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Two incumbent Skagit County commissioners seemed to have successfully defended their positions as of Thursday evening.
In District 1, Ron Wesen, who is running for a fifth term, was leading with 64.61% of the vote against newcomer Rylee Fleury’s 34.97%. The district spans much of the county west of Interstate 5, including Anacortes, Bayview, Bow and Edison.
In District 2, first-term incumbent Peter Browning maintained his comfortable lead over Mount Vernon City Council member Richard Flint Brocksmith, with 58.75% to 40.91%. District 2 makes up the southwest corner of the county, including Mount Vernon and Conway.
Wesen, who prefers the Republican party, is a local dairy farmer. He raised $25,615.17 in the race, while Fleury, an Independent, raised $27,247.37.
Fleury has worked in a range of fields including package courier service and restaurant management. His platform includes a “strict adherence to constitutional governance” and he has opposed agritourism regulations.
Wesen has said his background helps him explain agriculture issues to regulators and county staff. He supports creating more fish passages on upper Skagit dams and estuary restoration on the Skagit River Delta.
Browning has no party preference and received $42,778.15 in campaign contributions. Brocksmith, who prefers the Democratic party, netted $35,087.83.
A Skagit Regional Health Commissioner since 2016, Browning has stressed the importance of collaboration with tribes to promote estuary health and salmon recovery. Brocksmith has listed sustainable development and adaptability to climate change and population growth among his priorities.
Sophia Gates covers rural Whatcom and Skagit counties. She is a Washington State Murrow Fellow whose work is underwritten by taxpayers and available outside CDN's paywall. Reach her at sophiagates@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 131.
