The board of Island County commissioners will publicly interview three applicants for the commissioner’s position that will soon be open after the resignation of Commissioner Mike Shelton.

Commissioners Mac McDowell and John Dean have scheduled a meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 in the commissioner’s hearing room in Coupeville.

The public is invited. While there won’t be time for questions from the public, people can submit questions for the candidates to the commissioners for consideration in advance.

Dean and McDowell will interview the three candidates forwarded to the board by the Island County Republican Party Central Committee.

Island County Planning Director Phil Bakke, Reece Rose, Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair and state Rep. Chris Strow all want the job.

However, the Republican central committee will narrow down the list to three candidates by the end of the month.

Following the Sept. 5 meeting, the commissioners will discuss the applicants’ qualifications in an executive session before resuming the public meeting to vote on the appointment.

The commissioners have 60 days to defer a deadlock decision to the governor.

Shelton’s last day in Island County government will be Aug. 31.

After a 15-year career as a South End commissioner, he will start his new job as the executive director of the Washington Counties’ Insurance Pool Sept. 1.

Questions for the candidates can be mailed to BICC@co.island.wa.us or mailed to the commissioners office at PO Box 5000, Coupeville, WA 98239.