The two candidates running for Island County District 3 seat offer differing views on top county issues, such as the legalization of marijuana and dealing with recent problems at Island Transit.

Democrat Karla Jacks said that she would have done the same as the board did earlier this year, and allowed for the sale of recreational marijuana in Island County.

“I would have because the voters of Island County overwhelmingly supported it,” Jacks said.

Rick Hannold, a Republican, said he would absolutely not have supported recreational marijuana in the county.

“I don’t like any industry that makes its money off the vices of others,” Hannold said. “I personally think that marijuana is an entry-level drug. If I had been sitting on the board of commissioners when they decided … I would have voted ‘no.’”

The District 3 seat was left vacant in May when then-commissioner Kelly Emerson suddenly gave a seven-day notice. Commissioner Aubrey Vaughan was appointed to fill her seat through the November election, but lost his bid for the four-year term in the primary.

One of the responsibilities of two members of the Island County board is to serve on the board for Island Transit, an organization that has been wracked with financial turmoil resulting in service cuts and the layoffs of 22 people. The results of a state audit are expected to be released Oct. 24.

If elected and serving on the transit board, Jacks said she feels the existing group is working in a good direction and she would support their efforts.

“It’s important that if I’m going in, I would work with the process they’ve already started,” Jacks said. “I appreciate that they are doing their due diligence to find out what happened but are moving forward. I would work with them as a team to implement the objectives that came out of the audit.”

Hannold said he believes that the errors found in financial reporting and budgeting means that the organization needs an overhaul.

“It’s in such a disarray right now it’s going to take a strong, strong leader to come in as director and be rebuilt from the ground up,” Hannold said. “I think the oversight needs to be there, they need to be more involved.”

A retired U.S. Navy chief, Hannold is a strong supporter of the Navy and its operations both at Ault Field and at Outlying Field Coupeville. Residents have complained about the noise associated with the Navy’s new EA-18G Growler, and a Coupeville-based community group has filed a lawsuit. An Environmental Impact Statement on the Growler is currently being prepared by the Navy.

“Even if it wasn’t for the fact that they are such an economic driver for the county, I know first hand the type of training they get,” Hannold said.

Hannold said the combination of over water, mountain and desert training available in the Pacific Northwest provides essential experience for pilots.

“The whole area is unique … we offer that strategic opportunity,” Hannold said. “(The base) sits strategically on the Asian pacific rim and for the country as a whole it’s a good base to have.”

While Jacks said she supports the Navy and its need to properly train its pilots, she is not taking a strong stance on OLF.

“I support our Navy, I support our military, I support the Naval air station and whatever they need to do to train their pilots,” Jacks said.

That said, she is “more than happy to listen to people’s concerns but we have to be able to work together.”

“I know that’s not what they want to hear,” Jacks said. “They all want me to come down on this side or that side, but I think that’s a disservice.”