Langley City Council, South Whidbey School District, South Whidbey Fire/EMS

South Whidbey

Langley City Council

position 1

Harolynne Bobis

HB4Langley1@gmail.com

1. Affordable housing coupled with living wages is something a small city like Langley should be able to handle. Our homeless problems are growing due to rising rents and costs and loss of income. I am a first- time political candidate and felt this is the position in which I can make the most difference.

2. I know that City Councils, being the closest government body to the people, have the most impact on their lives. Having spent years working in Seattle (for the Library and the Mayor’s Offices), and watching Langley’s Council on Zoom, I have seen this in action.

3. I hope to help bring some understanding of what people in Langley are doing and what they need to assist them live their best lives.

4. I expect to work with my colleagues to find ways to alleviate some of the disparities facing Langley residents. I also expect to make inroads in Langley’s consciousness of different peoples and how they live.

5. I have served on Boards and Commissions, including national level ones like the Environmental Grantmakers Association and several nonprofits in our state. I currently serve on the board of the Hub and Dismantling Systemic Racism Advisory Group in Langley. I am an environmentalist in that I know we have no planet B and must care for this one.

6. Living the Golden Rule is one of my life’s philosophies. I am also an active listener and a strong believer in democracy. I can talk to anyone and believe if we talk to each other, we can find common ground. I also feel we can have more fun and enjoyment in our lives, including work.

7. Things are changing quickly in Langley, our region, and the state and we should be prepared. When I moved here in 2012, my rent was $700/month. It is now $1,000. My husband and I can afford to live here; but can all our residents? All of our residents who moved here 30 or 40 years ago and were unable to purchase a home, are now being forced out because of higher rents. As a member of the City Council I want to help Langley retain its small town charm. It is easy to say Shop Local; but can we afford to if we can’t make a living wage here?

Kay Kenneweg

kikenneweg@gmail.com

1. Why are you running for this particular position? 

I read it needed to be filled and we need to RUN FOR SOMETHING in this political climate and I wanted to throw in my hat as I believe I would be a great city council member.

2. What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this

office/board/commission accomplish its work? 

I have gone to city council meetings (before ZOOM), observed the proceedings and asked questions for citizens’ comments. I read Robert’s Rules of Order and became enlightened. I have in the past years assisted other people running and listened to their comments and read their statements and watched them on the council in action. The duties of city council are listed on the Langley City Hall website. Five Council members are elected at-large to staggered four-year terms. The Council enacts ordinances and resolutions, holds public hearings, approves development plans, receives citizen suggestions and complaints, authorizes payment of City funds, approves contracts, creates committees and boards to assist in the operation of city government, and much more. I have attended city council meetings and made citizens comments.

3.What do you hope to accomplish in this position? 

By working with the other city council members and mayor to continue to strive for the future of Langley civilly. Serving on committees that need to be continued like the climate committee that P.M. chairs with the students, and to increase communication with businesses and community members who do not have access to newspapers or electronic media and need to be informed what is happening in city government. I would like to address accessibility and make sure sidewalks are clear for people who are mobility challenged to negotiate and ways of aging in place for community members. Affordability of housing and finding rentals is important. Creating a better infrastructure, fixing roads, sewers, water lines, and converting to solar if possible.

How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

Serving on committees, reviewing ordinances, funding sources that will achieve the goals.

Having transparency in government. Being honest and ethical and open to committee members,

the mayor and citizens of Langley. Working with county and state departments to coordinate

services. Getting students involved with city government.

4.What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate? Any specific problem?

I hope to once again have public meetings, as for now keeping zoom going when electricity

is out. Having citizens and businesses maintain interest in city government. Keeping the city government going and paying for services and budgeting approvals is important. Public input is important. Keeping city employees safe is important. I hope everyone continues to be civil to one another.

Experience:

Teacher, Practical Nurse, LMT, EMT-B, Red Cross DAT, Jefferson County Search and

Rescue, Volunteer FireFighter Fallen Leaf Lake, CA Advocate for people with different 

abilities. Activist for the environment. Fundraising for organizations and nonprofits, Langley Community club, Skagit Student Nurse Club, Wild Olympic Salmon, Girl Scouts, Abundant Life Seed Foundation, Friends of Middlepoint in Port Townsend, assisted in getting non profit status to raise money to hire lawyer to keep developer from clear cutting property. A success! 

6.What will be your operating philosophy in office?

Listen, Learn, Be Fiscally responsible, Be honest and trustworthy, Listen to citizens' concerns and assist with getting solved or referred.  Be compassionate. Keep our gardens and trees and green spaces for wildlife. 

7.What message would you like to convey to voters?

Vote, our Democracy needs you! Vote your future!

This is a hard one. I don’t know Harolynne personally, but certainly know many in her circle of friends and fellow activists. We share political opinions. I’ve known Kay peripherally for years. She spends time keeping an eye on the rag-tag lost souls who wander around Langley, making sure they’re fed and sheltered. That is a very good and necessary function and I respect her for doing it. I did ask her about what the council does and how it does its work and she was a bit vague. It looks like she’s done a fair amount of homework since then. 

You could do worse than vote for either of these two candidates. So how come the good ones seem always to end up running against each other? What tips my scales in favor of Harolynne is her experience in grant writing. I’ve sat on the Langley Parks & Open Space Commission for years, and every time a great opportunity arises, there’s no one in city government able to write the grant application to make that opportunity a reality. It’s a rather specialized field and Langley would be lucky indeed to have someone well versed in that field on the council. 

If I could vote in Langley, I would vote for Harolynne Bobis. 

Langley City Council position 2

Rhonda Salerno

www.rhondasalerno.com

   1.     Why are you running for this particular position?

To use my experience, skills and passion to help lead Langley into its next phase of evolution.

   

 2.  What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? 

I know the Washington law that governs a mayor/council plan of government like we have in Langley. The Langley Municipal Code specifies its laws regarding council member duties.

How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?

A council member’s powers and duties include attendance at City Council meetings where Robert’s Rules of Order and the Open Public Meetings Act apply and they will deliberate on all of the budgetary and other business of the city as reported by department heads, committees, staff, city attorneys and the mayor and make decisions by motions as needed. They should be well prepared and have studied the agenda, meeting minutes and council packet prior to the meetings, taking seriously the citizens’ comments and act responsibly by voting on resolutions and ordinances that impact the workings of the city. 

In short, they should be prepared to defend what is right for the people and the environment of the city!

 3.What do you hope to accomplish in this position?  How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

I will use my powers as a Langley Council member to consider new and review existing rules and procedures of the City, taking into consideration reports from boards and commissions and improve the efficiency of the workings of the City. I will accomplish this by studying existing codes and offering changes and new ordinances to be included in the Langley Municipal Code, with the input of the mayor, fellow council members, staff, boards, commissions, experts in the field and the residents of Langley.

Specifically, I hope to improve our critical area ordinance and tree ordinance along with any other environmental codes and policies. I hope to help identify systemic racism and classism that exists in our code and eliminate it. I will continue to identify strategies to address our need for affordable housing and impact real change in that direction.

 4.What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?

Budgetary shortfalls, (particularly in having a rainy-day fund and matching grant money for projects and land acquisitions for preserving green spaces, etc.) infrastructure needs and improved public records requests procedures

 5.What relevant experience do you have?

I have worked on Comprehensive Plan Updates since 2007, have been on the Planning Advisory Board for several years, where I now sit as chair and am currently serving on the Langley Climate Crisis Action Committee. I have advocated for many issues throughout the years and have learned a great deal about effecting change.

 

 6.What will be your operating philosophy in office?

Through collaboration and hard work, I hope to effect positive change with my fellow council members and mayor. I am going to be an active listener, research areas I am not familiar with and speak up for what is right! 

 

7.What message would you like to convey to voters?

I hope that voters will support me in continuing to lead Langley into an environmentally sound, affordable and racially equitable community by getting involved and making their voices heard.

Since Rhonda is running unopposed, no need to compare or recommend. Indeed, I usually don’t even list people running unopposed. But Rhonda is my friend and I think she’s one of the better things to happen to Langley in a while. A vote for her should be considered a vote of confidence. If I could vote in Langley I would definitely vote for Rhonda Salerno, even if she is unopposed.

Position 5

Gail Fleming

fleming@whidbey.com

We are at a critical point for our planet, our country and our town. I intend to do all I can at the local level to address climate change, social and racial equity and the affordable housing crisis. I would like to make a real difference in Langley; hopefully policies we put in place in our town could become a model for other jurisdictions. 

Regarding my experience: after many years of involvement in Langley city government (citizen activist for environmental issues since 2005, on the Planning Advisory Board for seven years and the Parks and Open Space Commission for twelve - the last five years as chair), I want to put my public service to the best possible use.  Working hard on an advisory board - doing extensive research and coming up with creative proposals - is rewarding in its way. But the actual decision-making for all ordinances, resolutions and city policies happens in the council. I'm ready to have a real impact on the future of our community. 

Other relevant experience includes communication skills gained through many years as a group facilitator, and financial understanding from decades working as a bookkeeper. 

As I have done on the Langley boards upon which I've served, I will come well prepared to meetings and workshops. I will listen to the concerns of the community at large, as broader issues bleed into what comes before the council even if there is not a specific decision to be made about them.  And I look forward to being a liaison to one of Langley's boards or commissions. I think it's very important that there be good communication between the hard working volunteer boards and the council and I believe that their work should be taken into account in all decision-making.

I will work with my fellow council members, with substantive input from the public, to come up with creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis in our city, as well as addressing the challenges of climate change as it affects us here on our island.  I also want to work with the community and my fellow council members on social justice issues. Environmental protection is very important to me and I would like to ensure that all wetlands are mapped - a project directly related to the stability of our bluffs. All development in our city needs to take the constraints of critical and sensitive areas into account and I would work to make sure that enforcement of critical area ordinances actually takes place.

 I will work towards putting in place ordinances that mandate a certain percentage of affordable housing in all new development, as well as other mechanisms and incentives to ensure that all who want to live in Langley can afford to do so. On the Parks and Open Space Commission we have been working on an interconnecting trail system in and around Langley and I will continue to support that effort. I also intend to make our local government more transparent. 

 My operating philosophy is to become as informed as possible on the issues before me and to listen to all sides as they are presented.  I'm a proactive team player. I intend to work collaboratively with my fellow council members and city staff to get things done.

I will listen to all of my constituents and represent them to the best of my ability. In order for contentious issues to be resolved satisfactorily, everyone needs to feel heard. Preconceived positions and/or polarizing into "us" and "them" are not conducive to healthy governance.

Tony Gill

www.tonylgill4office.com      tonylgill@gmail.com

Mr Gill did not respond to my Politiblog questions, so I’ve had to do some searching. I do wonder a little about the question of nepotism, since his son Thomas sits on the city council. This question came up when Tim Callison was first elected mayor and his wife was elected to the council. That was settled when she resigned her council position. 

I watched the League of Women Voters’ (big shout out, thank you LWV) candidate night 10-7-21. I was able to glean a bit, but not a whole lot. Mr Gill believes the city’s infrastructure is in bad shape. Yep. He agrees that we really need affordable housing. Yep.  His response on climate change and sea level rise was a bit murky. He agrees its real, but offers less than optimal solutions. He sees lack of parking as an impediment to tourism, which implies to me that he has not considered alternative means of transportation. He believes that nature, people, and business can thrive and coexist in Langley. He makes all the right sounds, so why am I so skeptical?

Given that his son, Thomas, has been the tech whiz for Langley (and much appreciated for keeping it all going), I find a certain irony in the fact that dad Tony’s website is dysfunctional. 

Scott Chaplin

Every Langley voter needs to be aware that Scott, even though his name is on the ballot, is NOT actually a candidate. After he filed for the position, Mayor Tim resigned and Scott was appointed the new mayor. It was too late by then to remove his name from the ballot. A vote for Scott would be a vote wasted. Please don’t waste your vote.

It was a bit of a foregone conclusion that I would support Gail Fleming. We’ve been friends for decades, and have worked together on critical area and development issues in Langley for much of that time. We both sit on the Parks and Open Space Commission, which Gail chairs. If I had to come up with a criticism of Gail I would say that she is too modest. It took a lot to convince her to run and it took a lot to convince her that running meant putting herself out there in front of people. I think she’s gotten that message. Thoughtful, well-spoken, working for years to find the right balance between the needs of people and the environment on which they depend. Langley will be well served with Gail on the council.

Just remember, you have to WRITE IN Gail Fleming under Council, Position 5

If I could vote in Langley I would WRITE IN Gail Fleming. 

South Whidbey School District

Not sure if any of the 3 challengers were directly involved in the filing of a complaint with the Educational Service District, but certainly all 3 support it. The complaint is against the current school board and the superintendent for supporting the United Student Leaders at South Whidbey High School. If you don’t know about USL, these kids exemplify everything that is right and smart about South Whidbey. They see their world disintegrating around them, both environmentally and socially, and are working to do something about it. They did the research, came up with a plan, and presented to the administration and school board a proposal to add 2 classes to the high school curriculum, one in environmental science and one in ethnic studies. The anti-everything crowd came completely unglued and held a demonstration outside the high school. The superintendent and the school board supported the students in holding a counter demonstration (which, incidentally, completely swamped the anti-everything demo) and in fact have added those 2 classes to the curriculum. The complaint asserts that supporting the students was an impermissible political act. 

Check out the link in the Politiblog intro to a story about the national Koch Bros supported group that is organizing these challenges to school boards all over the country. Since the insurrection didn’t work on the national scale, they’re taking it local. Their underlying agenda appears to be to keep all schools open and unmasked, to prevent the teaching of environmental science, to prevent discussion of social equity – essentially to keep people stupid.

We’re super lucky to have the high-powered group of incumbents in the South Whidbey School District and we would be utter fools not to re-elect all of them. 

School Board, position 2

Andrea Downs

https://www.facebook.com/andrea.sweerus

electandreadowns@gmail.com

Why are you running for this particular position?

I am currently seeking re-election to the South Whidbey School Board (District #2) in hopes of continuing the work and momentum my first term has created. Coming from an education background, I am keenly aware of the challenges both students and districts face in providing a quality education to all students. I have found that by serving as the policy representative on the board, I am in a position where I can meaningfully impact and dismantle these barriers.

What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?

The school board exists to provide direction to the district, oversee the fiscal health, and evaluate/supervise the Superintendent. No one member has any individual power, we operate as a whole. We work together through critical conversations and knowing each person’s strengths to bring a well rounded perspective to the table. Our board typically has two meetings a month, a workshop and a business meeting.

What do you hope to accomplish in this position? If an incumbent, what have you accomplished? How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

Continuing the work around bias awareness and moving SWSD towards being an anti-racist school district. I would accomplish this by setting meaningful equity centered goals for the superintendent and creating systems of accountability around those goals. This is done through thoughtful policy analysis and meaningful discussion with district leadership. Initiating restorative conversations with the community.

Centering the board’s focus on student need

Continuing to meet with student leaders and expanding their voice at board meetings.

Continue strong fiscal oversight of the district to ensure and provide high quality educational services.

Continue to engage with and deeply understand district finances. This understanding allows one to set responsible limits on bargaining and negotiations which provides financial stability. This stability is critical to the successful recruitment and retention of high quality staff in a small district, where revenue is often fluid. This also requires a positive relationship with the district's various union leadership groups. During my first term, we have been able to demonstrate solid relationships with the union that honors and respects them as professionals.

What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?

We have worked hard as a district to bring issues around equity to the center of all of our work. I have led this work through developing the equity policy and revising the curriculum policy to screen for bias. I am worried that this work will be undone. If re-elected, I would continue to keep the spotlight on these issues and would like to initiate restorative conversations with community members who have been harmed by the presence of bias in the school district.

What relevant experience do you have? 

Professionally, I am the Assistant Director of Special Programs and Services at an Educational Service District. This work entails me supporting the leadership operations of the schools designed to support students with social/emotional and behavioral needs and three juvenile detention centers in the region. My work encompasses supporting 35 school districts as they work to support Special Education students  at all levels.  Before I moved to this role, I served as a Special Services Director where I oversaw Special Education, English  Learning programs, Highly Capable programs, Title Services, McKinney Vento Supports (students experiencing homelessness), Para educators, Nursing staff, Migrant Services, and  Professional Development. Prior to that work, I was a Behavior Specialist, Special Education Facilitator, and a Special Education teacher working with students with behavioral challenges.

Elected Experience: South Whidbey School Board 2017-Present

Education: Master of Arts in Policy Studies (University of Washington).

Master of Education: Curriculum and Instruction (Arizona State University).

Master of Education: Educational Leadership (Western Governors University).

Bachelor of Arts in History. Minor in Secondary Education (Saint Martin’s University).

What will be (or is, if you are an incumbent) your operating philosophy in office?

Excellence: Provide access to a high quality education with the intimacy of a small district.

Integrity: I put the needs of the students at the forefront of the conversation and engage in the conversation even when it is not easy or popular.

Equity: A commitment to dismantling systemic barriers that students outside of the dominant culture navigate. 

What message would you like to convey to voters? 

My career and educational experiences have always focused on serving students at the edges of our system. These students are where my heart is and these students are why I ran for school board in the first place.  I have spent the last four years doing my best to protect all of our students and ensuring that school is a safe place to land no matter who you are. I have done my best to listen to, and protect, our students. It is my hope that we, as a community, can continue to protect our students and give every student a safe place to receive an exceptional education.

Dawn Tarantino

ejdctarantino@hotmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.tarantino.3

Unfortunately, her FB page does not address her candidacy. The focus there is on her work as a manicurist and the military exploits of family & friends. 

The Voters’ Guide tells us that she has “some college” and she’s been involved in youth sports. 

She reports that her son suffered during the Covid shutdown. Join the crowd (oh, no, keep social distance!). She wants to get schools open again. Well, they’re open. She says she will advocate for students, but doesn’t say what that will look like. 

She chose not to respond to my inquiries, nor to participate in the League of Women Voters’ candidate nights. Rather, she accepted an invitation to speak to the Old Goats, a group organized by far-right Rufus Rose. The news story reported very few of her opinions, but she was definitely against the teaching of Critical Race Theory (which of course is not actually taught). She particularly lamented the loss of shop and keyboarding classes – except those classes are actually offered and some are even required. This tells me this is someone who does not do her homework – a bad look for someone who wants to oversee schools.

Its hard to know how much of the vituperation and hysteria can be attributed to Ms Tarantino, since she is keeping an extremely low profile. Supporters of her slate, on the other hand, are happy to participate in childish vandalism (theft of the Black Lives Matter banner, defacing of the graduation banner, theft of opposition candidates’ yard signs, arranging those signs into an offensive message) and commit acts of civil disobedience with potentially severe health impacts. Being put on the spot by the Whidbey press, Ms Tarantino, along with her slate-mates, expressed disapproval of the sign thefts, and then complained that some of her own signs had been removed or run down. 

Missing from all this is any coherent plan or proposal or agenda for what she intends to do on the school board or how she expects to accomplish it. 

For about a zillion reasons, including that I like seeing thoughtful, intelligent, competent people in charge of our schools, I will be voting resoundingly for Andrea Downs.

School Board, position  4

Farrah Manning Davis

https://electfarrahmanningdavis.com/

https://electfarrahmanningdavis.com/f/the-appearance-of-our-schools?fbclid=IwAR2lKNSqcEO0WmCYtFCuopNu5iHWomuQHdsgYH2w6vTea6E2zWBeYW8msvQ

https://www.facebook.com/electfarrahmanningdavis

farrahdavis25@gmail.com

I found a screenshot on a Trump promoting website: “Keep up the fight. You are still my president” – Farrah Davis.

The first link above is to her blog. The only post was in June, when she complained about the appearance of the high school. There is a quite thorough story in the Whidbey Record in response to those complaints, detailing the situation and the district’s plans for dealing with it. 

Her son attends Island Christian Academy. She asserts children are abandoning the public school in droves. She is not clear about why that would be, and according to the Whidbey Record, neither are the private schools. 

She is very clearly the leader of the opposition slate. 

Her campaign website features an image of small children, all unmasked. 

She makes a whole lot of unsupported assertions concerning her perception that the school buildings are deteriorating, teachers are leaving, and the quality of education is being reduced by “programs that do nothing to prepare our children for the road ahead.”  She has no background in education and does not articulate any plans, program, or agenda. All that one can read between the lines is that she is against masks, environmental education, and social equity. 

Marnie Jackson

https://www.facebook.com/didgery

Why are you running for this particular position?

I was appointed to a seat on the South Whidbey School District Board of Directors in 2020 and I am running for election so that I may continue to serve our district’s students and families. I believe the district is making great strides in creating a safer, more equitable, and more nurturing learning environment for all students, and I believe continued progress to remove systemic barriers to student success and provide relevant curriculum that helps every student succeed as described in our district’s vision: as a lifelong learner who is multi-culturally engaged, literate, and an active community member able to meet the challenges of our global society.

What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?

To put it simply, the board makes policy and the administration, beginning with the superintendent, makes and implements procedure. The power of the board comes from acting in unison, by majority vote, which means the ability to integrate perspectives and arrive collaboratively at the best course of action, vitally necessary in this volunteer role.

The superintendent is the board’s primary employee, and much of the board’s power rests in setting her goals and evaluating her performance in her role. Our current working relationship with the superintendent is collaborative and mutually supportive. We also set the district’s strategic goals and revise and adopt policies to reflect our evolving work of improving excellence in education.

What do you hope to accomplish in this position? If an incumbent, what have you accomplished? How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

I’m proud of our adoption of Ethnic Studies and Environmental Science curriculum, being rolled out for students at South Whidbey High School for the first time this year, as well as our management of the delicate balance between students’ social-emotional and academic learning needs and students’ safety during a global pandemic. During my service, the board, alongside our dedicated administrators and staff, has been nimble, adaptive, and thoughtful in how we deliver a more relevant education to our students and families in ways that center health and wellbeing.

What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?

Tremendous polarization in our society, inflamed by disinformation and politicization of public health matters, has brought us to a scenario where many school board races are bitterly embattled. My commitment to students’ wellbeing, including their right to learn in an environment where they feel valued regardless of race, culture, background, or ability, means that I stay in the tough conversations and advocate tirelessly for better student outcomes. We live in a time of climate consequences and social-economic inequities, and our students deserve a relevant education that grounds them in their own self-worth and equips them with 21^st century skills.

What relevant experience do you have?

I am the co-executive director of the Whidbey Institute, a 501©3 educational nonprofit organization on Whidbey Island. My past experience includes teaching Journalism and English Literature through the Mount Baker Academy, a parent partnership program of the Mt Baker School District. In my time on the school board, I have served as the District’s Legislative Representative, liaising virtually with legislators during the 2021 Washington State legislative session. I have developed good working relationships with administrators, board members, community members, and student leaders, and have supported the district in its goals of safely returning to in-person education and continuing to support movement toward equity in education.

What will be (or is, if you are an incumbent) your operating philosophy in office?

I believe that every student deserves a safe, nurturing learning environment and a relevant education that prepares them for the challenges of today.

What message would you like to convey to voters?

This school board election matters dearly – to our students, our families, and our future. I’m asking for your vote so that I may continue to advance excellence in education and support every student to access a safe, nurturing learning environment that prepares them for life in a global society.

What becomes clear is that Marnie Jackson has a huge amount of education, training, and history in public schools. She lays out a coherent program. She knows the job and how to do it. And she’s been doing it rather well, from all I’ve been seeing. Her opponent, by contrast, comes across as a small child screaming NO, stamping her feet, and holding her breath until she turns blue. 

I like seeing thoughtful, intelligent, competent people in charge of our schools. I will be voting gladly for Marnie Jackson. 

School Board, position 5

Ann Johnson

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009884675963

annmjohnsonforswsd@gmail.comBree Kramer-Nelson

1.     Why are you running for this particular position?

I have loved school since I was in Kindergarten. Though I don't work directly inside schools anymore, I always consider the first day of school as my official calendar reset, and I think that is true for so many citizens of and past school age. Schools are a cornerstone of our communities and must offer a rich, robust blend of academic rigor and safe haven. Schools are a laboratory for social learning and stretching the minds of our students in a setting that encourages comfortable risk-taking and building community. Our society suffers when our schools, and the students they house, aren't tended with the utmost care. I want to continue in my position (currently appointed) as someone who speaks proudly and advocates strongly for the students, staff, families and community we serve, and plays a distinct part in keeping our local schools agile, focused, and able to meet the needs of all students who enter our doors. 

    2.  What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?

Thank you for positing this question. As a school board member, I work as part of the school board team on behalf of our community, to provide oversight to South Whidbey School District. This work, broadly, includes setting the vision, mission and major district goals (and then monitoring goal progress,) budget oversight, adoption, review, and revision of district policies, and hiring, supervising and evaluating the superintendent. Board members have a wholistic duty to all of their constituents, in that we work as a collective of five, and speak to all board and school district matters with "one voice" after discussion has been completed and a vote or other agreement has been cast. This assures that work progresses, communication is intentional and dedicated to the craft at hand, and goals become fixed, achievable targets. 

Lastly, and among my favorite board work, is as a school district ambassador to the greater community. Attending sporting, music, arts and other events and activities sponsored by the district, advocating for and celebrating students in their learning, and watching our community thrive as a result of our youngest contributors’ achievements is amazing work. In our currently drafted working goals as a board, we recognized the importance of the board practicing intentional observation, participation and communication directly in schools, at school activities, and with the folks that are most clearly affected by school infrastructure and culture - our students and staff. This work was in its infancy when Covid hit in March of 2020, and we each hope to re-build opportunities to be more-often in schools as curious visitors as it becomes safer in future months. Concurrently, we will continue to lean in to our commitment to the vision and mission of the district - a global education for every student. This can be accomplished with a variety of mediums - textbook learning, workshops, practicing and modeling behaviors, and creating relationships with similar districts. These methods will assist in us finding tested and best-practice models that inspire and encourage us. Each board member comes to their position with a unique background and scope of understanding, which can serve us well as we discuss and decision-make. As a group, it is up to each of us to be willing to flex our skills in listening and engaging with authenticity and dedication to the work at hand, to promote best outcomes for our students. 

 3.What do you hope to accomplish in this position? If an incumbent, what have you accomplished?  How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

I have been in my position five seat for one year. My goals during that time were to engage in the state and local trainings necessary to guide my behaviors and expectations as a public servant on this level, to use my understanding and appreciation for education and community as ballast for my ongoing communications and actions, and to foster camaraderie and teamwork with fellow board members, the students and community we serve, school administration teams, staff and support people. Moving forward and using the accomplished goals above as building blocks, I see myself as a confident, strong voice for students, using the following platform as my guide: 

• • Centering social and educational justice, emotional wellness, and basic needs supports as cornerstones for student learning

• • Providing comprehensive educational opportunities at all grade levels using research and best practices for decision-making

• • Raising up the voices of individuals and groups who have historically been unrepresented and ignored

• • Recognizing the value of the competent and caring educators, support staff, coaches, instructors, mentors and programs that are unique to South Whidbey Island and keep our standards for excellence high

  4. What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?

Our challenge together as a citizenry is deep and wide; our response as a board must be to work for our students as if their lives depended upon it, because they do. Climate change makes our late summer dangerous with smoke and the perpetual potential of fire in our beautiful tree stands. Black, brown, indigenous, neurodivergent and physically divergent, and LBGTQIA+ children and youth are still being "othered," under-represented, ignored, and harmed by systems that don't and can't serve them. Masking, vaccinations and other methods for mitigating Covid are being questioned or outright denied by citizens and leaders who have the generational and financial privilege to be role models. This puts strain on already taxed medical systems and personnel, puts vulnerable people (and currently young children) in a precarious limbo of unnecessary stress, and allows almost half of our population to consciously avoid their duties to public health, their neighbors, and their communities, all in the name of sovereignty without accepting consequences. Each of these issues is wrapped in the patriarchal and racist language, action and engagement that has plagued our nation since before its inception. 

My role as a school board member is to think, learn and understand from a global perspective, and act on behalf of our local students with an anti-racist, inclusive lens that fosters equity, belonging, and change. This includes insisting that board meetings are safe and accessible for all, including our student leaders. It means actively encouraging and mentoring any student who wishes to raise their voice and become a driver of their own education. It means respecting the name, selected pronouns, gender and presentation of every human being. It means actively speaking out against racism, othering, and other violence against students and adult community members. It means engaging with community members who are willfully uninformed in a thoughtful but clear way that adds to and does not subtract from the district's message of anti-racism, inclusion and belonging. It means engaging in and accepting only quality research and best practice in working on behalf of students, staff, and families. The South Whidbey School Board alone cannot solve our nation's problems. What we can do is practice decision making at a local level that promotes and protects an academically rigorous, emotionally healthy and physically safe environment for students to do their best work. 

 

 5.What relevant experience do you have?

I have been working with children and youth professionally for 25 years in both academic and non-profit mediums, with specialties in human services and alternative education. As an undergrad at Washington State University, I spent summers as Hall Director and Academic Tutor Lead at Big Bend Community College's summer high school residential "College Bound" program, for students 9th-12th grade who would be first generation college students after high school graduation. I taught as a classroom teacher at the Middle School and High School levels for seven years at the beginning of my professional career, and was selected to teach in a collaboration with Kent School District and Kent Parks and Recreation in a Work-Study program, with an emphasis in outdoor education through a rigorous Language Arts and Science lens. I also worked with Special Education and other specialists to assure inclusion and proper education for their students, and was on the Gates Foundation Grant Leadership Team in my school to re-format our aging policies, protocols and strategies to create a warm, equitable academic environment for our 1200 students in the eldest and most diverse campus in the Kent school system. After my family's move to Whidbey Island in 2004, I worked as a substitute in all South Whidbey schools, and remained engaged in the school district through a non-profit lens, first as an instructor for the Learning and Community Engagement Program (LACEP,) a three year state-based educational grant to target learning in leadership, prevention, and outdoor education for students who may not have seen themselves as leaders. From there I moved into a Development Coordinator position with Readiness to Learn, engaging in various ways with local children, youth and families who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, or had other barriers to their education. Currently, I work as the Executive Director at Whidbey Children's Theatre. In the last eight years since moving to our home on the South Whidbey Community Center campus, my team has ensured that our heritage as a 40 year old beloved institution has been honored, while building systems and programs that ensure a solid future for our non-profit organization as a whole. 

 6.What will be (or is, if you are an incumbent) your operating philosophy in office?

Listen, research, engage, review, adapt, repeat. 

 

 7.What message would you like to convey to voters? 

These challenging times make it more important than ever to provide the right balance of academic rigor and emotional support to our local students. Your vote for me ensures continued advocacy for South Whidbey School District’s mission to provide a global education, while still celebrating the wonderful, rich history and culture that makes our community so very unique. I pledge to keep our schools and community strong by working with you and for you in my tenure on the board.

I have been educating and advocating for children and youth for 25 years, and I believe that our local young people are the key to a vibrant future here on our beautiful Island. As a parent active in South Whidbey Schools with my husband and children for the last 13 years, I have been privileged to see my daughters splash, roar, and soar to great heights as Orcas, then Cougars, and finally Falcons! As a community leader who takes great pride in our school district’s accomplishments, I want every child to see themselves like we see them - smart, capable, kind and caring, and willing to stretch and grow into future leaders, protectors, scientists, creatives, vocational specialists, caregivers and contributors to their own families, their communities, their nation and their world. You can make that happen when you vote for me for School Board member, Position #5. I believe in the power of progress for South Whidbey Schools, and I know you do too. 

Bree Kramer-Nelson

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068907429343

breenelson@hotmail.com

She says she’s running because there is a need for people who have children on the school board. But all 3 incumbents have children, some of them currently in South Whidbey schools. And in contrast to fellow candidate Farrah whose son goes to the Christian school. 

She quotes almost verbatim the arguments of Farrah Manning-Davis, with whom she appears to be joined at the hip and the brain. 

She does the obligatory disavowal of the stolen signs/rude comment incident, but then goes on to complain that she and her slate are being singled out as culprits. Actually, I haven’t seen or heard anyone say any such thing. She believes surveillance cameras are the solution. Hmm.

Her Voter Guide statement is, to put it generously, rather short on substance. It is essentially a rewrite of her slate-mate Farrah Manning-Davis.

As with her fellow slate-mates, I see no understanding of the position, no comprehension of actual issues, and no educational background. Their bottom line appears to be the same semi-coherent rage against masks, environmental education, and social equity. 

Wow. What can I say? Ann is part of a trio of powerful women all with huge amounts of knowledge and understanding of how schools work (and how they don’t), and a great deal of dedication to making our schools work right. 

As with her two fellow school board incumbents, the choice is between experience, competence, and empathy  - and a juvenile snit. No contest. I will happily vote for Ann Johnson.

South Whidbey Fire/EMS

Commissioner – position 3

Savannah Erickson

www.EricksonForCommissioner.com

1.Why are you running for this particular position?

Since I graduated from college in 2006, I have been committed to serving others. I was a substitute teacher for the local school district I attended growing up when I wasn’t deployed with FEMA. FEMA became my full-time job in 2010. Because of the nature of federal disaster response, I could spend weeks to months deployed across the nation, from Alaska to New York, from Puerto Rico to California. I responded to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and wildfires. That life meant I wasn’t in a position to run for office, which is something that I have always been interested in doing. Now that I have put my FEMA career behind me, and I live in Langley full-time, I have the time and attention to devote to being a South Whidbey Fire/EMS commissioner. 

2. What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work?

The South Whidbey Fire/EMS Board of Commissioners oversees the department by holding the fire chief accountable for their actions, and serves as the voice of the South Whidbey Fire District community. Presently, this work is accomplished through monthly board meetings and other engagement with the department. Commissioners have the opportunity to be prominent community members through participating at public events and hosting events to provide opportunities to hear from community members about their concerns and desires for the department. It is also important that commissioners are available to listen, whether over the phone, via e-mail or at Covid-safe, in-person meetings.

3.What do you hope to accomplish in this position? How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

As commissioner for South Whidbey Fire/EMS, I hope to improve the quality of life for paid and volunteer members of the department. I want the members to feel empowered to do their best work for their own sense of pride, and so that they can deliver the best services possible to the people who need them. I plan to accomplish this by continuing to do what I have been doing during my campaign - being a good listener. The process is a dialogue, and there is always more to learn. Being commissioner requires being well informed, and asking tough questions. 

4.What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?

One of the biggest problems facing the South Whidbey Fire/EMS department is retention of volunteers. This isn’t unique to our department as volunteer numbers have been falling across the nation, but I do believe that there is room to improve how the volunteers are managed so that they feel like they belong and have something to contribute. There is a rift between paid and volunteer members of the department that needs to be addressed. We need to hold everyone accountable for this, but especially leadership. Internal and external communication need to improve. Just as you have an incident action plan for how to respond to an incident, everyone needs to be on the same page for how the department is run. Everyone doesn't have to agree, but there should be some degree of at least understanding, if not consensus. One suggestion recently brought to the current board was to implement a survey among the members of the department to help better understand the discord and identify ways to fix it, and I strongly believe that is a good route to take.

5.What relevant experience do you have?

My relevant experience comes from working in emergency management for more than a decade. During that time, I served in many different roles. My primary role was that of a communicator during both steady states and disasters. I taught classes to colleagues on disaster deployments, state partners who asked me to share my knowledge, and at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where the National Fire Academy is colocated. I helped coordinate the FEMA administrator interview "The Big One" that ran in the New Yorker and won a Pulitzer Prize, and subsequently worked with Vice to do another interview. (You may recall the most famous line from the article about toast.) I coordinated a Blackhawk tour of earthquake damage in Alaska for Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan. I led communication efforts for a youth preparedness camp in 2019 which brought together 40 high schoolers from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington to learn about how to help in emergencies and disasters. I spent a month in Scotland with Rotary International studying emergency management. This broad experience brings a unique perspective to managing our local fire and emergency medical services.

6.What will be your operating philosophy in office?

My operating philosophy in office is to be a compassionate listener and a tactful decision maker. I believe that when you work for others, they will work for you. I want the community of the South Whidbey Fire district, and the members of the South Whidbey Fire/EMS department to know that I intend to work for you all. As a resident of this community, I want there to be great pride in the fire and emergency medical services we have, as well as a good insurance rating.

7.What message would you like to convey to voters?

I want the voters in the South Whidbey fire district to know that my experience with FEMA is something that I am very proud of. It was an honor to serve at the federal level. I saw so many local responders, and I was always in awe of their work. It will be my honor to serve as commissioner for South Whidbey Fire/EMS. If you want to know more about me and my campaign, please visit www.EricksonForCommissioner.com.

8. How will you address pandemic safety?

The members of South Whidbey Fire/EMS have protocols to adhere to that ensure their safety and that of the public they serve. To lead by example, I personally have been vaccinated and wear a mask when indoors in public places, and in crowded outdoor settings. 

Jim Towers

1. Why are you running for this particular position?

After 35 years with the Department, I am keen to stay engaged. The next few years will be challenging as the Department transitions. Both Commissioners with Fire Department service are leaving, and it is important that the Board have a member with insight of the inner workings of the Department and the community we serve.

2. What do you know about the powers and duties of this position? How does this office/board/commission accomplish its work? 

The Board is the link between the taxpayers of South Whidbey and the Fire Department. Taking input from the Fire Chief and the citizens, it formulates long term policy, appoints and supervises the Chief. It approves the budget and monitors expenditure and performance.

3.What do you hope to accomplish in this position? 

  To provide good fire and medical response without repeated tax levies. We just had a tax levy, and the population density is too low to support a largely paid Department at this time. I would hope to see a successful combination of paid and volunteer Department membership for the next few years.

  How do you use the powers of this office to accomplish your goals?

4.What problems do you see that you expect to correct or alleviate?

I would like to see the rebuilding of the volunteer force.  This had been around 60 volunteers in 2015 but it has shrunk to around 30 today, by far the lowest number since the Department was formed 1950. 

I would hope to see the camaraderie restored.

5.What relevant experience do you have?

35 years as a volunteer firefighter with SWFE.  As a Professional Engineer I have been a part of the senior management at both Nichols Bros Boat Builders and Kvichak Marine Industries. I am currently employed by Elliott Bay Design Group where I am a part-owner and serve on the Board of Directors. I well understand the role of a Board.

6. What will be your operating philosophy in office?

To be a good listener to the taxpayers and to gauge their appetite for expenditure and service.

To treat all parties fairly and maintain pleasant relationships even when we disagree.

7.What message would you like to convey to voters?

Pay careful attention. Fire Department operating costs could easily jump by $2.5 million or more if the Board and next Chief are not successful in rebuilding the volunteer force. It’s also important to keep our paid firefighters so that we do not become a training ground for other Departments. Promotion paths within SWFE should be clearly identified.

8. How will you address pandemic safety?

SWFE has been successful in protecting both the personnel and patients during the pandemic. I am well positioned to continue oversight of pandemic safety efforts. 

I have listened to the League of Women Voters (shout out to those good people) event at which both candidates spoke. Both have responded to my questions. Good on ‘em. I think we have two well qualified candidates here. Mr Towers is a fireman’s fireman. He’s been doing the job for many years. Ms Erickson has a broader view, having dealt with disasters and calamities of many sorts in many parts of the country and world. So how to choose? Well, several of my prejudices come into play here. I like seeing women taking on responsibility and authority. And I believe that the fire/EMS district is bigger than just putting out fires. There’s a good deal of bureaucracy, management, and public relations involved.

Now here’s the real kicker: I have it on good authority that there will soon be another opening on the Fire/EMS district, and that whoever loses this particular election will almost certainly be appointed to fill that new opening. So I will be voting for Savannah Erickson, and waiting for Jim Towers to be appointed not long afterward.