Island County commissioners will publicly interview three applicants in June for the District 3 seat left vacant by Kelly Emerson’s sudden resignation last month.

The first interviews, to be conducted by commissioners Jill Johnson and Helen Price Johnson, are 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at Four Springs House, 585 Lewis Lane, Camano Island.

The second and final interviews are 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room in Coupeville.

“We’ll deliberate that evening and hopefully we’ll make a decision that night,” Johnson said Monday. “At least that’s our hope.”

The public is invited to attend.

Commissioners request that any questions for the candidates be submitted in advance of the interviews.

The Island County Republican Party Central Committee submitted three names, per state requirement, to be interviewed by the remaining commissioners to fill Emerson’s seat.

The nominations are Richard Hannold, Marc Hennemann and Aubrey Vaughan.

Hannold, a retired Navy chief, was previously elected to the Oak Harbor Christian School board. Hannold said hopes to bring a common sense approach to governing and vote according public feedback.

Hennemann served in the United States Air Force in various roles and has a master’s degree in public administration. Hennemann said his priorities include public safety and keeping taxes down.

Vaughan serves on the Island County Law and Justice Council and is a former supervisor for L-3 Aerospace. Vaughan’s priorities include law enforcement and keeping Island County an affordable place to live.

Following the interviews in Coupeville, the commissioners said they plan to discuss the applicants’ qualifications during an executive session before resuming the public meeting to vote on the appointment.

n Questions for the candidates can be emailed to bicc@co.island.wa.us or mailed to the commissioners’ office at P.O. Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239.