Coupeville transplant Catherine Ballay became the first candidate to file for Coupeville Town Council during Filing Week Monday.

Ballay, who moved to Coupeville three years ago from Virginia, said she decided to run after learning how much transition the council will be going through next year.

Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard announced she will not run after 20 years in office. Three council seats are also up for election.

“I just felt like with such a big change in leadership, I felt I could (contribute to) the stability,” Ballay said.

She filed for Position 3, which is being vacated by Molly Hughes, who is running for mayor.

“I think maybe a lot of people will say, ‘Who are you,’ but in the three years I’ve been here, I’ve felt welcomed,” she said.

Ballay grew up in a small town called Victory in upstate New York. She said the town was similar in size to Coupeville and very agricultural.

“I love Coupeville,” she said. “I can see the need for business and tourism but not too fast or out of our control. It’s not like I’m coming with outside ideas, I just want to keep Coupeville what it is.”

“We also had one light, but ours was flashing,” she joked.

Ballay moved to Virginia, where she worked for National Geographic for more than 20 years. She started proofreading and moved to index and later production.

While Ballay has lived in Coupeville for just three years, she first discovered the area 40 years ago when her brother was stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and married a woman from Coupeville.

“I’ve been connected to the island for 40 years,” she said.

Prior to moving to the island, Ballay researched the area and organizations. During her search, she discovered the Community Health Advisory Board, which operates under Island County Public Health. She now serves as chair.

She also recently got involved with the Neighbor Emergency Team, or NET, helping on an administrative level.

Ballay said she thinks the town is running well and she hopes to contribute where she can.

“I think civility and gentleness are two important things,” she said. “We should listen to everyone’s point of view and not make decisions based on emotions.”

Another candidate new to Town Hall is Lisa Bernhardt, who announced her intention to run last month.

“I’m really passionate about the community, and I already volunteer, so I figured why not throw my hat in the ring,” she said. “I would like to have input on my community. I want to be part the process that makes Coupeville, Coupeville.”

Bernhardt said when she learned there would be open seats coming up on council, she approached outgoing Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard to find out what the job entailed.

Bernhardt filed for Position 2, which is currently held by longtime councilman Bob Clay, who announced he will not seek reelection.

Bernhardt has lived on Whidbey Island since 1980 and has spent the last 21 years in Coupeville.

She’s been the director of the Pacific Northwest Art School for the last 10 years and serves on the board for the Island County Economic Development Council. She’s also active with the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce, serving as president for three years.

As previously announced, councilwoman Molly Hughes filed Monday to run for mayor.

Hughes is a 20-year resident of Coupeville and has raised two sons in the community.

She’s served three terms on Coupeville Town Council and has been involved in many community groups and organizations, including serving as president of Gifts from the Heart food bank and the Coupeville Lions Club.

“I believe I have a good work ethic and a lot of common sense,” she said. “I lead by example, and it’s important to me that those I work with feel included in decision making and valued for their contributions.”

Councilwoman Jackie Henderson and Coupeville School Board member Christine Sears both filed for their seats.

Sears was appointed to her seat last year when former board member Don Sherman resigned.

Glenda Merwine’s seat is also up on the school board, but she had yet to file as of press deadline.

The Port of Coupeville also has two seats up for re-election on the three-member board.

John Carr, who was appointed to his seat in January, and Marshall Bronson, had both not filed prior to press deadline.

Oak Harbor resident Erika Carnahan filed to run for the Whidbey General Hospital board seat currently held by Oak Harbor resident Nancy Fey, who was appointed to the position in 2013. Fey also filed for the seat.

Carnahan hadn’t previously announced her intention to run.

She has worked in medical administration and billing for more than 15 years. Currently employed at Rue and Primavera Rehabilitation in Oak Harbor, she also worked part time at Whidbey General Hospital during her career.

Carnahan said she loves the hospital but feels the administration could use restructuring to encourage more team work.

“It really is all about the patient,” Carnahan said.

Carnahan said she is running because she believes in the importance of the hospital but believes it could better serve the community.

“I firmly believe the hospital needs to be here,” Carnahan said. “I don’t want to see it fall apart. There need to be changes so the community gets the service it deserves.

“The complacency gets to be too much.”

Coupeville resident Georgia Gardner, an incumbent hospital commissioner, filed for reelection. Greenbank resident Ron Born filed to run against her.

Filing week started 9 a.m. Monday and continues through 4 p.m. Friday. For a few hours Tuesday morning, candidates weren’t able to file electronically because of an outage involving Northwest Open Access Network that affected the state’s election web applications, according to the Office of the Secretary of State.