The first day of candidate filing week yielded some significant developments, including a tragedy.
A third position on the WhidbeyHealth public hospital board became open for candidates after Hospital Commissioner Kate Rose passed away on April 24. That means three of the five positions on the board will be on the ballot during the November general election.
Both Ron Wallin and Gregory Richardson, who have position 3 and 4, respectively, said they will not seek reelection to the six-year terms. Rose’s Position 5 will be on the ballot as a four-year, unexpired term.
Dr. Mark Borden, an emergency room physician, filed for Position 4 on Monday. He used to run the ER years ago, when it was Whidbey General Hospital, but left in a dispute with the administration at the time.
In Langley, Thomas Gill filed to run for the Position 1 on the city council on Monday. Gill previously served on the council but ran for mayor in 2023 and wasn’t able to seek reelection at the same time. Tuesday, another former council member, Dominique Emerson, filed for Position 2. Nobody filed so far for Position 5, which is currently held by Gail Fleming.
In Oak Harbor, Councilmembers Barbara Armes, James Marrow and Bryan Stucky filed for their current seats. Nobody filed yet to replace Jim Woessner.
Coupeville school board members Nancy Conard, Bryan Sherman and Morgan White filed for their positions, as did South Whidbey school board members Andrea Downs and Ann Johnson.
Downs and Johnson sent out a press release Monday announcing their reelection campaigns and calling on South Whidbey “to come together around core community values in the face of attacks on freedom in education from MAGA extremists in Washington D.C.”
Johnson said that serving on the board is an honor and responsibility that she takes seriously.
“Together with our new superintendent, Dr. Becky Clifford, and with our amazing community of educators and students, we look forward to keeping the momentum going for outstanding education in our small island community,” she said. “Our teachers, staff and students inspire me every day. Even in these very challenging times, with attacks on educational freedom coming from Washington, DC, here in the other Washington, we are moving forward.”
Downs said supporting every student, however they need to learn, is at the heart of the district’s mission.
“We may be a small district, but our impact is outsized, with students thriving through a multitude of graduation pathways,” she said. “From our traditional pathways to college, to our thriving Career and Technical Education program (CTE), to our robust Alternative Learning Education program (ALE), we provide flexibility for a range of families and students. Our staff in the district are extremely dedicated and support all of our students, regardless of family circumstance. I am committed to ensuring that the school board remains focused on excellence, integrity and equity – even in these challenging times.”
Two positions on the Oak Harbor School District, held by Nicole Tesch and Sharon Jensen, will be on the ballot. Tesch said she will seek reelection while Jensen said she will decide by the filing deadline on Friday.
Commissioner John S. Mishasek on the Port of Coupeville and Curt Gordon, a Port of South Whidbey commissioner, filed for reelection.
Other local government positions that will appear on the November ballot include seats on the Coupeville council, the fire district boards and the boards governing the two park and recreation districts on Whidbey.
