The normally muted contest for seats on the WhidbeyHealth public hospital board became lively as at least eight candidates emerged during candidate filing week.
Other races on South Whidbey appear to be a little less exciting, with new candidates but no challenged seats on the Langley City Council. One challenger emerged for a school board seat. There will be no challenged seats on Parks and Recreation board or the Port of South Whidbey board unless write-in candidates pop up.
It’s an especially important election for the WhidbeyHealth hospital system as three of the five seats on the board will be on the ballot in November. Two of the current board members, Ron Wallin and Gregory Richardson, announced earlier that they aren’t seeking reelection. A third board member, Kate Rose, passed away recently.
James Canby of Clinton and Christina LeClaire of Oak Harbor filed for Position 3. Dr. Mark Borden of Coupeville and Juliann Althoff of Oak Harbor are vying for Position 4.
Originally, six candidates filed for Position 5 on the hospital board, but two of them withdrew. The current candidates are Greenbank resident Dennis Rochier; Oak Harbor resident Theodore Smith; Oak Harbor resident Kirk Gasper; and Langley resident Morgan Cooper, who previously served on the board.
For the Langley City Council, Thomas Gill and Dominique Emerson, both former council members, filed for Positions 1 and 2. Savannah Erickson, currently a South Whidbey Fire/EMS commissioner, filed for Position 5.
South Whidbey School Board member Andrea Downs didn’t have a challenger as of noon on Friday. Incumbent Ann Johnson will face Gwendy Gabelein.
Curt Gordon filed for reelection on the Port of South Whidbey board. Mike Noblet filed for reelection to the fire district board governing South Whidbey. Erik Jokinen and Jake Greve filed for their current seats on the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation board.
More challengers emerged in races in other areas of the island. In Coupeville, Kristo Allred and Brandon Roos filed for Position 5 while Evan Henrich filed for Position 4 on the town council.
Several candidates emerged for Oak Harbor City Council late in the week. Councilmember Jim Woessner, who earlier said he wasn’t seeking reelection, filed for his seat but then said he was going to bow out after several others filed.
The remaining candidates for Position 6 are Andy Plumlee, Sandi Peterson and Donna Coats.
James Marrow, who was appointed to Position 5, will face Brit Kraner.
It appears that neither Councilmember Bryan Stucky nor Councilmember Barbara Armes will have challengers.
