Jill Johnson (R-Oak Harbor), running for Island County Commissioner in District 2 (Oak Harbor) posted this to her Facebook page on Thu., June 6, 2024.
I want to be very clear that Mary Engle, the County’s former assessor and planning director was not fired. It’s a hurtful and disrespectful rumor to spread about someone who has spent 30 years of her life in public service to our community.
Mary shared with the Commissioners that she is considering retirement. Recognizing this, the Board wanted to use her experience to help us clean up conflicts that exist in our code, and update areas where our code and the County’s actions are misaligned (to either change the code/policy or change our processes to follow the code/policy). We offered her an opportunity to serve the County in this way…and she took it.
Implying that this big win for the citizens of Island County was motivated by anything nefarious insults the full Board of Commissioners and the values we use in making decisions. And, because I hold Mary in high-regard, I am disappointed that she is being used as political fodder with no source other than misinformed speculation.
[Ed. Note: Johnson included a link to this story in the Whidbey News-Times.]
On The Ballot in August 2024
| Island County Commissioner, District 1 | Marie Shimada (D-Freeland) Melanie Bacon (D-Langley), the incumbent Steven Myres (R-Freeland) Wanda Grone (R-Langley) |
| Island County Commissioner, District 2 | Phil Collier (R-Oak Harbor) Christina Elliott (D-Oak Harbor) Jill Johnson (R-Oak Harbor), the incumbent |
