January 14, 2026

Skagit County Commissioners

Skagit County Commissioners Ron Wesen and Peter Browning have approved the nomination of Joe Burns to the vacant District 3 commissioner seat. District 3 encompasses eastern Skagit County including the cities of Burlington and Sedro-Woolley and the towns of Hamilton, Concrete and Lyman.

The previous District 3 commissioner, Lisa Janicki, retired Jan. 2. Commissioner Janicki's elected term ends on Dec. 31. With the decision to retire before the end of her elected term, a nomination process was conducted by the Skagit County Democrats to replace Commissioner Janicki. The replacement of a vacant county commissioner position is outlined in RCW 36.32, which states if there is one vacancy on the Board of County Commissioners, then the remaining two commissioners shall fill the vacancy.

Three candidates were nominated by the Skagit County Democrats for consideration by the Board of Skagit County Commissioners. Wesen and Browning interviewed the three candidates during a televised public meeting, and then voted to nominate Burns for the seat.

Burns will serve until the November general election results are certified. The District 3 commissioner seat will be on the ballot this upcoming November and the newly elected commissioner will take office after the election results are certified. Burns is a Sedro-Woolley City Councilmember, representing Ward 6, and teaches automotive shop classes at Sedro-Woolley High School. He currently sits on the Helping Hands Food Bank board and has previously served as the Sedro-Woolley Lions Club president. His work on the Sedro-Woolley City Council has focused on improving public safety and community health, including support for North Star, the community court system, and creation of the police department K-9 program.