The 2015 election races are starting to take shape days ahead of the official Island County filing week, May 11-15.

Two men plan to seek votes to become the next mayor of Langley, and a possible third challenger is undecided.

Thomas Gill, a Langley city councilman, and Tim Callison, a Langley resident, both confirmed they will seek the seat in the November general election.

Mayor Fred McCarthy announced in April that he would not run for re-election after filling out a term vacated by Larry Kwarsick, who resigned amid scandal in January 2013.

Callison applied to be appointed to a vacated city council position previously held by Margot Jerome. He and wife Robin Black both applied for the position before the council ultimately voted in Black.

“I won’t equivocate, I’m running for mayor,” Callison said in a phone interview Thursday.

“Barring any unforeseen thing I can’t think of, I’m going to run,” he added.

There was a third challenger in that council appointment: Sharon Emerson. She has been a persistent presence at city council meetings and other big-issue gatherings at City Hall, but may be best known for her consistent criticism of the funicular between Wharf Street and Cascade Avenue.

In an email to The Record, she said she was still undecided if she would run for either city council or mayor in Langley.

Black and Councilman Bruce Allen both said they will seek re-election this fall.

Gill sought elected office in Langley prior to winning the city council position unopposed in the November 2013 election. He said via email that he plans on running for mayor.

One of the city council positions will be up for challengers. Jim Sundberg, who has served since 2012, will not seek re-election. Retired from his career, Sundberg said stepping away from public office meant he’d finally be able to enjoy all of those free-time benefits while allowing someone else to take the reins.

“The city’s in good shape and there’s lots of talent in the city, so there’s room for continuing the advances we’ve made to date,” Sundberg said.

“It’s been an excellent council to work with,” he added.

Three of the four South Whidbey School District director positions up for election will have the incumbent run. Linda Racicot and Damian Greene, both finishing out their first terms as school board directors, said they are seeking re-election this November. Julie Hadden, who was appointed to the post vacated by Fred O’Neal in 2014, will seek election to fill out his term. Only Steve Scoles, the most tenured school board director, will step away from the district.

“I’ve been there for 13 out of the last 20 years, so it’s time to move on and let the new folks come along. I’m happy to wrap up,” he said.

The retired general contractor spends some of each year out of state, which is a challenge to then attend the twice-a-month board meetings. He said he’s proud that the board opted to keep Langley Middle School open four years ago.

“I feel really good about the school district, the superintendent and the direction we’re on, and that we did not close the middle school,” Scoles said. “That was an issue.”

South Whidbey Fire/EMS will lose one of its longest-serving commissioners. Mike Helland announced Thursday he would not apply for election. Spending time with family after 18 years — three terms — as a fire protection district commissioner became more important this time around.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve the South Whidbey community,” Helland said. “I never went in there with the interest of becoming a career politician. I feel I’ve made a contribution to the evolution of SW Fire. It needs some new blood. It doesn’t need saving or anything like that.”

Who may replace him was a mystery to Helland, though he said he has told several people they should consider if they are willing to serve on the fire board.

“There’s no greater calling than to serve your neighbor in their time of need,” he said.

Both Port of South Whidbey commissioners up for election are seeking to fulfill shortened terms. Ed Halloran was appointed to fill-in for Chris Jerome, who left South Whidbey when he took a job in North Carolina in early 2014. Jack Ng was appointed in the position abandoned by Dennis Gregoire in February this year.

Freeland Water and Sewer District Commissioner Eric Hansen said he’ll seek voter approval for another six-year term. He has served the water and sewer district the past eight years, plus a two-year stint prior to that.

Holmes Harbor Sewer District, which governs sewage system at the Holmes Harbor Golf Course, will have one new commissioner. Longtime commissioner Stan Walker said that he’s ready to step down after 14 years on the board.

“It’s time for other people to take care of that,” Walker said.

Also on the Holmes Harbor board, Bob Miller said he plans to run again after recently being re-elected to the Washington Association of Sewer and Water Districts board of commissioners for another three years.

“I’m staying involved,” he said.

At least one of the two parks commissioners’ positions up for a vote this fall will see someone new next year. Joel Gerlach, who was elected in 2012, said he did was not running again, citing his business as a contractor for pulling him away from South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District board duties. Don Wood, whose position is also up for election, did not return requests for comment by press time Friday.