By the time this paper comes out, we’ll likely know whether the Vashon Park District’s levy was renewed by voters. Either way, the district will only get back on the right path if it has a strong and cohesive board governing it, which it doesn’t right now.

After much public upset over the park district’s hand-ling of tax dollars, the agency has made strides in setting its finances straight, due in part to the work of Executive Director Elaine Ott. But the commissioners still struggle to be effective. Board meetings are marked by bickering and personality conflicts. As individuals, commissioners are well intentioned, but at a recent meeting, they couldn’t even agree on a simple update to one of the district’s internal documents. It’s clear the park district needs new leadership to take charge and work to restore this once robust agency.

There’s now a chance for significant changes on the park board. This fall, three of the five seats on the board will be up for election — the deadline for candidates to file is May 15. Now is when sharp, civic-minded islanders need to step up and breathe new life into this agency. And commissioners need more than financial acumen. They should have strong convictions about the park district’s role on the island, bringing with them relevant experience and an ability to provide the careful oversight this agency needs.  They should act professionally and represent the interests of all park users — not just one group — as well as Vashon taxpayers. They should be good communicators, able to treat others respectfully and work toward consensus. It would also be encouraging to see some younger faces, more women on the board and broad interests represented.

Strong candidates might be afraid to throw their hats in the ring, worried the experience of joining the park board may prove more unpleasant than its worth. However, we can’t let this cycle continue. Islanders who care about the park district’s mission should consider this an opportunity to be part of the solution and to contribute to the community in a very tangible way. Much is on the line — local parks, beaches and programs that help make Vashon a great place to live.

Wouldn’t it would be wonderful if come this fall Vashon voters had several good options for new park commissioners. For information about filing as a candidate, which is free and opens May 11, see kingcounty.gov/elections/candidatefiling.