SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Skagit County has named its next commissioner.

The county’s Board of Commissioners voted on Monday to appoint Joe Burns as Lisa Janicki’s replacement on the district 3 seat.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that Janicki announced last summer that she decided to step down after just over a decade in the position.

The two remaining commissioners interviewed each of the three candidates before meeting in a private session and returning to vote in front of the public.

Despite being nominated by the county’s Democratic Party, Burns emphasized the importance of being nonpartisan in his decision-making…

“I believe first and foremost that all people who are in elected office should be here to serve their community; not their party, not any one individual who helped get them there,” Burns said during his interview. “We’re here to serve everyone who is in that community.”

Burns is currently a member of the Sedro-Woolley City Council.

He’ll serve on the board of commissioners through the rest of Janicki’s term, which runs until the end of 2026.

Burns will have a chance to retain the position when the county votes for a new commissioner in November.