Editor,

I’m thinking about whom to vote for position no. 2, Island County commissioner: Jill Johnson, a proven local leader or her same-party opponent — a new-to-Island opportunist aligned with an out-of-state land developer?

I started by considering some of what Jill Johnson has recently accomplished in office:

• Saved us from another county levy by leveraging funds the county already had in order to support the sheriff’s law-and-order requirements;

• Started using technology to bring government services to the public. Permit applications, public records requests and more are all available online now;

• Leveraged multiple funding sources and relationships – state and regional – to fund and build the new behavioral health stabilization center;

• Provided continuity to the board of commissioners and has been the chair for four of her seven years, and;

• Is consistently a strong defender of the Navy’s presence on the island.

Previously, Jill was executive director and led the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce through the great recession. She’s been voted Best Community Leader three times.

Jill’s two hot buttons that resonate with me are controlling the size of government and guarding against government overreach.

Amen.

Jill grew up here. She’s independent and follows her local sense of what truly is in the community’s best interests.

I respect that she isn’t aligned with an out-of-state developer and doesn’t create the appearance of conflicts of interest.

Join me in voting for Jill Johnson for county commissioner.

George K. Saul

Oak Harbor