At least two Democratic candidates are mounting grassroots campaigns to unseat the 10th District state senator.

Angie Homola — a Democrat, former Island County commissioner and Oak Harbor resident — announced this week that she’s running against Sen. Barbara Bailey, a Republican from Oak Harbor.

She joins Nick Petrish, a Democrat from Mount Vernon, who announced last year that he was running for the position.

Petrish concedes that taking on Bailey is a daunting task for either candidate.

Bailey has already raised more than $100,000 for her reelection campaign. Petrish said he doesn’t expect that either he or Homola will receive much financial support from the state Democratic party as party leaders don’t think Bailey is vulnerable this year.

Homola, however, has defied expectations before. She defeated Mac McDowell, a longtime Republican commissioner, with a grassroots campaign in 2008 — when voter turnout was high in support of Barack Obama.

Homola said she expects voter turnout to be high again this year, but not just because it’s a presidential election year.

She said she’s heard from many people who want her to get back into government because they are unhappy with the current elected leaders.

“People are ready for a public servant who will listen and respond to their needs,” she said, describing herself as a “trusted, honest and hardworking public servant.”

Petrish agrees. He said he feels that a Democratic senate candidate has a shot in the 10th District if there’s big Democratic turnout.

“We need every Democratic vote and a little bit more to win,” he said.

Four years ago, the state Republican party and a political committee targeted Mary Margaret Haugen, a powerful Democratic state senator, as part of a successful effort to change the balance of the senate.

Bailey, a longtime Republican state representative, won the election with strong financial support from the Republican party, special interest groups and corporations.

That level of financial backing, however, is a matter of concern for Bailey’s challengers. Homola said the people should also be worried about campaign contributions and where they come from; she expects to get support from individuals in the district.

“Bailey has become increasingly close to Olympia lobbyists and special interest PACs that have directly contributed over $730,000 to her campaigns since she was elected in 2004,” Homola said in a press release announcing her candidacy, “and spent an additional $285,000 independently in support of her campaigns — a total of over $1 million.”

Petrish agrees that big money doesn’t make for good governance.

“You have to ask yourself, when she raises a quarter of a million dollars for a job that pays $65,000, who is she going to be beholden to?” he said.

Homola said that Bailey has represented the district for a long time but has “lost touch” with the citizens.

Homola first entered office as a commissioner during a difficult time. The county was hit particularly hard by the Great Recession, necessitating historically large cuts.

In her announcement, Homola said she worked with colleagues of both parties to cut general fund spending by 20 percent, “thereby preventing a financial collapse of Island County government.”

“In spite of these cuts, she greatly improved services to veterans while protecting seniors and the most vulnerable,” her press release states. “Homola established long-term water protections for island residents.”

Her other accomplishments, she noted, included helping to secure funding for property owners to maintain forestry and agricultural practices as well as working to enhance public beach access and park and trail improvements.

“She helped craft visionary land use ordinances to promote local business opportunities while safeguarding natural resources,” the press release says. “She brought commissioner meetings to the public via video recordings and made committee assignments an open process.”

Homola has lived in Island County for 19 years with her two children and husband, a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion pilot serving at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Petrish said that he’s friends with Homola and considers her to be a “capable, hard-working individual.” He said they agreed to be cordial and not to attack each other in the campaign season.

The candidates for the seat will be narrowed to two for the Aug. 2 primary.

The 10th Legislative District spans portions of Island, Skagit and Snohomish Counties and includes the communities of Coupeville, La Conner, Langley, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Stanwood and surrounding areas.

Bailey did not return a call for comment.