Island County
Commissioner, district 1
Damian Greene, R
https://www.facebook.com/islandcountycommissioner2020/
Make county government more responsive without increasing tax burden.
Will pursue ways to improve your life without increasing your financial burden.
video with sound track: God bless the red, white, and blue, with images of eagles and Blue Angels jets.
This is a letter to the editor touting his commitment to efficiency and streamlining of all county processing. Somehow this involves a full-time commitment, not to be divided with other board commitments.
“The salmon watershed needs repair from neglect.” and more such incomprehensibilities.
signed by Char Henderson, his campaign manager.
He proposes to:
~ streamline all county processing to help minimize lengthy delays
~ repair neglected salmon watersheds
~ ease commuting for Boeing employees
~ promote more accessibility to Paine field and ferry parking
Damien posts that he attended a “love of country” rally in Oak Harbor May 24, with Char Henderson. The photo shows no sign either of masks or of distancing. I have a lot of trouble with people who do not take COVID seriously. Makes me think either they’re not conscious of the threat, which makes them a danger to those around them, or they don’t care, which makes them callous to the harm they’re doing. He was obviously aware of the problem, as he posted about disaster assistance for small businesses and a link to the News Times story about COVID testing being available back in March. Since then he has been spotted at many super spreader events, and almost even hosted one.
He says he will work to create a more robust business community to increase our standard of living while protecting our natural resources and rural character.
He advocates for a transit connection to Boeing, and Paine Field, with potential long term parking at the Mukilteo ferry, and ‘strategic growth management’ to improve quality of living while limiting cost burdens to taxpayers. There is uncertainty in this COVID era because of reduced sales & taxes.
His vision:
~ help the ferry advisory board toward a cost saving 24 hr ferry service, combat line cutting, pursue passenger loading ramp, and implement county resident priority boarding
~ pursue light rail up Japanese Gulch to Boeing and Paine Field, and add ferry parking
~ improve fire/EMS to save on property insurance
~ improve application processing time; accept payment on line
~ understand assessor’s use of algorithm to determine property taxes
~ if there is to be no sewer in Freeland, then review its Non Municipal Urban Growth Area status
~ sewers are good for health, business, & affordable housing
~ review housing policies monthly to assure relevance, compliance, and effectiveness
Given Mr Greene’s stated priorities, I think he would be better off running for the South Whidbey Port District. That is the place to work on such matters as light rail on the mainland and parking in Mukilteo.
There is the usual Republican “fiscal conservative” talk about how we’re going to cut taxes while increasing services. That’s magical thinking. County staff have to be paid. The work has to get done. The money has to come from somewhere, and taxes are the source of that money. His proposed solutions of streamlining permits and doing away with Growth Management would harm the land and the people of Island County. My impression is that Mr Greene does not have a clear understanding of the job. I am also completely put off by his evident intention to remain on the South Whidbey School Board while serving as county commissioner. While there may be no direct conflict of interest, there will most definitely be competition for his time and attention. I do not believe this would be a good fit for Island County.
Since I wrote the above, Mr Greene has been seen consorting with the furthest Right sorts in Oak Harbor, and supporting their anti-everybody agendas. The local Black Lives Matter supporters say his performance at a School Board meeting revealed his racism.
Melanie Bacon, D
https://www.melaniebaconcandidate.org/
"I feel deeply committed to serve as a devoted caretaker of this amazing place known as Island County. Having spent the last nine years working intimately with the Board of Island County Commissioners, and living on Whidbey, I wish to continue the forward movement of both sense and compassion established by Helen Price-Johnson and other community leaders."
~ Smart government on a budget
~ common sense ‘green policy’
~ growth with preservation
She presents a 2030 Plan for Island County. Her vision for 2030 is both ambitious and green. It appears to be rather well thought through. Overall it looks good.. I appreciate that.
Having interviewed her, I get a good hit. I like this woman.
I am very put off by Melanie’s insistence that public employees have no right to strike. This was based on her belief that the services provided to the public are too important to be stopped over such issues as pay and worker safety. I believe she misunderstood a discussion of how electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) can have an adverse health impact on humans and the environment. She certainly has a very positive agenda overall, much to be praised.
I am not thrilled with what I have seen of her management style in these past few months. I agree that she has a ton of relevant experience and that she has in the past demonstrated a progressive agenda.
Recently Melanie recommended Island County Tax Assessor Mary Engle as temporary Planning Director. I told Melanie that I disagreed with that appointment and find that many other people are now dealing with Mary's abuse. I don't think we should hold Mary Engle's mistreatment of the public against Melanie.
To quote one person who has dealt with Melanie: I don't know why she comes across as so abrasive. She's really nice in person. I agree.
I would much rather have voted for Nathan Howard, but that ship has sailed. At least we know that Melanie agrees that climate change is real, that COVID is real, and that county government is intended to serve all the people.
So I will be voting for Melanie Bacon and hoping for the best.
Commissioner, district 2
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 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 involved 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 action.
Update: Dan Evans, in his Economic Development role, defied the City of Oak Harbor to organize a super spreader event on city property against the specific prohibition by the city. He has now made his opinions clearer: climate change is a hoax, COVID is a hoax, and Trump is a great guy. He still doesn't know squat about Island County government, but we do know that he would kill Conservation Futures, and try to trash the Growth Management Act, which is what keeps Island County from rampant unsustainable development.
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 Island County are not fooled by this developer in candidate’s clothing.
Jill Johnson, R incumbent
This is a very rudimentary web page. It appears to be a recent one.
https://www.facebook.com/VoteJill
This has more information, including a series of video questions and answers. What comes through for me is that she actually takes COVID seriously, having had a series of Vote for Jill facemasks printed. The people waving signs for her are masked. She discusses the matter as a reality to be dealt with. That’s a refreshing contrast with all the other Republicans I have reviewed.
I have had to deal with Jill Johnson from the day she first took office. We are by no means friends. She has done a zillion things that I think were bad, wrong, stupid.
In my blog post for the primary, where there were more and better choices, I listed the many reasons I object to Jill and her management. I have deleted most of them this time, limiting it to matters surrounding Wright’s Crossing, which is really the oversized elephant in the courthouse hearing room this time around.
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.
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.
2-22-20 Whidbey Record Johnson Seeking 3rd 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 windowless 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.
In her favor, Jill has pushed for and accomplished a mental health treatment facility in Oak Harbor. And the fact that she now takes COVID seriously.
The best thing I can say about Jill is that she will likely be better than the shill being run by Scott Thompson, Mr Wright’s Crossing. Stuck once again with the lesser evil, I will be voting for Jill Johnson.
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