A previous candidate for Island County commissioner is hoping his run as a write-in candidate for the position this November could help bring awareness to what he sees as a flawed system.

Clinton resident Damian Greene, a Republican, announced his intention Monday to run as a write-in candidate for Island County Commissioner, District 1 against Democrats Marie Shimada and Melanie Bacon, who made it through the primary election as the top two choices to represent South Whidbey.

Greene said he was deeply saddened to hear that neither Steven Myres nor Wanda Grone, the two Republican candidates on the primary August ballot, advanced to the general election. He added that he received support from both of them in his endeavor.

“I decided to run as a write-in because a lot of conservative-minded people were very disappointed that we did not have anybody on that side of the aisle make it through the primary,” Greene said.

By running as a Republican, he hopes to offer voters an alternative choice, and maybe even give them a chance to reconsider him based on the issues he supported four years ago in his 2020 run for county commissioner, which he lost against Bacon by just 884 votes.

“Damian is a nice guy and I wish him well,” Bacon said Monday.

Greene cited issues from his past campaign as still being relevant today, such as quicker permitting processes, proper budget management and the health of Maxwelton Creek on South Whidbey. And despite state highways not being under the county’s jurisdiction, he said he would continue to advocate for better safety measures that would help prevent the loss of lives at dangerous intersections.

Other issues he highlighted include graffiti, neglected parks and wasteful spending, which he pointed to the transformation of the only motel in Freeland into low-income short-term housing as an example.

“I just don’t agree with bad decisions,” he said.

Greene is currently a commercial insurance agent and emphasized his decade of experience on the South Whidbey School Board, which he served on until 2022, when he stepped down due to issues he said he could no longer support.

Greene threw his hat into the ring when a replacement was being sought for state Sen. Barbara Bailey in 2019 and when one was also sought for Island County Assessor Mary Engle in 2021.

He hopes his most recent endeavor to run as a write-in candidate might help make a difference in a current primary election system that favors the top two candidates, regardless of political party affiliation.

“If this brings light onto the situation, I’m delighted,” he said. “If it brings a conversation at the state level, that’s great. And if I win, that’s fantastic.”

It certainly wouldn’t be a first for Island County. In 2021, Gail Fleming ran a successful campaign as a write-in candidate for Langley City Council that earned her 69% of the vote.