Island County Commissioner Rick Hannold announced he is seeking re-election in 2018.

Hannold is serving his freshman term as the commissioner representing District 3, which includes Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the unincorporated area north of Oak Harbor and Camano Island.

Hannold, who prefers the Republican party, cited a good working relationship with the other two commissioners and his love of the job as reasons for running for a second term.

“More days than not, it’s fun getting up and going to work,” he said.

There are projects in progress that he said he would like to see through, such as the purchase of a property in Oak Harbor for a behavioral health crisis center and future affordable housing units, plans for a new Camano annex and the purchase of Barnum Point on Camano.

If re-elected, Hannold said he also wants to examine the process for the public benefit open space rating system, which allows property owners to have their open space valued at their current use rather than at their highest and best use.

He said he wants to refine this system and make it “more equitable.” Another priority of his includes streamlining the permitting process for building.

“I’m a big believer in lean process,” he said.

He supports the planning department’s decision to begin accepting stock plans from builders, which would mean builders can submit one plan for a number of generic housing types in a development instead of a separate one for each type. He said his goal is for the money saved on the permitting and process to “translate into savings for the consumer.”

Hannold pointed to banning fish net pens, passing the critical areas ordinance update and opposing the Law and Justice Levy as some of his accomplishments while serving on the board.

He said he enjoys all of the people he worked with, “from department heads, to road laborers and everybody in between.”

Hannold will be a candidate in the August top two primary against Janet St. Clair, and the winner will be selected in the state’s general election in November. If re-elected, Hannold said he wants to continue in the same direction the board has been going, and add “continuity” to the office.

“I’d just like to be able to do another term,” he said.

“It’s been a long time since district three has had a two-term commissioner.”