Editor,

Our ballots are due Aug. 5 for Island County Commissioner District No. 3.

I pray that people will do their homework and research who they are voting for. If you look at Karla Jacks, you will see she is the obvious choice for Island County Commissioner District No. 3.

Karla has lived on Camano Island for 20-plus years raising three sons with her husband Jay. Her family roots go further back with grandparents owning summer property on Whidbey Island. Her boys will be the fifth generation enjoying the family property on Whidbey being raised on Camano.

She earned her degree at Washington State University and master’s at Oklahoma City University.

She has touched so many people’s lives in one way or another from small children to seniors. I will give you just three examples from her long list of accomplishments.

Seniors — Jacks has been the executive director for the Camano Center since 2007 and helped build it to what it is today. One of the programs she has put into place for the Camano Island seniors is the Disaster Registry Program. This program pairs elders with a neighbor who can step in and check on them during heavy snows, storms and power outages.

Teens — Karla was involved in Stanwood High School football, wrestling and swimming programs. In 2013 she led a fundraiser to replace the floor in the high school weight room as it was deemed unsafe. She also led fundraising to help the swim team have a place to practice for two years when the only pool in Stanwood closed.

Elementary age — Karla co-wrote and piloted the Peer Buddy Program at Church Creek Elementary in 2000.

This is a program designed to build friendships between children with disabilities and their peers. Our daughter was involved as a Peer Buddy in this program and she blossomed as a helper.

This program is still being used in 2014 for children with disabilities in the Stanwood Camano School District and has impacted hundreds of children in our community by raising awareness and directly helping children struggling with disabilities. She took this program statewide and spoke to many schools and parent groups around Washington.

She built a library of books to use in the school district for disability awareness.

Jacks diligently meets with people to learn more about the county and assess its needs.

As a part of her heritage, she is running for Island County commissioner to help make the right decisions for what is best for everyone who lives here for years to come.

If you truly care about Island County’s future, vote Karla Jacks for Island County Commissioner District No. 3.

Laurel Niven

Camano Island