Island County Commissioner-elect John Dean is not on the clock, but he is already on the job.

Dean, a Camano Island resident, will be sworn in at 1 p.m. tomorrow in the Coupeville Law and Justice Center courtroom of Judge Alan Hancock. Although his tenure has not officially begun, the District 3 commissioner has become a familiar face in the county facilities.

Once Dean learned that he had unseated Republican Commissioner Bill Byrd, he began attending meetings and public hearings. The last month has seen him in his new office undergoing a crash course in government. He will not receive a paycheck for the hours, but the preparation has been invaluable.

“There’s a lot of documentations out there that I’ve been reading,” said Dean, the long-time editor and associate publisher of the Stanwood/Camano NEWS. “There’s an amazing amount of detail in government. I feel like I’m going to get my master’s degree in government in 30 days.”

The crash course has not only been academic, but social. Meeting county staff has been a priority. And the professional mettle of the personnel has been a pleasant surprise for the political newcomer.

“Coming in as a journalist, I always wanted to get a better idea of how this government is run,” Dean said. “I’d heard people say it was dysfunctional and there were a lot of negative comments. But what I’ve found just coming in and talking to people is how high a caliber the staff is. That’s one of the neat insights for me.”

One job of the commissioners is to ensure the highly capable staff has the tools required to carry out their jobs.

“That’s my first job, to support the existing staff and give them those tools,” he said.

Other two welcoming too

Dean said fellow commissioners Mac McDowell and Mike Shelton have been equally welcoming. Any cynicism for government that he had previously harbored is quickly thawing.

“Everyone’s been very helpful,” he said. “I used to have a cynical attitude towards government, but when you look at what’s going on up and down these halls, it’s looking pretty positive.”

An open house will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11 in the Camano Island Senior Community Center to give residents an opportunity to voice what they view as top priorities. Dean was initially moved to run for the position after witnessing and hearing about the need for a stronger Camano Island voice in Coupeville.

“I want to try to set some goals for 2007 and 2008,” he said. “People can write down their priorities or their needs.”

He will also hold open houses in North Whidbey, which falls in his district. Although Dean does not possess omnipresence, he covered a significant amount of ground while campaigning and all indications show that he is not slowing down.

“I want to find some way to get some inroad into North Whidbey,” he said. “These workshops will give people at least a chance to stop in and meet me. It was one of my goals during the campaign and it’s going to be one of my goals this year to get around to as many places as I can and try to bring the government to the people.”

Need seen for education

Dean has been a strong proponent of organizing a citizens academy, whereby community members can learn the basics of how the government operates, or even how to write a letter to the editor or make a presentation at a public meeting.

“If I wouldn’t have worked at a newspaper, I don’t think I would have known how it all operates…,” he said. “We’ve got to have open government. Our national government seems to close down on us so many times. We can’t have that. The flip side of that is people have to start participating. That’s my mantra. There is no democracy without participation.”

Dean likens his extensive job duties to those of an ombudsman.

“I know some governments actually hire an ombudsman,” he said. “He or she is a troubleshooter for citizens. That’s really how I see my job. I’m not coming in here as a Democrat or a Republican. I’m trying to get away from all of that party politics stuff. I haven’t seen any of it here in the courthouse. Everything is non-partisan. There’s none of that nonsense. I’d heard stories in the past, but I don’t see it.”

The commissioner-elect also understands that the nature of his position will require him to make unpopular decisions. Some Camano Island citizens have recently implored the board to vote against approving a franchise for a sewer line to an offset drain field.

“As commissioners, we’ve got state laws to follow,” Dean said. “I’ve always known this, but it’s really hit me between the eyes how much the county is an arm of the state. You’re not a king. This is kind of like volunteering to be the martyr.”

Big issues

on his plate

Within the coming year, the commissioners will likely deal with annexation issues in Oak Harbor. The potential incorporation of Freeland will also be on the plate. For the latter, Dean said, as he did during his campaign, that he will continue to support people’s desire for home rule.

“That’s what Freeland’s all about,” Dean said, adding that he has met with proponents of incorporation and has been briefed on their plans. “What I told them last week was, either way, whether they get incorporation or not, I want to support them on their efforts for subarea planning and getting the things that they need. I know they talked a lot about the whole reason they wanted to incorporate was because they felt that Island County wasn’t paying good attention to them. What I’m hoping to provide for them is a win-win.”

Regardless of the outcome, Dean said he and his two colleagues in Coupeville must diligently address Freeland’s needs.

Dean’s desire for open government extends to the relationships between the county and groups like the Whidbey Environmental Action Network, Camano Action for a Rural Environment, and local farmers. For progress to be made, the polarity that currently exists must disappear.

“I’m meeting with a diverse group of people,” he said. “I keep seeing this mentality where everything is either or, it’s black or white. It’s farming or it’s environment. I’m hoping we can find some middle ground and some compromise.”

The commissioners’ already full plates are pushed beyond capacity with heaping portions of organizational participation. Dean will serve on a number of committees and councils, including the Economic Development Council, the Northwest Regional Council, the Regional Transportation Planning Organization, the Technology Committee, and the Opportunity Council.

“I’ve got a full plate,” he said. “It’s a big job. That’s why I have a great appreciation for anyone who’s done it or does it currently. It’s easy to be critical, but it’s a huge job.”

With a preliminary glimpse inside the county government, Dean is anxious to take hold of the reins and dive into his duties. His experiences in the courthouse thus far have left him smiling.

“It’s really too early, but I’m tempted to give this government a ‘B’,” he said. “I like what I see.”

Contact Paul Boring at pboring@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.