ISLAND COUNTY: ICD Newsletter February 2026
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 are of general public interest.
Message from Island County Commissioner, Janet St Clair
Many of us, when we consider poverty, have a “boot strap philosophy” that separates and judges others. My father, the son of immigrants, grew up in poverty in Idaho. His father worked as an itinerant ranch-hand and his mother cooked in logging camps. With eight children in a two-room house, the older siblings cared for the younger. My dad was smart, skipped grades, and joined the military early, sending money home. After the war, he used VA benefits to attend college and buy a home, helping lift his family out of poverty. He pulled himself up by his bootstraps. But our family’s story is not just about hard work. It’s about opportunities provided by access to education, housing, and asset building—advantages often tied to privilege.
However, those benefits were not accessible to everyone. Many people of color were redlined out of home ownership and denied the chance to buy homes, perpetuating generational poverty and limiting access to education. My parents used home equity loans to support their children’s education. Asset building, like affordable housing, is a crucial step in breaking the cycle of poverty.
I share this as a County Commissioner facing the challenges of completing our 20-year Comprehensive Plan. Planning for population growth and housing affordability isn’t just a burden—it’s an opportunity. We must address access to housing and protect our islands’ sustainability and rural character for future generations. Recognizing our rural ag lands and forests is not just an aesthetic, it is about food security, economic development, and the health of the land we live on.
If we rely on outdated and binary approaches, we miss the chance to create lasting change. Solutions such as middle housing, co-housing, and ADUs support multi-generational living and affordable market-rate housing. Community Housing Trusts, cluster housing and programs that include transfer of development rights also achieve this goal. These also offer conservation practices and preserve environmental values.
We must lower our fences, embrace new ideas, welcome new neighbors and recognize that self-sufficiency is a myth, we thrive in community. Our policies should include the needs of all and foster community. Without government policies that enable asset building, my father’s path—and mine—might have been very different. With strategic visioning and collective effort, we can build stronger communities for future generations.
Janet St. Clair, Island County Commissioner
Message from Island County Commissioner, Melanie Bacon
I am writing this from the National Association of Counties meeting in D.C. Yesterday I went to the Transportation Policy Committee meeting, where we heard two of Scott Duffy’s Deputy Secretaries tell us how wonderful the President is. One of them informed us that States that “follow the law” will be able to get Transportation funds, while those that push back against immigration laws won’t. During the Q&A period a commissioner who is apparently from a state that “follows the law” said he wants $25 million for a road he intends to name after the president and asked how his county could get a grant for that; they told him which grant would be best for his needs and told him to get their cards after the meeting so they could help him with this. Apparently other Trump smurfs spouted similar outrages at other committee meetings. Democrats at the conference are furious. I plan to attend the “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall Tuesday night. I’ll be back in the office the first week of March, reenergized for the fight.
Message from State Representative, Dave Paul
Friends and neighbors,
I’ve heard from so many constituents sharing their concerns about the dangerous and harmful actions of the federal government and ICE agents across our country. Let me be clear that the tactics used by ICE are unacceptable and un-American. I don’t make that statement lightly. Our country was founded on the fundamental principle of freedom from government control, and we fought the Revolutionary War over this ideal.
Our Constitution protects our rights to due process of the law and freedom of assembly: both are fundamental to protecting Americans from government tyranny.
For example, the Constitution makes it clear that a law enforcement officer doesn’t get to decide that they have enough evidence to break into a house to arrest someone—a judge needs to review the evidence and approve the warrant.
The images from across the country are horrifying, and Americans who are peacefully protesting should not be subject to tear gas, pepper spray, or bullets.
While I may not be able to stop the actions of the federal government in Minnesota and elsewhere, I can work with my colleagues in Olympia to help protect Washingtonians. Our state has worked for over a decade to train local and state law-enforcement officers on de-escalation tactics and reducing the use of deadly force. We know this is important to our state: 59 percent of voters supported Initiative 940 in 2018 to develop this work.
The legislature is considering several bills to address dangerous policies and tactics used by federal agents. For example, we have legislation to prohibit law enforcement officials from wearing masks and not being clearly identifiable. I’ve spoken to law enforcement leaders, and they agree – masks undermine the public’s trust in police.
I know these are challenging times, but I also know that our nation has faced difficult times in the past. We must remember what unites us as Americans—that’s especially important as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation. If we focus on protecting bedrock American values—and work to take care of each other—we’ll get through this, too.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your Representative.
Sincerely,
Dave Paul
Message from State Representative, Clyde Shavers
Message from US Representative, Rick Larsen
In February, I introduced the Mammography Access for Veterans Act. This bipartisan legislation would expand veterans’ access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Women are the fastest-growing group in the veteran population. As the number of women veterans rapidly increases, VA must continue to modernize its women’s health care services. This bill is one step toward ensuring women veterans around the country have access to lifesaving, preventative screenings for breast cancer.
During my time in Congress, I have hosted more than 70 forums to hear directly from Northwest Washington state veterans about their needs, including five roundtables in September 2025.
Following those conversations in September, I published ‘Listening to Veterans in Northwest Washington,’ (https://larsen.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2025_rep._larsen_veterans_report.pdf), a report capturing local veterans’ most pressing challenges and outlining policy recommendations for Congress and VA to address these concerns. I submitted this report to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC) to ensure Northwest Washington veterans’ voices impact the policy-making process.
Northwest Washington is home to nearly 57,000 veterans, including many veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am committed to ensuring that the women and men who have served our country in uniform get the resources and services they need – whether it be healthcare, housing, or career training.
I will always work for the veterans of Northwest Washington. I will continue to lead bipartisan legislative efforts like the Mammography Access for Veterans Act.
More soon,
Rick
Community News
Community Protest Sing-Along
Learn songs from the Minneapolis resistance movement, along with some other timely lyrics. The singing will be in preparation for No Kings protest on March 28.
Sunday, March 1, 4-5:15 pm
Langley United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall
301 Anthes Ave, Langley,
Donations will be accepted for:
WA Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
Inquiries: mailto:info@indivisiblewhidbey.org
ELECTION WATCH
Local candidates are lining up for the 2026 mid-term elections. Here’s a look at what we know so far.
At the state and federal level, all three Democratic incumbents serving Island County voters have filed re-election plans with the Public Disclosure Commission. To date, no publicly announced opposition has surfaced against 2nd District Congressman Rick Larsen or 10th District State Rep. Dave Paul. A Stanwood Republican, Robert “Chili” Hicks, is running against State Rep. Clyde Shavers for his 10th District seat.
Several candidates have indicated they will seek county government positions.
Langley Police Chief Tavier Wasser has entered the race for Island County Sheriff, running as a Democrat against incumbent Sheriff Rick Felici. In his two previous campaigns, Felici ran as a Republican but has filed as an Independent for this year’s race.
Freeland Democrat Andrea Downs will run for Island County Auditor, a position currently held by Republican Sheilah Crider. Downs has served on the South Whidbey School Board since 2017 and is the Executive Director of Citizens Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse.
Camano Island Democrat Grant Shaw has announced his bid for the Island County Commission District 3 seat being vacated by Janet St. Clair. Shaw currently serves on the board of directors of the Freedom Park Association.
Several other Island County elected officials have announced re-election bids:
- County Prosector Greg Banks, who is running as an Independent
- County Treasurer Tony Lam, who ran as a Democrat in 2022 but filed as an Independent this year
- County Assessor Kelly Mauck, who ran as a Republican in 2022 but has not declared a party affiliation for 2026
Election Calendar
May 4-8 Declaration of Candidacy Filing Week
Aug. 4 Primary Election Day
Nov. 3 General Election Day
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