Letter: Public trust starts with accessibility

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Editor,

Presence matters in public service.

The Island County Auditor’s Office is not a symbolic role. It runs our elections, keeps our public records, licenses vehicles and vessels and manages county finances. In short, it holds the public’s confidence in how local government works. The person we elect should be accessible, accountable and easy to reach.

That’s the standard I’ve held myself to in this campaign. I’ve made a point of showing up at community events, candidate forums, and online. It is hard. I’m a mom, a wife to a recently retired Navy veteran, an elected South Whidbey school board member and executive director of one of this island’s most critical agencies for people in a moment of crisis. Even with all of that, I make it a point to be reachable when residents have questions. Our campaigns are a preview of how a person will run the office and how present they will be.

Accessibility is part of public trust. If someone can’t be reached or won’t give a straight answer during a campaign, it’s fair to ask what access will look like once they hold the office. I want you to hold me to that standard.

I’m not asking anyone to vote on titles, and incumbency isn’t the question. Ask yourself: Has this person been present and reachable? Have they answered your questions? Will they keep the office open and accessible? Is this the leadership you want overseeing our elections and the county’s finances?

In the August primary, I hope you’ll choose a candidate you’ve seen, heard from, and can count on to be present. I’m ready to be that candidate and that auditor.

Andrea Downs

Candidate for Island County auditor