Meet the Four Candidates for Skagit County Commissioner

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Four candidates are running in the upcoming Skagit County Commissioner race in this year’s primary election.

Skagit County is divided into three geographic districts based on population. Two of those districts have seats up for election this year. Each commissioner serves a four-year term and must reside in the district he or she represents.

Commissioners help set county taxes, approve budgets, and pass ordinances in areas such as traffic, zoning, planning, and public safety. They also oversee public works, health services, emergency programs, and parks, and may appoint members to various county boards and commissions.

Although they have no control over independently elected county officials, such as the sheriff, auditor, district or superior court judges, commissioners help approve the budgets of those officials.

District 1

District 1 includes Anacortes and Fidalgo Island, Bayview, Bow, Edison and north to the Whatcom County line. GOP-leaning Ron Wesen is currently serving as commissioner for that district and is finishing his fourth term.

One of the most important things to Wesen is “having someone with agricultural experience to help explain agriculture to regulators and county staff on the issues they face.”

As a drainage and irrigation commissioner for more than 25 years, Wesen wants to understand how these two systems can impact agricultural losses in the county.

Wesen highlighted areas for improvement for the county, such as creating more fish passages at several upper Skagit dams and restoring the Skagit River Delta estuary.

Wesen’s only opponent is Rylee Fleury, who prefers the independent party. Fleury has extensive experience in many industries, from courier services to restaurant management.

“I have made a point of varying my business expertise… and I think a commissioner position lends itself really well to that,” Fleury said.

Last January, commissioners adopted an interim ordinance that prohibits the granting of new permits for event venues on agricultural land.

Through his personal interactions with local farmers and business owners, Fleury has seen a great deal of frustration regarding the regulation of agritourism.

The county will continue to vote on agritourism operations in the fall. Fleury said farmers should have the flexibility to run their farms “how they see fit.”

Apart from this, one of Fleury’s main goals is to reduce taxes through the “privatization of obligations such as public transport.”

“It’s not a new idea that I have in mind,” Fleury added. “A lot of counties have done it, but they’re behind in this area, and I think it would really ease the tax burden on the county and reduce some aspects of the budget.”

District 2

In District 2, the towns of Mount Vernon, Conway and south to the Snohomish County line are represented by Commissioner Peter Browning, who is running against Richard Flint Brocksmith.

In his two previous campaigns, Brocksmith ran for a seat on the Mount Vernon City Council. Brocksmith, who favors the Democratic Party, is in his seventh year on the city council, where he chairs the Mount Vernon Development Services Committee.

“I feel like there are still a lot of challenges and opportunities in Skagit County, and I love doing this kind of work and advocating for my community and taking on the toughest challenges,” Brocksmith said.

Housing policy, land use planning and public safety are three areas where Brocksmith’s experience lies.

This is Browning’s second run for county commissioner, after first running in 2020. Browning, who has no stated political preference, also serves as Skagit County’s regional health commissioner. His past roles include serving on boards such as the United General Hospital Quality Assurance Team and the Skagit County Substance Abuse Board.

“I think one thing I can bring to the county is being able to bring diverse groups together around a common vision and make it happen,” Browning said.

The county is in the process of updating its comprehensive plan for 2025, and this year it is expected to include a climate change and resilience component. Completing that plan is one of Browning’s aspirations to better understand the impact on agriculture and fisheries.

Working with tribes to maintain a healthy estuary system and promote salmon recovery are “important things right now,” Browning said.

District 3

District 3 includes Burlington, Sedro-Woolley and eastern Skagit County. Lisa Janicki is the current commissioner and serves a four-year term through 2026.

Olivia Capriotti is a summer journalism intern at Dow Jones, specializing in data journalism. You can reach her at [email protected].