Candidates vying for state and county elected positions faced off in two back-to-back League of Women Voters forums last week.

More than 50 people attended the public forums, held Thursday and Friday. They were held in Oak Harbor by the league and Sno-Isle Libraries.

The forums were for those offices that will appear on the Aug. 2 primary ballot.

PARTICIPATING in the first segment were state Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, and challengers Angie Homola and Nick Petrish, both Democrats.

Island County Commissioner and Republican Jill Johnson, who represents Distict 2, joined challengers Democrat John Fowkes and Republican Dustin Amundson in the second segment.

Questions directed at candidates for state senate focused on full funding of K-12 education, tuition reduction for state higher education and the statewide effects of climate change and fossil fuels.

Bailey emphasized the state’s previous use of all new money to fund education, though she did not comment on additional efforts she would take in the future.

For Homola, closing tax loopholes and restoring funding to local districts would need to be done to fund education. Similarly, Petrish suggested closing tax loopholes, while also calling for the establishment of a public bank through which schools could borrow money to fund their programs.

CONCERNING CLIMATE change at the state level, Bailey called for working within the regulations already established and a commitment to preventing further harmful impacts on the environment. Homola said she would incentivize the use of alternative energy. Petrish agreed and called for the use of clean nuclear energy.

Each candidate’s stance on firearms regulations, issues of mental health and homelessness and Washington’s regressive tax structure were also challenged.

While all three candidates said they fully support the Second Amendment right to bear arms, they would also support background checks on all firearms to ensure public safety.

HOMOLA SAID treating homeless individuals with dignity and ensuring funding to address these issues is maintained are especially important.

Bailey called for continued efforts to allocate additional money toward addressing homelessness and mental health in the state and said she would support continued studies into addressing Washington State’s tax structure.

“We don’t want to become a magnet for other state’s people because we have good programs,” Bailey added, addressing homelessness.

“We want ours to be taken care of.”

Petrish said he disagrees, adding that he doesn’t mind if Washington state becomes a magnet for others.

“If Washington becomes the standard and attracts others because of it, then we’ve done a good job,” he said.

CANDIDATES FOR county commissioner, a four-year position that pays just under $85,000 annually, were tasked with addressing similar issues at the county level.

When asked if they would ever recommend a tax increase in Island County, all three candidates for county commissioner leaned toward looking at other sources of funding first.

“I think the better way for the county to get funds is to tell the state to stop touching local taxes and let us use the taxes for our county like they were supposed to be,” Fowkes, a former small business owner in Oak Harbor, said.

INCUMBENT Johnson agreed, noting the best way to fund the county is to ensure it receives the allocation promised by the state.

Beyond that, Johnson said she would advocate for a tax increase when the community wants additional services.

“That comes with a price tag,” Johnson said. “ We also need citizens willing to pay for that, otherwise limited resources mean a basic level of services.”

For Amundson, a Navy veteran and former Oak Harbor volunteer firefighter, the county must ensure that every department is utilizing their allocated funds before considering a tax increase.

“When every department is not utilizing what they’ve been given, it makes it nearly impossible to pass a tax levy,” he said. “The citizens will not approve that if you are not taking care of what you’re already given us.”

“And we’ve shown that we’re not doing that all the time,” he added.

THE CANDIDATES took varying positions on what county government should do to foster economic development throughout Whidbey and Camano islands.

Amundson staunchly opposed direct participation, noting that one problem with such government interference is jumping in when businesses already know how to be successful. Instead Amundson called on the county to support business through responsible spending practices.

“The businesses that choose to do business in Oak Harbor need to have support, and government can definitely support them by spending the tax dollars they pay wisely,” he said.

Johnson said she finds government’s involvement in the economy as an area of caution.

Government’s role should be ensuring adequate infrastructure and responsible zoning are in place so any business can do well in the county, she added.

“It shouldn’t be overly prescriptive to the types of industries that come,” she said of the county’s role.

Fowkes said he believes government should help build ecotourism and jobs in the county, noting that the island economy may not always have the Navy base to fall back on.

THE CANDIDATES spoke briefly of individuals with mental health issues who go without help or wind up in Island County’s hospital or jail.

Fowkes said the way the county has taken care of mental health patients through the jail system is not only wrong, but costly. Instead, he suggests first looking at housing as one approach to care for mental health patients.

Johnson said she agrees that there are too many people in Island County Jail suffering from mental health problems, but noted the idea that this is a uniquely an Island County problem is false.

“This is a statewide problem,” Johnson said, noting that most counties are facing a workforce shortage to address the issue.

“The state has been redirecting more resources toward mental health, but we need to encourage people to go into this field to address it,” she said.

JOHNSON CALLED for continued conversation on the importance of stabilizing those with mental health issues and continued emphasis that mental illness is not a crime.

According to Amundson, though, the solution starts at home.

“People have to start taking care of each other,” Amundson said,

He asked if Island County already can’t find housing for those unable to hold down a job, where can it expect to find the housing for those with mental health issues.

“We have to start thinking about smart development if we’re ever going to ever create the housing for those with mental health issues,” he said.

EACH OF THE candidates said they are committed to increasing transparency and prioritization on any issue they should face if elected to the board of commissioners.

“We absolutely have to have 100 percent transparency with motive …” Amundson said.

“We have to be able to justify to the taxpayers that this is what we’re doing and this is why.”

Fowkes and Johnson agreed.

During the closing remarks for each segment, every candidate expressed the desire to continue informing voters on the priorities and approach to government each will take if elected, a process that begins with the August primary election.