Special filing period for 10 offices set for Aug. 9-11

Ten elected positions in Island County remained without candidates after the regular filing period.

Ten elected positions in Island County remained without candidates after the regular filing period earlier this year, but that may change next week.

An upcoming three-day special filing period will take place Aug. 9-11.

The positions with no candidates are seats on the boards for the Port of Coupeville and South Whidbey Fire/EMS, as well as various water and sewer districts.

In a letter to the editor of the Whidbey News-Times last week, Langley resident Savannah Erickson announced her plan to run for Position 3 on the board of commissioners for South Whidbey Fire/EMS.

A former public information officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Erickson had been looking for a way to make an impact at the local level.

A firefighter friend encouraged her to run for the position, which is a six-year term. Erickson had been hesitant to throw her hat into the ring during the regular candidate filing period in May, but decided to move ahead with her plans when she heard about the special filing period.

According to data she obtained from South Whidbey Fire/EMS, Erickson said 42 percent of the fire department is comprised of women.

“Presently all the commissioners are men and it would be nice to see some representation that reflects the department better,” Erickson said.