Port of South Whidbey commissioner candidate Mona Newbauer of Clinton has picked up a major endorsement this week — from former port commissioner Lynae Slinden.

Actually, it wasn’t a big surprise.

“I’d never thought about running for public office before, but Lynae convinced me,” Newbauer said Wednesday. “She asked me to run for her former seat. I didn’t say yes right away, but I believe that in order to make a difference, you need to make a stand.”

Slinden resigned to pursue other interests in August.

Newbauer is running against Curt Gordon, Ed Jenkins and Callahan McVay for Position 3, and will face voters Wednesday, Oct. 21 at a candidates forum at the Clinton Community Hall.

With Langley Port Commissioner Rolf Seitle’s decision not to run again, Dean Enell and Chris Jerome will be on the Nov. 3 ballot for Position 1 on the port board.