John Dean announced Monday he will seek a second term as an Island County commissioner for District 3.

Dean, a Democrat, was elected to the board of county commissioners in 2006.

In his announcement Monday, Dean said he wanted another term “to provide continuity, stability and calm bipartisan diplomacy to the often-volatile processes of government during transition and recession recovery.”

Dean, 60, served as chairman of the board in 2008 and 2009. He is a 35-year Camano Island resident and was editor and associate publisher of the Stanwood/Camano NEWS before becoming a county commissioner.

“Islanders have widely-diverse opinions about government just about any time, but even more so during a recession bordering on depression,” Dean said.

“I honor many of those points of view and welcome ongoing dialogue. But ideologies from one extreme or the other don’t help the majority of us," he added. "We need to hold ourselves together on some middle ground, avoid exaggerated fears, and give up habits of disdain about government. None of that helps. It only divides us.”

The move was not unexpected. He filed registered as a candidate in the 2010 race with the state Public Disclosure Commission in March 2007.

Dean has raised $4,560 for the race so far, according to the PDC, the state's campaign-financing watchdog.

So far, Dean is the only candidate in the District 3 race. The primary is Aug. 17, and if Dean is challenged for the seat, only District 3 voters will cast ballots in the race.

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