ISLAND COUNTY: Offices on the Ballot (Updated May 7)
Below is a list of the Island County elected officials whose positions are on the ballot in 2023 along with the current occupant of each office. Note, however, that incumbents may choose not to run for re-election, so some of the people listed will not appear on ballots this year.
When elected officials vacate their office, their positions are filled by appointment. Washington state law requires that these positions are then filled in the next election at which the office may be on the ballot. For example, Hospital Commissioner Greg Richardson was appointed in Oct. 2022 to replace the retiring Nancy Fey. Mr. Richardson will serve until a successor is elected in Nov. 2023 to serve the remainder of Ms. Fey’s term. Should Mr. Richardson be defeated in the election, or choose not to run for office, his successor would be sworn into office after the election is certified.
In some cases, the position filled by an appointee is already scheduled to be on the ballot this year. For example, Scott Chaplin was appointed Mayor of Langley after Tim Callison resigned. Mr. Callison’s term ends on Dec. 31, 2023, so the voters in Langley would be voting for mayor in November. Candidates who file for mayor in 2023 will be elected to serve out the balance of Mr. Callison’s term PLUS the regular four-year term from Jan. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2027.
Citizens interested in running for office must file with the Island County Auditor or Secretary of State during Filing Week, May 15-19, 2023. They must also file with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC).
Except as noted below, all officials serve four-year terms and are elected on a nonpartisan basis.
UPDATE (May 7, 2023): The Whidbey News-Times (WNT) ran an article on May 5 about candidate filings, including some candidates we had not previously noted. Barbara Armes will be applying for the vacant Oak Harbor City Council seat and has filed with the PDC to run this fall. Patrick Harman, who failed to unseat Oak Harbor Mayor Bob Severns in 2019, will be running for Councilwoman Beth Munns’ seat. And Langley Finance and Personnel Legislative Commission chairman Chris Carlson will run for the Langley City Council seat currently held by Thomas Gill. The WNT story focused on Whidbey Island, but we’ve also seen a PDC filing by Betsy Foster for the Stanwood-Camano School District director position to which Debbie Bayes was recently appointed.
See previous updates at the bottom of this post.
| TOWN OF COUPEVILLE |
| Town Council: Three of five council positions are on the ballot this year. Position 1: Jacquelyn Henderson Position 2: Rick Walti Councilman Walti told the Whidbey News-Times that he will run for re-election. Position 3: Jenny Bright |
| Mayor: Molly Hughes |
| CITY OF LANGLEY |
| City Council: Two of five council positions are on the ballot. Position 3: Thomas E. Gill Langley Finance & Personnel Legislative Commission chair Chris Carlson filed with the PDC to run for Gill’s seat on May 3, 2023. Position 4: Craig Cyr Councilman Cyr told the Whidbey News-Times that he will run for re-election. |
| Mayor: Scott Chaplin. Mayor Chaplin was appointed after the resignation of Tim Callison. This election will be for the remainder of Chaplin’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. On Apr. 22, 2023, the South Whidbey Record reported that Mayor Chaplin will not run for his seat. |
| CITY OF OAK HARBOR |
| City Council: Three of five council positions are scheduled to be on the ballot this year; a fourth will be on the ballot due to vacancy. Position 1: Tara Hizon Councilwoman (and Mayor Pro Tempore) Hizon filed with the PDC in Feb. 2023 to run for re-election. Position 2: Beth Munns The Whidbey News-Times reported on May 5, 2023 that Patrick Harman has declared for Councilor Munns’ seat. Position 3: Eric Marshall. Councilman Marshall was appointed after the resignation of Jeff Mack. This election will be for the remainder of Mack’s full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. Position 4: vacant Councilman Dan Evans resigned in April 2023; his successor has not yet been chosen. The election will be for the remainder of Evans’ full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025. Andy Plumlee announced his intention to apply for vacancy and run for the council on Apr. 27, 2023. Barbara Armes has also applied for the position and filed with the PDC for the seat on May 1, 2023. Christopher Wiegenstein, a Commissioner for the North Whidbey Pool, Park and Recreation District, filed on Apr. 16, 2023 with the PDC to run for an unspecified seat on the Oak Harbor City Council. |
| Mayor: Bob Severns Mayor Severns told the Whidbey News-Times that he will not run for re-election. Councilman Shane Hoffmire announced his intention to run for mayor on Mar. 23, 2023, and Oak Harbor tax accountant Ronnie Wright filed with the PDC on Apr. 28, 2023. |
| WHIDBEY ISLAND PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT |
| Commissioners: Two of the five commissioner positions are on the ballot. Hospital commissioners serve six-year terms. In addition, due to resignation, a third position may also be on the ballot. Position 1: Morgan Cooper. Commissioner Cooper was appointed in Feb. 2023 after the resignation of Grethe Cammermeyer. This election will be to fill the remainder of Cammermeyer’s full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding six-year term, which ends Dec. 31, 2029. She told the Whidbey News-Times that she will run to retain her seat. Position 4: Gregory Richardson. Commissioner Richardson was appointed in Oct. 2022 after the resignation of Nancyjean Fey. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Fey’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2025. The Whidbey News-Times reported on Mar. 28, 2023 that he plans to run for his seat, “though Richardson said several factors may influence his decision.” Position 5: Eric E. Anderson |
| OAK HARBOR SCHOOL DISTRICT (NO. 201) |
| Directors: Three of the five director positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. In addition, due to resignations, the other two positions may also be on the ballot. Position 1: Lynn Goebel Director Goebel told the Whidbey News-Times that she will run for re-election. Position 2: Jessica Aws Position 3: Robert J. Hallahan Director Hallahan told the Whidbey News-Times that he will not run for re-election. Position 4: Nicole Tesch. Director Tesch was appointed in May 2022 after the resignation of John Diamond. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Diamond’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2025. Position 5: Sharon Jensen. Director Jensen was appointed in Jan. 2023 after the resignation of Erik Mann. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Mann’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2025. |
| COUPEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT (NO. 204) |
| Directors: Two of the five director positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 1: Christine Sears. Note that candidates for Position 1 must live within Director District 1, which is comprised of the area west of Main St / Engle Rd. Position 4: Alison Perera. Position 4 is an “at large” position; candidates may live anywhere within the school district. Director Perera was appointed after the resignation of Glenda Merwine. This election will be for the remainder of Merwine’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. |
| SOUTH WHIDBEY SCHOOL DISTRICT (NO. 206) |
| Directors: Three of the five director positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 1: Joe Greenheron. Candidates for Position 1 must live in director district 1; see the map at this link. Director Greenheron was appointed after the resignation of Damian Greene. This election will be for the remainder of Greene’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. He told the Whidbey News-Times that he will run to retain his seat. Position 3: Brook Willeford. Candidates for Position 3 must live in director district 3; see the map at this link. Director Willeford told the Whidbey News-Times that he will run for re-election. Position 4: Marnie Jackson. Position 4 is an “at large” position; candidates may live anywhere in the district. Director Jackson told the Whidbey News-Times that she will not for re-election. |
| STANWOOD-CAMANO SCHOOL DISTRICT (NO. 401) |
| Directors. Three of the five director positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 3: Miranda Evans. Candidates for Position 3 must live in director district 3; see the map at this link. Position 4: Debbie Bayes. Director Bayes was appointed after Ken Christoferson resigned his seat on Dec. 6, 2022. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Christoferson’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding four-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2027. On May 3, 2023, Betsy Foster filed with the PDC to run for this seat. Position 5: Natalie Hagglund. Position 5 is an “at large” position; candidates may live anywhere in the district. |
| PORT OF COUPEVILLE |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. In addition, due to resignations, a second position may also be on the ballot. District 1: David Day. Candidates for district 1 must live in commissioner district 1; see the map at this link. District 3: John Callahan. Commissioner Callahan was appointed after the resignation of Patrick Kennedy. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Kennedy’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2025. The Whidbey News-Times reported he “said he’s leaning toward running.” |
| PORT OF MABANA |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. In addition, due to resignations, one or more of the other positions may also be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Position 2: Jeff Elliott |
| PORT OF SOUTH WHIDBEY |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. In addition, due to resignations, a second position may also be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms, and must reside in the commissioner district they seek to represent; see the map at this link. District 1: Jack Ng Commissioner Ng told the Whidbey News-Times that he will run for re-election. District 2: Greg Easton. Commissioner Easton was appointed in Dec. 2022 after the resignation of Ed Halloran. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Halloran’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2027. The Whidbey News-Times reported on Mar. 28, 2023 that he “said he currently intends to run but won’t make a final decision until the filing deadline.” |
| NORTH WHIDBEY FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Position 1: T.J. Lamont |
| CENTRAL WHIDBEY FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Position 1: Paul Messner |
| SOUTH WHIDBEY FIRE/EMS DISTRICT |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Position 2: Jim Towers. Commissioner Towers was appointed in Nov. 2021 after the resignation of Larry Metz. The position will be on the ballot in 2023 to fill the remainder of Metz’s term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2023, and the succeeding six-year full term, which ends Dec. 31, 2029. |
| NORTH WHIDBEY POOL, PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT |
| Commissioners. Two of the five commissioner positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 1: Christopher Wiegenstein Commissioner Wiegenstein filed with the Public Disclosure Commission on Apr. 16, 2023 to run for an unspecified seat on the Oak Harbor City Council. Position 3: Juli Brooks-Leete |
| SOUTH WHIDBEY PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT |
| Commissioners. Two of the five commissioner positions are scheduled to be on the ballot. Position 1: Krista Loercher Position 3: Jennifer Cox |
| CEMETERY DISTRICT ONE (MAPLE LEAF CEMETERY) |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Position 1: Lelia M. Brown |
| CEMETERY DISTRICT NO. 2 (SUNNYSIDE CEMETERY) |
| Commissioners. One of the three commissioner positions is scheduled to be on the ballot. Commissioners serve six-year terms. Position 1: Loann Gulick |
UPDATE (Apr. 30, 2023): On Apr. 27, candy store owner Andy Plumlee announced his intention to apply for the Oak Harbor City Council vacancy created by the resignation of Dan Evans; he also intends to run for the seat in this year’s elections. The following day, tax accountant Ronnie Wright filed with the Public Disclosure Commission to run for mayor of Oak Harbor. Both men were applicants for the last vacancy on the council, which was ultimately filled by Eric Marshall.
UPDATE (Apr. 23, 2023): On Apr. 16, 2023, North Whidbey Pool, Park and Recreation District Commissioner Christopher Wiegenstein filed with the Public Disclosure Commission for an unspecified Oak Harbor City Council Seat. And on Apr. 22, the South Whidbey Record reported that Langley Mayor Scott Chaplin would not run to retain his seat.
UPDATE (Apr. 11, 2023): Oak Harbor City Councilman Dan Evans has resigned his seat effective immediately. The council will accept applications for a temporary replacement and the position will be filled for the remainder of the term by a special election. Because Evans resigned before Filing Week, the special election will be part of this November’s ballot.
UPDATE (Mar. 30, 2023): The Whidbey News-Times ran a story on the upcoming elections. The paper asked all elected officials whose seats are up for election if they will run; the results have been integrated into the list below.
UPDATE (Feb. 21, 2023): This post has been updated to reflect the appointments of Debbie Bayes to replace Ken Christoferson on the Stanwood-Camano School Board, and of Morgan Cooper to replace Grethe Cammermeyer on the Whidbey Island Public Hospital District (WhidbeyHealth) board.
UPDATE (Jan. 15, 2023): This post has been updated to reflect Sharon Jensen’s appointment to the Oak Harbor School Board on Jan. 9.
