Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair wants to represent citizens at a different level of government.

St. Clair, a Democrat and Camano Island resident, announced this week that she is running for the 10th Legislative District senate seat. She will face Sen. Ron Muzzall, a Republican from Oak Harbor.

The 10th District senate seat has been a focus of both political parties in past elections. In 2020, Muzzall faced then-Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson in one of the most expensive electoral battles in the state. In the tight election, Muzzall was behind in votes on election night but moved ahead in subsequent counts.

Muzzall already filed for reelection with the Public Disclosure Commission and has raised $240,000.

If elected, St. Clair said she will focus on affordability in housing, health care, prescription drugs, child care and food. In addition, she prioritizes public safety, women’s right to choose when it comes to health care decisions, veterans’ access to health services and the environment.

“We live in one of the most beautiful parts of Washington — it’s truly God’s Country,” St. Clair said in a press release. “And access to clean air to breathe and clean water to drink is key to our recreation and economy — tourism, fishing and economic development rely on our natural resources, unparalleled beauty and access to recreation.”

St. Clair is in her second term as a county commissioner and represents District 3, which covers North Whidbey and Camano Island. Before that, she had a 30-year career as a social worker in the nonprofit sector. She also was a volunteer foster parent, “helping at-risk children find stability and permanency in their lives.”

As a commissioner, St. Clair led the ongoing effort to bring high-speed broadband access to underserved areas of the county. She stepped in and helped WhidbeyHealth obtain state and federal assistance to stay open after hospital officials asked for a county loan.

St. Clair has been the swing vote in some high-profile decisions that have come before the board of commissioners. For example, she didn’t support a proposed ban on fireworks in the county. She voted to provide funds to the Low Income Housing Institute’s shelter project in Freeland, although she expressed concerns about the viability of the project.

In her announcement, St. Clair states that she has worked with both Democrats and Republicans to deliver “real results” to the community. Among her accomplishments, she said, was ensuring funding for affordable housing for seniors and working families. The county is involved in several efforts to provide affordable shelter and housing on the island.

She supported increased funding to the Island County Sheriff’s Office “so it has the resources it needs to keep us safe,” her announcement states.

The commissioner said she led the effort to update the county’s greenhouse emissions study and an effort to confront climate change with specific goals.

St. Clair wrote that she understands the importance of access to health care in rural communities. She “will never stop fighting” to make sure women can make their own health care decisions.

“Women’s health care decisions are under attack at all levels of government,” St. Clair said in her announcement. “Unlike the incumbent, I’m proud to be 100% pro-choice, and my commitment to women and reproductive freedom will never waiver.”

As the daughter of a Navy veteran and granddaughter of a World War II veteran, St. Clair understands the importance of supporting veterans and military families, her announcement states.

“I was taught at a young age to honor veterans,” she said. “Sadly, our government hasn’t always lived up to that promise. In Olympia, I’ll work hard to make sure the state does everything it can to help veterans and military families.”

St. Clair has the support of former state Sen. Mary Margaret Haggen, who held the seat for many years. In addition, she was endorsed by Price Johnson, state Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, state Sen. John Lovick, two members of the Mount Vernon city council and former CEO of Providence Kim Williams.