up $2,266.41). He has reported no loans and no debt. (See Mr. Hazelo’s PDC filings.)

Rick Hannold, Republican from Oak Harbor, filed on December 13, 2021. Mr. Hannold has raised $6,993.70 (up $2,160.51) and lent his campaign $200.00 (unchanged), for a total of $9,354.21. He has spent $5,769.86 (up $4,033.64). Mr. Hannold reports no debts. (See Mr. Hannold’s PDC filings.)

Auditor

Richard MacQuarrie, Republican from Camano Island, filed on June 7, 2021. Mr. MacQuarrie raised $1,275.00, and has loans of $270.43 for a total of $1,545.43. He has spent $170.43 and has reported no debt. Mr. MacQuarrie has subsequently filed to run for Treasurer as well (see below) and but has not notified the PDC that he has ended this campaign. (See Mr. MacQuarrie’s PDC filings for his auditor campaign.) Mr. MacQuarrie notified the PDC on May 2, 2022 that he has discontinued his campaign for Auditor.

Sheilah Crider, Republican from Oak Harbor, filed on May 11, 2022. Mrs. Crider indicated she will be doing full reporting during this election cycle, but has not reported any contributions or expenditures as of May 14, 2022. (See Mrs. Crider’s PDC filings.)

Assessor

No candidates have filed for Assessor as of Apr. 20, 2022. Bernie Upchurch (R) was appointed last year to fill the vacancy left when Mary Engle accepted the position of Planning Director for Island County. He was subsequently elected to the balance of the term in Nov. 2021, and is expected to run for re-election this year.

Clerk

Debra Van Pelt (incumbent), Democrat from Oak Harbor, filed on Apr. 5, 2022. Mrs. Van Pelt elected mini-reporting. (See Mrs. Van Pelt’s PDC filings.)

E. Deirdre Butler, Independent from Coupeville, filed on May 10, 2022. Ms. Butler elected mini-reporting. (See Ms. Butler’s PDC filings.)

Coroner

No candidates have filed for Coroner as of Apr. 20, 2022. Robert Bishop, the long-time incumbent, is expected to file for re-election.

Prosecuting Attorney

Greg Banks (incumbent), Independent* from Freeland, filed on Mar. 14, 2022. Mr. Banks has not reported any contributions or expenditures. (See Mr. Banks’ PDC filings.)

* Mr. Banks had run as a Democrat in previous elections.

Sheriff

Rick Felici (incumbent), Republican from Coupeville, filed on Jan. 16, 2022. Mr. Felici started with $1,906.78 from his 2018 campaign. He reports no contributions, loans, expenditures, or debts to date. (See Mr. Felici’s PDC filings.)

Tim Davison, Republican from Oak Harbor, filed on Mar. 31, 2022. Mr. Davison chose mini-reporting. (See Mr. Davison’s PDC filings.) Mr. Davison notified the PDC that he was discontinuing his campaign on Apr. 15, 2022.

Treasurer

Richard MacQuarrie, Republican from Camano Island, filed on Oct. 4, 2021. Mr. MacQuarrie reported a starting campaign balance of $60.52, has raised $8,229.92 (up $280.00), and reports loans totaling $420.43, for a total of $8,710.87 in contributions. He reports expenditures of $6,769.72 (up $150.00), with no debt. (See Mr. MacQuarrie’s PDC filings for his treasurer campaign.)

Tony Lam, Democrat from Oak Harbor, filed on Feb. 9, 2022. Mr. Lam chose mini-reporting. (See Mr. Lam’s PDC filings.)

Incumbent Wanda Grone (R) has indicated that she will not be running for re-election.