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Taking a swing at golf A9 camp

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 | Vol. 124, No. 50 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢

Commissioner candidates field questions Second round of interviews set for June 24 in Coupeville By JANIS REID Staff reporter

Candidates for the Island County Commissioner District 3 seat fielded questions from the remaining two commissioners Tuesday. The District 3 seat became vacant in early May when thencommissioner Kelly Emerson resigned, giving a seven-day notice. Per state law, Emerson’s party, the Island County Republican Party, put forward three names from which commissioners can select a temporary appointee. Four Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate

filed to run for the seat in November’s election. District 3 comprises North Whidbey Island and all of Camano Island. During interview sessions, each candidate was asked the same questions with the other two candidates out of the room. The first interviews were on Camano Island. The second interview session is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, in the Board of Commissioners Hearing Room in Coupeville. The three candidates are Richard Hannold of North Whidbey, and Marc Hennemann and Aubrey Vaughan, both of Camano Island. SEE CANDIDATES, A12

HANNOLD: “I think the biggest issue is public safety and how the sheriff patrols (Camano) island.”

HENNEMANN: “My style is basically leave the room alone so they can get their work done.”

Geology buffs seeking tsunami data

Bracing for cuts in transit funding By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter

By JANIS REID Staff reporter

Each year there are 317 earthquakes within 35 miles of Coupeville. Oceanographer Jim Rich said the frequency of the temblors shows the instability of Whidbey Island’s geologic makeup. While most of these earthquakes are too small to notice, if an event is large enough, it could trigger local landslides and even tsunamis. “The one thing you don’t want to do is overstate the threat,” Rich said. “You don’t want to understate it, either. You want to hit it right on the head.”

VAUGHAN: “I believe in fairness, I believe in listening to employees. I don’t like the ‘I’m the boss’ routine.”

Photo by Janis Reid/Whidbey News-Times

Central Washington University professor Breanyn MacInnes, left, University of Washington professor Jody Bourgeois and CWU graduate student Frances Griswold conduct a preliminary survey at Crescent Harbor. The group will return July 8-17 to work with local organizations to gather data on Whidbey Island’s tsunami history.

Rich, a volunteer with the county’s Department of Emergency Management, presented this information to county commissioners this month as part of a push to research Whidbey Island’s history of tsunamis. A team comprising local scien-

tists and volunteers, along with state and national experts, will be doing research in Crescent Harbor and Dugulla Bay July 8-17. “This is big,” said Eric Brooks, deputy director of the county’s DEM. “We hope its the first of many.”

Researchers from Central Washington University, University of Washington and the U.S. Geographical Survey will be visiting Oak Harbor during the July event to survey the areas and take

If it wasn’t for Island Transit, Marty Corey might be out of a job. The Anacortes resident has a “sick car” and said he relies on the bus service to get to work in Coupeville. The trip takes him about an hour and 45 minutes, but an iPod and the beautiful view make the ride pleasant. “I used to spend $30 to $40 a week on gas,” he said. “The bus is much, much cheaper and environmentally friendly.” Plus, he brings his bike along and gets in some exercise. Likewise, Kirsten Tremmer takes the bus from Mount Vernon to Oak Harbor about four times a week for work.

SEE TSUNAMI, A14

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