The Island County Democrats publish a monthly newsletter, which we are posting here. We believe that the statements made by the leadership of each party is of general public interest.
Message from ICD Chair, Jennifer Haase Morris
Last month I talked about navigating the burnout blues. Even during an “off year” election cycle, there was a surprising amount of divisiveness, and I know that many of the candidates for important roles worked very hard to earn every single vote. In the last few weeks, I have already had multiple requests for conversations about what we can expect in 2024 in the political process. We are all bracing for a difficult year, and people want to get prepared so that we aren’t all left feeling depleted at this same time next year.
The final election results have been certified the morning that I am writing this article. I would like to thank the Rise & Run Committee who did their due diligence in recommending preferred candidates in key nonpartisan races. Most candidates who received the ICD preferred candidate status were successful in their elections, though two candidates in Oak Harbor races (Mayor and City Council) were not elected. The Committee will take time early next year to review their process and lessons learned.
As we close out 2023, take stock of what you learned about how to engage voters, about the issues that are resonating with folks in Island County, and your own energy level for supporting Democratic candidates at all levels in the 2024 election cycle. I’ll look forward to hearing some of your ideas at our general meeting on Saturday, December 9th, 10:00 am. Please register to get the Zoom link. (We will meet virtually to ensure that we don’t experience any weather issues and that everyone can keep their schedule of holiday parties without needing to travel to a meeting.)
We are now entering this month of gift-giving, festivities, holiday travel, time with friends and family, and generosity beyond measure. May you experience moments of joy, glimpses of mystery, and few plot twists in daily life.
My best wishes for your holiday of choice this season!
Register for the December 9th General Meeting.
Message from Island County Commissioner, Janet St Clair
2023 is coming to a close and the Board of Island County Commissioners has spent this fall wrapping up policy issues that we have been working on throughout the year and is setting the stage for 2024. We continue in our work to leverage resolutions on climate change, equity and recently, health in all policies (HIAP). This approach to governance enables us to imbed values into policy in meaningful ways. This fall has seen major renovations to County buildings through a $1M grant secured by our facilities Director that will invest in upgrades to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce expenses over many years. We also installed three EV charging stations at the Camano Admin building, beginning steps in changing over our county fleet to zero emissions vehicles. In September, we invested in conservation acquisitions in both Freeland and Oak Harbor through our Conservation Futures Fund. We also implemented investments in trails, parks, and noxious weed mitigation through CFF. Protection of open space, wetlands and forest continues to be a priority and a top strategy for sustainability and carbon sequestration on our islands.
In October, Island County passed a major code update for our animal welfare policy to add more stringent oversight of animal welfare, kennels, and enforcement for dangerous animals. This legislation represented a joint effort with local advocates who tirelessly worked to make this a priority. Island County has also been busy preparing for our Comprehensive Plan updates which will address how we must continue to balance the need for housing and protection of our water resources, rural character and habitats to preserve the unique beauty of our county. This plan will include both aquifer and stormwater analysis, and climate change mitigation strategies as we work toward a sustainable future for the generations to come. We are also concluding our 2024 budget process and budget hearings will be held in December. To join us, click here: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter to learn more.
In November, my monthly Town Hall featured our Island County Broadband Action Team as we presented and celebrated the efforts from the last five years to bring internet to under and unserved areas of Island County. Together, we have secured millions of dollars of public investment to begin construction and access to Central Whidbey, unserved areas of South Whidbey, and North Camano. We are waiting to hear about our 2nd USDA grant for South Camano. With the $11.8M in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, WhidbeyTel will implement a backbone broadband infrastructure that will traverse Whidbey Island to North Whidbey enabling us to secure future grants more easily to expand internet to homes. We also continue to focus on broadband affordability as we work together to implement the Affordable Connectivity Program as well as digital equity efforts so we can assure all can access and navigate internet availability and opportunities.
My last Town Hall of 2023 will be December 14th from 4-6 pm at the Camano Administration Building. In the spirit of the holidays, this Town Hall will focus on children and the work of your government in partnership with local nonprofits to support programs that help our kids thrive. Featured partners include Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center Teen Programs, North Whidbey Parks and Recreation, and Island County Early Learning Programs. This will be an in-person event culminating in a concert by local youth. For more information on any of our work, email me at j.stclair@islandcountywa.gov.
Janet St. Clair, Island County Commissioner
Message from Island County Commissioner, Melanie Bacon
We didn’t meet much as a Board of County Commissioners in November, due to our annual WSAC conference and Thanksgiving week. But we did do a few things I wanted to share with you.
- Long Range Planning brought the Board updates on the GMA changes, countywide planning policies, and the population projections for the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update. The most significant slide from the presentation, to me, was the one that said 8,717 new housing units will need to be built in Island County over the next 20 years—and over half of them will need to be “affordable” (including workforce, low-income, permanent supportive, emergency, and homeless housing). This will require a big shift in the mindset of builders and developers in our county.
- We held the much-anticipated discussion with Planning and Public Works regarding king tides and flooding along our shorelines. The debate regarding residential permitting of hard armoring as a tool in homeowners’ fight to save their homes from flooding is very important to me. We need to decide what is the County’s role when private property rights butt against the exigencies of nature–and against environmental best science. Inevitably, Mother Nature will win. Do we give in to her demands this year? Do we try to help people hang onto their homes for another twenty years, or fifty? I’m aware that the issues we’re discussing today are just the beginning of a very long dialogue about climate, resiliency, and property rights. This is a complicated issue for us in 2023; it’s the only issue, so far, that has ever caused a homeowner to call me in tears because her home was being destroyed under her feet and no one would help her. It’s a policy issue we need to work on today, before all of our shoreline communities have succumbed to flood and every shoreline permit is an emergency permit.
- As a result of a citizen’s comment during the regular session on the 28th, the Board will expect to review Planning Commission recommendations during our regular agendas instead of passing them automatically in the consent agenda without discussion. This means that public hearings held by the Planning Commission will not be citizens’ last opportunity to bring up their concerns about proposed code changes. This will be particularly important as we work on our Comprehensive Plan Update over the next 18 months, because we want to be as transparent as possible in that activity and we want the concerns and ideas of all citizens to be heard.
- We still have one open position on the Clinton Ferry Advisory Committee. If you’re interested, contact me.
I try very hard to be accessible and to keep citizens informed. You can subscribe to my newsletter by emailing me at district1@islandcountywa.gov.
Thank you for your support.
Melanie
Message from State Representative, Dave Paul
Friends,
We have an exciting fundraiser coming up! Art and Merri Huffine have graciously offered to host an event before the fundraising freeze. Bob Hallahan is co-hosting, and special guest House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon will be attending! Rep. Fitzgibbon is the former Chair of the House Environment and Energy Committee and is a critical leader in the fight against climate change.
This is our last opportunity until next March to prepare for the 2024 election. We know what’s at stake if we lose this seat. I’m looking forward to making great progress this legislative session on protecting the environment, strengthening reproductive rights, and addressing climate change.
Join us on December 6th from 5:30-7:00pm — RSVP to [Ed. Note: email address omitted] for the address. Hope to see you there!
As always, it’s an honor to serve,
Dave
News from the Washington State Democratic Party
With over 99% of ballots counted, we are very close to having a final picture of this year’s results, and wanted to share a bit of information regarding statewide and local voter turnout. At this point we are showing a statewide turnout of 36.13% which will trend slightly higher when all is said and done. While not the record breaking turnout we aim for every cycle, this is solid performance statewide for an odd-numbered year and tracks closely with the past several election cycles.
Island County voter turnout was 47.87%, which seems great (and is), but is also DOWN from our odd-numbered year turnout average of 52.43% (that means roughly 3000 registered voters across Island County chose not to vote). So great job overall, but there is still much work to be done, and we will need to pick up the pace heading into 2024 to ensure we are doing all we can to launch a robust and effective turnout program that elects Democrats up and down the ballot!
Island County Democrats most certainly welcome your thoughts, ideas, and recommendations on how best to reach existing voters and register new ones.
– Fe Mischo and Albert Ondo, your State Committee Members
Donate
Your generous contributions will directly help ICD:
- Host local community education and information events
- Coordinate local Democratic Party volunteers activities
- Train and inspire PCOs to action
- Provide tools, materials and space for local Democratic Party planning and organizing
For the biggest bang for your buck, mail your checks to:
[Ed. Note: donation information omitted]
[Editorial Policy: The Voter Interests Project is a non-partisan organization. Part of our mission is to keep voters informed about the activities of elected officials and candidates for public office. We do not endorse or support any particular candidates; therefore, we omit all email links and donation links from candidate communications to supporters. If you are interested in supporting a candidate, we recommend you contact the candidate or their campaign directly.]
