BY ALLEN MCPHEETERS
And now, the news.
Let’s start with those legislative updates. The session ended on Thursday night, so we have the final scorecard for our 10th District legislators.
 Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-10 Sen. Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor): Four of Muzzall’s bills were delivered to the Governor for his
signature this week. With the five bills he had signed last year, Muzzall wins the trophy for most bills passed in the 2023-24 term with nine. He’d dropped 28 bills into the hopper, so he’s batting a very respectable .321 — very strong, considering his party is in the minority in both houses.
 Rep. Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor): Shavers took almost as many swings as Muzzall did — 27 bills introduced this session. (Technically, 26 bills. The 27th was a resolution remembering Japanese-Americans interned during WWII, and every member of the House was a co-sponsor.) He matched Muzzall’s five in the 2023 session, but only got two across the line (plus that resolution) this year. His batting average is only .269 — not bad for a rookie, but not all-star material.
Rep. Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor): Paul took a less-is-more approach this term, only submitting 12 bills, but got five of them passed for a .417 average. But in the majors, you have to reach a minimum number of plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, so we’ll give Paul an honorable mention.
Maybe the highlight of the Island County news is… the addition of a fourth candidate in the District 1 race for the Island County Commissioners. Melanie Bacon (D-Langley) announced her intention to run for re-election last summer, followed by former Island County Treasurer Wanda Grone (R-Langley) and Ebey’s Reserve Manager Marie Shimada (D-Freeland) in the fall. Now we have a second Republican (and a second Freelander): businessman Steven Myres. That race is getting crowded.
We also got the news about the retirement of District Court Judge Bill Hawkins, effective May 31. Judge Hawkins was appointed to replace Peter Strow in 2013 and won three terms — most recently in Nov. 2022. The Island County Commissioners will appoint a replacement for Hawkins. By setting his departure after Filing Week in May, Hawkins sets up his successor to serve the balance of his term — the next election for judges won’t be until 2026.
And in Oak Harbor, Mayor Wright conducted the fastest city council meeting we can recall. With no public comment, no presentations, no… well, there wasn’t much of anything that happened. Even the public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan Docket was short — with no public comment and Principal Planner Cac Kamak having nothing to add on the topic since the council’s workshop meeting the prior week, the hearing was dispatched quickly. Really, the council spent more time in executive session than in open session. The entire recording lasts less than 38 minutes. |
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