If there is any chance of the new Top Two Primary having any impact in Island County, it will likely come in the race for county commissioner from District 1.
As those who follow election news know by now, this year’s primary is different than past years. Rather than the top vote-getter from each party advancing to the general election, the top two vote-getters overall will advance. This means two Republicans or two Democrats could meet head-to-head in the November general election. Another possibility is that an independent could survive the primary if two or more candidates of the same party split the primary vote.
The filing deadline was Friday, and it resulted in a particularly interesting situation for Island County Commissioner District 1. Appointed Republican incumbent Phil Bakke is facing another Republican, Reece Rose, in the contest. Meanwhile, there is a strong Democratic contender in Helen Price-Johnson. Into this mix is thrown Curt Gordon, who, as the filing document states, “prefers no party preference.”
In the August primary it’s possible that Rose, a well-known political figure, could peel away enough Republican votes from Bakke to make a difference. We can expect Democrat Price Johnson to advance to the general election. The remaining question is whether unaffiliated Gordon can garner more votes than Bakke, keeping in mind that Bakke won’t get all the Republican votes cast.
Gordon is far from a no-name candidate running just to see his name on the ballot. He’s a long-time South Whidbey Park & Recreation District commissioner, business leader and volunteer member of the Island County Conservation Futures Board. With such widespread name recognition, he might survive the primary even without a party affiliation.
Bakke, of course, will be fighting to see that this scenario does not play out. A veteran of Island County government well versed in District 1 politics, he too has no problem with name recognition. And his Republican opponent, Rose, comes from the libertarian wing of the party, one which hasn’t garnered a lot of votes in the past. As a result, the Republican vote may not fracture enough to hurt Bakke.
But Bakke has another problem. The primary election for county commissioner is held within District 1, not countywide. He won’t have access to the heavily Republican Oak Harbor voters. He’s running in the territory of Langley, Freeland and Coupeville, which tends Democratic.
In short, anything can happen in the District 1 race for county commissioner. Purists might regret the confusion caused by the new Top Two Primary, but it puts more candidates into the mix and gives voters more choices. And it will make for a fun summer talking politics over the pickle barrel.
