Editor’s Note: This week, The Beachcomber continues its coverage of candidates who will appear on Vashon’s Nov. 7 ballot, seeking to serve as commissioners of taxing districts on Vashon. This week, meet the candidates seeking to serve on the boards of the Vashon Health Care District and Vashon Park District.

Health Care District

Vashon’s Health Care District will welcome two new commissioners after the November election, filling the seats of current commissioners Eric Pryne and Don Wolczko, who are not seeking re-election.

Sarah Day and Bill Hamilton will join two commissioners, Wendy Noble and Tom Langland, whose terms expire in 2025, and Alan Aman, whose term expires in 2027.

Sarah Day

Sarah Day, who is running opposed for Pryne’s seat, is a member of Vashon’s Medical Reserve Corps and the former longtime school nurse of Vashon’s school district. In her role as the school nurse, Day garnered international attention for her work to improve Vashon’s low rates for childhood vaccinations, and won widespread appreciation on Vashon, too, for her tireless work to keep students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Day, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, has also worked, early in her career, as a maternal healthcare nurse for Public Health – Seattle King County.

In a statement, Day detailed her motivations to serve as a Health Care District commissioner.

“In my 20-year career on Vashon, I provided nursing care for many vulnerable populations such as low-income families, children with disabilities, non-English speaking families and families affected by adverse experiences such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness and domestic violence,” she said. “I know the realities these individuals experience in accessing healthcare. As a Vashon Public Health District commissioner, I will work to ensure that these and other vulnerable populations will have health care access here on our island.”

“Although Seamar has extended its commitment to provide health care on Vashon, our community still faces many challenges such as providing care for homebound individuals as well as a shortage of behavioral health care providers and access to urgent care,” Day added. “I look forward to working with my fellow commissions and the Vashon community to address these unmet needs.

Bill Hamilton

Bill Hamilton, who has had a long career in government affairs and public policy, is running unopposed to fill Wolczko’s seat. His professional experience includes formerly serving as a congressional aide for Washington Democrats. He currently serves as Government Affairs Advisor with Federal Home Bank System.

He is a native of the Pacific Northwest and has lived on Vashon since 2012.

In a statement, Hamilton detailed his motivation to serve as a Health Care District commissioner.

“I am familiar with the Health Care District, having served on [its] Strategic Planning Taskforce, working with the Washington congressional delegation in support of healthcare on Vashon. As commissioner, I’d seek to protect the services we have and work collaboratively to explore enhancing what is available, particularly in the areas of after-hours capacity and behavioral health,” Hamilton said.

“I am mindful of the property tax burden on Vashon residents and would look to work with existing community partners where feasible,” he added. “I’ve spent much of my career immersed in public policy and deeply believe thoughtful local government can have a positive impact on people’s lives. I would be honored to serve our community.”

Vashon Park District

Vashon Park District commissioners Josh Henderson and Hans Van Dusen are running unopposed to retain their seats on the board, while another incumbent, Bob McMahon, faces a challenge from islander Mike Spranger.

Josh Henderson

Henderson, who is the current chair of the Park District Board, is running unopposed to retain his seat on the board.

In a statement, Henderson detailed his work for the district, as a commissioner, since 2021.

“I have focused on getting up to speed with the District’s facilities and programs and understanding the challenges and other constraints facing the district,” he said. “For the past two years, I have served as Chair of the VPD Board of Commissioners. As chair, my focus has been on [a] collaborative partnership between the Commissioners, supporting the outstanding work of our executive director and her staff, and maintaining an atmosphere of collegiality and cooperation at Board meetings.

“As a commissioner, I have focused my energies on the Tramp Harbor Dock project as well as collaborating with my fellow commissioners and the executive director on updating the district’s strategic plan so that we can continue to provide excellent recreation access and activities for islanders and visitors,” he added.

Henderson said that in his next term, he intends to “remain accessible to islanders, to lend my energy and effort to seeing through the myriad of projects in the district’s capital improvement plan, and to help the district maintain its trajectory of excellence. I am proud of the work the district does and the services and opportunities it affords to islanders and visitors alike. And yet the work continues, so it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to it.”

Hans Van Dusen

Hans Van Dusen has served as Vashon Parks District (VPD) Commissioner since 2018 and is now an unopposed candidate for reelection to serve a four-year term from 2024 through 2027.

“I love the amazing array of essential VPD parks, facilities, and programs that serve and touch islanders in so many ways,” he said, in a statement. “My focus with VPD has been on effective fiscal stewardship, expanding programs, and increasing public awareness and access. The Park District is one of Vashon’s smaller taxing districts, yet through creative and efficient management and tremendously successful grant awards, VPD has improved our facilities, upgraded parks, and now expanded our programs while minimizing the burden on island taxpayers. I think of it as the little district that could, offering more and asking for less.”

“I also bring extensive experience in public administration, fiscal management, customer service and effective project management, from decades of work in managing city programs and contracted services,” Van Dusen added. “My wife Karen and I have lived on Vashon for over 20 years, raising our family, and engaging in community opportunities to serve others, while always appreciative of the essential role of VPD parks and programs in maintaining a healthy and vibrant island community.”

Bob McMahon

McMahon, an eight-year incumbent commissioner, is a retired shipyard general manager.

In a statement, McMahon said that during his terms as a commissioner, “policies were updated, a long-range strategic plan was created, the district’s debt load was eliminated and its financial condition is now rated as essentially flawless in a state audit, a new children’s playground was built at Ober park, our pool operation became year-round, most of our deferred maintenance needs from the VES [fields] years have been corrected, popular programs have been restored and the district’s reputation in the community is tops.”

He said he was proud to have been a part of what the park staff board and commissioners, along with park user group and advisory committees had accomplished over these years.

“I look forward to collaborating with these groups again to continue improving our parks during a third term,” he said. “I will continue to work hard during my next term to assure that VPD parks and facilities are accessible to all and offer something for everyone.”

Mike Spranger

Spranger, who is currently the owner of Pacific Sea Farms, and currently in the process of establishing a seaweed/shellfish farm on the southwest shores of the island in Colvos Passage, is challenging McMahon for his commissioner seat.

In a statement, Spranger praised Vashon’s beautiful and robust collection of parks and park services and noted that in April, over 75% of Vashon voters had agreed to continue to fund the district so that it would continue to be well-maintained and operational.

“I am running for Parks Commissioner because I believe that I can help continue the good work that previous commissioners have done and shepherd the district forward,” Spranger said.

Spranger worked for a Seattle-based logistics company, Expeditors, for 30 years, starting as a messenger and leaving as vice president with extensive experience in finance, strategy and tactics. In his current work with Pacific Sea Farms, he said, he had gained experience in an extensive and challenging permitting process and public outreach — learning completely different skill sets.

“I’ve lived on the island for 22 years, and have three children — all of whom have used the parks as they played soccer at Agren, skipped rocks and watched the sunset at Lisabeula, or slid down the slide at Ober. I coached boys/girls soccer, baseball and basketball. I’m currently a volunteer at the Vashon Tool Library,” he said. “As commissioner, I will support all of the parks in the portfolio however my focus will be those that cater to our island youth as well as those that have a water/marine component.”

He noted he can be reached at mikeonvashon@gmail.com.