I have known all four candidates for Island County Commissioner, District 1, for many years and count them all as friends. I believe that in terms of qualifications Phil Bakke stands out as a proven leader and has the knowledge to best meet the needs of Island County.

In the current political environment, many candidates take a familiar theme that they think may be popular with voters and try to win elections without ever understanding all of the many facets that go into making good decisions for the voters they serve. Phil is very analytical in his thinking and considers all viewpoints prior to making his decision, avoiding those unintended consequences that oftentimes seem to surface later. Phil is not extreme in his thinking, is fiscally conservative, and yet is willing to expend taxpayers’ money on programs that provide a return on investment.

Phil is very energetic and has accepted responsibilities that benefit Island County even though they require additional work and time outside of his normal commissioner responsibilities. He is recognized by other commissioners for his work in the land use arena and because of that confidence has been appointed to the legislative steering committee for the Washington State Association of Counties.

Phil Bakke is clearly the most qualified candidate for the District 1 commissioner position and the only one in the race that has proven his abilities on the job. I urge you to cast your primary ballot for Phil and keep county government in his capable hands.

Mike Shelton

Olympia