County Commissioner, District 2

Chris Reed D

https://chrisreed2020.com/

The web page shows a series of videos which make very little sense. One shows a pair of Growlers screaming over Ebey’s near Keystone. The only words one can hear are “Cool. Wonder why they’re flying in formation.” One shows him mowing a lawn with a female voice commenting that it had grown tall because they were not able to work during the shutdown. One which might be interesting appears to be ruminations about COVID and the shutdown, but it is done while he is driving and the car is loud enough that I can only catch a phrase here and there. I do not have the patience to listen to 14 minutes of car roar with a few disjointed words. There’s another one titled “on my way to test for COVID.” Again, the car is so loud the words are incomprehensible. There’s one “after testing” which is a little more intelligible. Just not all that exciting. He thinks they need to do more testing. He would like to test 1000 people at random – at this point the video failed. He notes the test came back negative. I’m happy for him, and for all of us that he tested negative, and I appreciate his wish to see more testing. I agree. 

https://www.facebook.com/2020.chris.reed

Most of the Facebook page is fairly incomprehensible. We see that he is encouraging people to register to vote. That is a good thing. And he shows the video of the July 4 Oak Harbor Republican event at which politicians did nothing while a non-R observer was beaten and his camera trashed.

He expresses frustration with other commissioner candidates who he believes think most constituents earn $40 – 50k/year. He uses language that I use at home but not in public. He believes the other candidates are elitists and that’s why we need him, a ‘worker bee.’ He does have a cute graphic about police handling too many situations and “many hands make light work.” I agree with the graphic and the sentiment.

While not very elegantly expressed, he does have a pretty clear understanding of the basic fact that the wealthy are using COVID to improve their own condition at the cost of the many who are truly hurting. 

There’s a post about the need for a halfway community for people coming out of Island County jail. He proposes a tiny home village financed by local community services. It’s a long rap and not at all a bad idea. I prefer prevention, but there are people in jail and they do need some sort of safety net as they come out. 

He proposes to return no less than 25% of his commissioner salary and claims that other candidates have hijacked his idea. As I have mentioned elsewhere, Angie Homola returned 20% of her salary from 2009 - 2013.

My sense is that part of his head is in the right place but he is not able to articulate his ideas very clearly. And he does not have much of the basic information necessary to oversee the county. I would like to see him educate himself a lot further and begin working with local organizations to accomplish some of the good things he proposes. But I won’t be voting for him.

Dan Evans R

https://friendsofdanevans.com/contact-us

https://www.facebook.com/friendsofdanevans/

Lives and works in Oak Harbor, American Family Insurance Agency. Board president of Oak Harbor Main Street. “This year we have been successful in stopping the LIHI housing project that was pushed by our current Island County Commissioner in an illegal zoning area in the city.”

My take on that: LIHI = Low Income Housing Institute. The proposal is for 51 units of affordable housing with retail businesses both at the Pioneer Way level and down below. 20% of the units would be set aside for veterans. The Pioneer Way business community has had a meltdown over the very idea of having poor people actually living right there in the middle of their business district. It is very telling to me that Mr Evans touts proudly his work to prevent such housing. 

And of course he’s a Navy booster and loves local law enforcement, who need to be ‘treated with the respect that they deserve.”

So, he hates affordable housing in Oak Harbor, but says he will make affordable housing a primary focus during his first 4 year term. This is more easily explained by knowing that he is the chosen candidate of Scott Thompson, the developer trying to push through Wright’s Crossing, the 1500 house proposal at Monroe Landing, well outside Oak Harbor. 

Sure enough, a quick perusal of the PDC reports shows that his top two campaign contributors are both Scott Thompson and a woman most likely his wife. And on July 4 that very same Thompson held an open air campaign event which included Mr Evans. That event, to which you will find a link on the review of Chris Reed, shows a whole slew of candidates and their supporters all crammed together with nary a mask in sight. Not very safe or respectful. And evidently he had no objection to the targeting and beating of a peaceful person who thought “all are welcome” meant he could attend as well. That person ended up in Harborview with a concussion. Evans’ sponsor, Scott Thompson, was the instigator of that violence. 

To say that his issues are sparse is an understatement. What is happening here is that Mr Scott Thompson, having lost repeatedly in court and before the Island County commissioners in his attempt to permit Wright’s Crossing, is trying to buy himself a commissioner. I sincerely hope the people of District 2 are not fooled by this developer in candidate’s clothing.

Jill Johnson R incumbent

I have not been able to find any on-line presence. No website, no Facebook page. Lots of references to her from the Island County Republicans, Island County, and a hodge-podge collection of organizations on various sides of a lot of issues. Most peculiar that she does not have an on-line presence. 

Whatever. Her choice. There was plenty of other material on which to base a report, including too much personal experience. I spent a whole day going through my totally disorganized clipping file and came up with the following:

11-3-16 Water Resources Advisory Board minutes say Jill and Rick Hannold (district 3 commissioner) voted against authorizing use of the $1 mil in the Clean Water Utility fund to implement phase 2 of the Clean Water Utility.  The board expressed its disappointment.

She crowed proudly about reaching a settlement on Wonn Road public shore access, considering it a great success to give away half of our public shore access to a very wealthy, very persistent, and terribly obnoxious neighbor who continues to this day to attempt to block public use of our own public shoreline. 

3-29-17 Whidbey News Times.    County Board Revisits Debate over Heath Impacts of Noise 

Jill: “Then what? If it comes back there’s an unmitigable health impact, then what?” Johnson said she fears the board is heading toward a choice “between health impacts on our citizens and our Navy presence. Are we prepared to choose?” She pointed out that as a county entity, they could only control land use and land planning. “I don’t understand the tie-in between health and land use planning.” Grethe Cammermeyer (Hospital Board, County Board of Health) favors continuing to ask questions. “Our concern is for the health of the community. For us to follow up and look and evaluate the situation is part of our role. It may be difficult to separate roles when you’re a county commissioner. This is the Board of Health (the commissioners sit as part of the Board of Health) and we should be in tune to the citizens on this.” This boils down to Jill being more concerned with keeping the Navy happy than with the health of her constituents.

4-1-17 Whidbey News Times.     The Navy Effect (a long story about an economic impact study on the effect of NAS Whidbey on the local economy. The study concludes that overall the impact is a negative one, draining cash out of the local economy.) “Jill Johnson questioned the motives behind the creation of the report. ‘The fact remains that the Navy is the economic driver of the island and brings much more good than bad to the table. I don’t know what they hope to accomplish by putting this out there. What’s the purpose of pointing out the negative? To create more divisions in the community?’ Johnson said the report doesn’t seem to contain any new information and makes assumptions that she believes are inaccurate, including overestimating the number of Navy people who live in base housing.” Basically, Jill refuses to believe that NAS is actually a drain on the county’s economy, which is what the study showed. 

6-3-17 Whidbey News-Times   Commissioners Make Grant for Trail Contingent on Jet-Noise Statement. 

Jill and Hannold made funding for a central Whidbey connecting trail contingent on a requirement that the county health officer, National Park Service, Ebey’s Landing Trust Board, and Whidbey Camano Land Trust all state that the project would not expose the public to potential health harm or cause other conflicts related to noise. Helen was away and it was done behind her back. She was not favorably impressed upon discovering the move 2 weeks later. WCLT had applied for $50k Conservation Futures matching toward the trail system. 

“Earlier this year Johnson and Hannold were criticized for denying a $600k “rural counties economic development” grant to the Town of Coupeville for a community green project, citing town officials’ and citizens’ supposed lack of support for the Growlers.”

Jill: “If the community doesn’t have an issue, then I don’t have an issue. If, however the community has concerns, then the only thing I can do to address those concerns is to restrict activities in areas known for intense noise. I will just work to ensure that we don’t continue to make public investments in areas deemed by the community as incompatible with flight operations.” Price-Johnson was out of town and attended the meeting via phone. She had to leave early, which was when the other commissioners took the action. She found out about it from a citizen weeks later.

This was classic Jill backbiting combined with willful ignorance. She succeeded in punishing the people of Coupeville for their lack of enthusiasm for Growler noise. And she tried to punish everybody involved in the Ebey’s Reserve trail system by trying to demand a sort of loyalty oath. She cannot comprehend that people will walk the trail during the times when the jets are not flying.

6-17-17 report that grant was approved over objection by Jill. 

10-14-17 Whidbey News Times Commission split 2-1 over expanding planning area. Oak Harbor asked to expand its Urban Growth Area to include Wright’s Crossing. Wright’s Crossing, you may recall, is the proposal to build 1500 houses on 250 acres of farmland near the Blue Fox drive-in south of Oak Harbor. Jill liked the idea. “This step is not a step that gives this project any more momentum.” Well, in fact, it does. It is the necessary first step. 

11-29-17 Whidbey News Times. County Changes Evaluation Conservation Grants Process. The story reports that Jill and Hannold over-ruled Helen to remove objective scoring from the Conservation Futures evaluation process. Instead, it will be completely subjective, based on the opinions of members of the Conservation Futures Board – appointed by the commissioners. “The reality is that people are using subjective opinions to get to their indisputable numbers, so that’s where I’m more supportive of the narrative.” They also voted to remove the funding priorities from the application. Hannold and Johnson said they would give precedence to sites for stormwater drainage and shoreline access. “I would suggest that if people are considering applying that they do outreach to individual commissioners to make sure they know what we’re thinking, so that they know.” (huh?) 

1-6-18 Whidbey Record. Johnson Calls Banks ‘Snake’, Liar.

Tensions boiled over when prosecutor Greg Banks asked the commissioners for permission to hire outside counsel for litigation regarding Wright’s Crossing. The combative meeting included yelling, name calling, and accusations of lying. Wright’s Crossing is asking a judge to reverse the commissioners’ decision to exclude a requested expansion of the Oak Harbor UGA (Urban Growth Area) from the planning docket. This would have been the first step toward allowing the proposed large scale development south of the city. “This kind of litigation could involve teams of lawyers on opposing sides” Banks said. His request was not well received by commissioners Helen Price-Johnson and Jill Johnson. Johnson pointed out the ‘irony’ of the ask, referring to a lawsuit involving the board, Banks and a private attorney. In 2016 the state Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the commissioners acted in an unlawful and unconstitutional manner when they hired a private attorney over the objection of Banks. This lawsuit was referenced frequently during the discussion which lasted approximately 45 minutes.

It’s a long story, involving yelling on all sides. ‘Johnson made it clear the past lawsuit was not water under the bridge.’ “I would say I don’t trust you, and that’s my issue with outside counsel and under your direction” she (Jill) said. Banks grew visibly frustrated during the heated discussion and was told multiple times by Helen to stop interrupting. “I’m sitting here putting up with the usual torrent of abuse because this should be such a simple thing, but you want to dig back into your illegal actions from a couple years ago because you can’t acknowledge the fact that I advised you that it was illegal, you did it anyway, and you lost. Can we move on?”

Banks said he had been bullied by the board for years, after being called a bully himself by Johnson. Further on: Jill said “We know for a fact you notify the press on those things, because we’ve seen the text messages. You make us look bad.” and further “You can stab me in the back when you have the chance, we all know your personality. You’re a snake.”

1-6-18 News Times editorial: Fighting among elected officials is unhelpful, unacceptable.

An Island County commissioner acted outrageously and shamefully this week in attacking the county’s elected prosecutor because she was still sore about losing a court case to him a year ago.

Commissioner Jill Johnson lost her temper and accused Prosecutor Greg Banks of lying and even called him ‘a snake.’

This is not the first time commissioner Johnson was accused of losing her temper at Banks and acting inappropriately. In 2016 at least two staff members in the prosecutor’s office complained to HR after Johnson got upset in his office and screamed profanities for all to hear. She allegedly continued her tirade after she left the building. Its no small matter. One staff member said she was left shaken. 

This is not the way elected officials should act. They should be models of civility and rationality. They shouldn’t let vendettas color their discussion or decision-making process.

5-12-18 Whidbey News Times. Commissioners Decline Federal Funds for Trail. 

Jill: “given that we have 2 other improvement projects planned for the Clinton area, it is also important that we provide services to citizens throughout the county.” The project has been on the county’s long term plan for 2 years, part of the Bridge to Ferry trail system. Johnson previously expressed skepticism about the bridge to boat concept, especially because many of the connections are on different sides of the highway. Two years ago the project was awarded $750k from the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant program and another $225k from a transportation enhancement grant. These funds will be declined, and staff from public works are working to apply instead for grants for 3 different projects. One is a trail from a park & ride near Liberty Grocery, along the highway to the Oak Harbor city limits. Another is a loop around Boz (Swantown) Lake using both existing shoulders with side paths and soft-surface trails near Swantown Road from Fairway Lane. The 3^rd would connect the North end of the paved Kettles Trail to Fort Ebey State Park using road shoulders along Hill Valley Road from Libbey Road to the park. (my note: note that these are all in or near Jill’s district, and that there is an assumption of either/or rather than both/and).

8-8-18 Commissioner shows impatience with Planning Board. Basically, Jill disagreed with their conclusions and went off on them. As noted above, this is not unusual. 

10-13-18 Jill proposed to allow increased commercial uses in the Rural zone “I don’t want it to be one use per 5 acres. That doesn’t accomplish anything other than sporadic sprawl.” That 1 unit/5 acres in the Rural zone was set by the Growth Management Hearings Board to comply with the Growth Management Act. It is really not open to amendment.

11-28-18 Whidbey News Times. Jill complains that the entire board of commissioners don’t have a say in the rules governing development within Ebey’s Landing. Because the entire reserve is within District 1, only the commissioner from that district is empowered to appoint members to the trust board. That has Jill tweaked. At this particular time the trust board is reviewing and updating its rules and that is what Jill is complaining about. They’re doing it without her or any appointees of hers. 

12-8-18 Whidbey Record re county budget. Jill votes against any increase in Conservation Futures. “This keeps the program alive without having it grow too fast or too far.” This article reports on budget priorities. 60%  of the budget goes to law & justice. 

5-4-19 Whidbey Record    Commissioners vote 2 - 1 to apply Conservation Futures funds to acquire a property near the corner of Hwy 20 and Libbey Road, which will provide access and parking for the Kettles Trail complex. She has voted against other acquisitions because they did not provide for public recreation. This parcel specifically expands recreation, so now she is concerned about acquiring too much land and not focusing on maintaining and upgrading previous acquisitions. One has the distinct impression that Jill does not love Conservation Futures, either the program or the results. The county’s share was a whole $45k, with the Navy kicking in $585k. Not bad leveraging of our property tax dollars. So now Jill says she’s worried about the county’s responsibility toward the property, and that they rely too much on the volunteers - bikers and back country horsemen who have been maintaining it for years. 

6-30-19 www,goskagit/com/news

Jill commented on Attorney General Ferguson suing the Navy for its failure to measure actual noise at OLF: “What health impacts outweigh the impacts of people losing their jobs?” she said.

“The planes can be irritating, but the mission is of a much higher value to everyone I talk to,” she said, adding that the dissenters are a vocal minority. She accused Ferguson of making a political decision, saying he chose to get involved in this issue to appeal to potential donors in a bid for governor next year. “Pandering isn’t something we should respect,” she said. Again, she demonstrates her loyalty to the Navy over the people she claims to govern. 

7-31-19 Jill asked Economic Development Council to disavow AG Ferguson’s lawsuit against the Navy. 

12-4-19 Whidbey Record. Jill once again voted against the 1% increase in Conservation Futures. She objected to increased capacity, which would lead to increased land purchases, which would lead to increased costs of maintenance. 

2-22-20 Whidbey Record   Johnson Seeking 3^rd Term on County Commission.    Jill says she is a

steadfast supporter of the Navy and law enforcement, that she commonly questions spending decisions, and that she cares about challenging social issues. She says she is a strong advocate for affordable housing and behavioral health treatment. “Its easy to talk about what you have done, but its harder to communicate things that haven’t happened because you were in the room. I am often the brakes. I believe that knowing when to say no is as important as saying yes.”

My personal experiences with Jill, and there have been too many, have not been pleasant. Possibly the most characteristic/outrageous happened after a hearing in the basement dungeon hearing room. It was Jill’s birthday and after adjourning everybody was invited to stay and have cake. We were picking up our coats to get out of there when Jill came up to us with paper plates of cake in hand. Neither Steve nor I eat commercial cake so we demurred. Jill then said that the best birthday present we could give her would be to retire and spend our “golden years” somewhere other than Island County. 

I find it frustrating that Jill evidently finds no need to communicate with the public during this re-election campaign. Seems just a tad arrogant. The best thing I can say about her is that she might be better than the shill being run by Scott Thompson, Mr Wright’s Crossing. Damning with faint praise. No, I will not be voting for Jill. 

Fe Mischo D

https://www.gowithmischo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/events/s/fb-live-coffee-with-a-candidat/309801099993213/?__mref=mb

Check out her weekly Facebook Live events, every Sunday 11:00 am

Community Compassion Commitment

She serves on:

Community Health Advisory Board

Community Campus Plan

District Parents’ Advisory Board

Housing Project Network

Library Board

Autism Partnership of Island County

Local Planning Area

Friends of the Library

Indivisible Whidbey

League of Women Voters

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Save the Children Action Network, Seattle Chapter

Fe’s vision for Oak Harbor:

Affordable and Attainable Housing

Community Center

Improved Mental and Behavioral Health Services

Quality Childcare

Environment – protecting our land, water, and wildlife

Public Transportation – retaining and expanding fare-free Island Transit 

She elaborates on all of these points but I’m not going to copy them all out. I encourage you to visit her website. 

I have met and spoken with Fe a number of times and find her young, engaging, idealistic, very family and community oriented, thoughtful, just plain a really nice person who cares about people around her, near and far. You can see from the long list of organizations in which she participates that she sees a problem and jumps in to try to correct it. 

She does not have much if any government experience, so will have a steep learning curve, but that’s the case for pretty much every candidate who is not an incumbent. She has been teaming up with Nathan Howard, who is running for Commissioner, district 1, and who, because of his previous employment in Island County Planning, is very familiar with the details of how the county works and what needs doing. She’s a quick study and she has a great mentor. 

Because I care about Island County and I know she does too, I will be voting for Fe Mischo.