Washington Conservation Action (WCA) is committed to amplifying the voices of our partners and of our communities. In that spirit, we publish Q&A blogs featuring people and leaders connected to our organization from around the state.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are featuring stories of female leaders connected to our work. This Q&A spotlights Janet St. Clair, current Island County Commissioner and state Senate candidate in 2024.

Since 2019, Janet St. Clair has been the Island County Commissioner for District 3. She has also been Chair of the Board of Health, providing steady leadership during the pandemic. With a BA and MSW from the University of California, Janet has followed a professional career as a teacher and social worker in mental health and child welfare programs. She also worked in multiple non-profits, moving to executive leadership in regional organizations around the Puget Sound. This includes serving as Executive Director for Sound Water Stewards, Board member of Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center, and currently Council President for Camano Lutheran. As County Commissioner, she serves on numerous Boards including Island Transit and Northwest Clean Air Agency.

What is the biggest lesson you take from your last run for office?

The biggest lesson and the biggest gift from my state Senate campaign were the people who believed in our vision, gave of their time and talent and treasure and who worked so hard.  We may have lost the final count by a couple percentage points but we won through lifting a narrative that supports people and the planet.  We knocked on thousands of doors. But the challenges of converting votes in North Snohomish County are real.  I think the challenges that working people and working families are facing are tough today. We have to acknowledge those economic issues and highlight solutions.

How will that inform your platform going forward?

As an Island County Commissioner, I will continue to work on the very same issues I ran on in my state Senate campaign.  We were strong in Island County, winning there and in Skagit so we know those issues matter.

How would you describe the role of county government in protecting people and nature? For instance, you’ve worked to establish specific climate goals for your county. What else is on your wish list?

I will continue to emphasize conservation, climate mitigation and resilience. I will continue to elevate healthy communities and quality of life.  The intersection between the environmental issues and human well-being could not be more clear. This is true when we work to protect the salmon, recognizing the sacredness of our salmon to our Tribal neighbors. This is true when we focus on water quality and the need to protect our water for future generations.  

The Vital Signs as stated by Puget Sound Partnership articulate this intersection.  We must be able to address things like affordable housing while also avoiding sprawl and irresponsible development.  I love this work. I know that we must persevere.

What do you see as the biggest environmental issues facing Island County?  

Climate change, shoreline protections, and emphasizing sustainable development.

In the past, you have prioritized healthcare, affordable housing, leading the effort to bring broadband Internet connectivity to underserved parts of the county. How do you view the relationship between these social justice issues and environmental justice?  

Social justice and environmental justice are intrinsically connected.  Look at the state’s Foundational Public Health Services program, which provides core healthcare. There is a recognition that human health and environmental health are both priorities for human well-being.  Our work in environmental justice and social justice are both data driven. Our work establishes foundational building blocks for a stronger, more resilient world.

In your campaign for state Senate, you called for sustainable practices and green innovation. What, specifically, is Island County doing along those lines?’

We have a “Climate in all Policies” resolution that drives our work plans.  It includes everything from our capital improvement plans and facility upgrades, to our fleet transition, to our comprehensive planning and strategies to use smart technology and revenue strategies to meet those goals.