Island County Commissioner Phil Bakke is now facing a four-way race to retain his seat in Coupeville.
South Whidbey businessman Curt Gordon announced his candidacy for District 1 commissioner on Thursday.
He joins Republican Reece Rose and Democrat Helen Price Johnson in the race to unseat Bakke, who was appointed to the seat last year to replace longtime commissioner Mike Shelton.
With only two advancing from August’s top-two primary, the addition of yet another candidate will make this year’s race a tough one to handicap. While Bakke has wrapped up the support of big names in the Island County GOP, Rose is well-known, as well, for her work within the party. Add to the mix Price Johnson, who has been a longtime community volunteer and a member of the South Whidbey school board since 2002.
And now, Gordon, who has served on the board for the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District for 20 years, has joined the contest.
“We’ll just have to see what happens in August,” Bakke said.
“It comes down to letting the voters decide and I trust them to make the right decision,” he said.
Right now, the question mark is also on Gordon, who has declined to state his political affiliation.
He would not identify himself as a Republican, a Democrat or even an independent.
“Since I’ve never believed the county commission should be a party-driven position, I have no party preference,” he said.
“I’m going to run on the issues and let the voters decide who is the best person for the job. I think I can bring balance and accountability as a commissioner,” he added.
Asked if that meant he would be running as an independent, Gordon said no.
“Republicans think I’m a Democrat. The Democrats think I’m a Republican. The fact is, I’m axpayers and I’ll be responsible to them.”
Gordon did not register as either a Democrat or a Republican when he voted during the presidential primary in February, according to Island County voting records.
Gordon, the owner of Island Asphalt, said enactment of Initiative 872 last year was the driving force behind his candidacy.
With the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding Washington’s voter approved top two primary system, the state will dump the unpopular “pick-a-party” primary.
“The side effect of that law allows minor party candidates or even a candidate declaring ‘no party preference’ to compete on even ground with the major party candidates in the primary,” Gordon said.
The two candidates receiving the most votes go on to compete in the general election.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Gordon said. “I can run on my history in the community and my record as a volunteer, park district commissioner and Conservation Futures committee chairman, not as a Republican or Democrat.”
This year’s race for the other commissioner’s seat on the ballot, for District 2, will also be contested.
Republican incumbent William L. “Mac” McDowell announced at this year’s Lincoln Day event that he would seek reelection to the post he has held since 1993.
Democratic newcomer Angie Homola filed as a candidate in the race on April 1.
Despite the current view that the November 2008 election will hinge on “change,” McDowell isn’t worried.
“I believe I still have valuable service to offer the county,” he said.
“I’ve kept the county’s portion of property taxes the second lowest in the state, made public safety a high priority — resulting in low crime rates — and worked hard to preserve the island’s rural character,” he said.
“Change for its own sake? People here are smarter than that; they know what I’ve done in the past and can expect the same commitment in the future,” McDowell added.
Homola runs an architectural firm in Oak Harbor and worked in the county’s planning department for three years.
“I’ve become a public advocate over the last several years,” Homola said. “Public interests are not being met. I believe in participatory government and complete accountability to the citizens and I’m running to expand that concept.”
