Melanie Mankamyer (Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2, Washington, candidate 2025)

Melanie Mankamyer

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 5, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1984

Graduate

University of California, Irvine, 1995

Personal

Profession

Commissioner

Contact

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Melanie Mankamyer is running in a special election to the Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the special general election on November 4, 2025.^[source] She was on the ballot in the special primary on August 5, 2025.^[source]

Mankamyer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Melanie Mankamyer provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2025:

• Bachelor's: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1984
• Graduate: University of California, Irvine, 1995
• Gender: Female
• Profession: Commissioner
• Prior offices held:
  • Port of Skagit Commissioner District 2 (2024)
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes
• Campaign slogan: Experience matters
• LinkedIn

Elections

General election

Special general election for Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2

Keith Chaplin and Melanie Mankamyer are running in the special general election for Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Keith Chaplin (Nonpartisan)
		Melanie Mankamyer (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Special nonpartisan primary for Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2

Keith Chaplin, Melanie Mankamyer, and Edwin Stickle ran in the special primary for Port of Skagit District Commissioner Board Position 2 on August 5, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Keith Chaplin (Nonpartisan)
		Melanie Mankamyer (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Edwin Stickle (Nonpartisan)

---

	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Melanie Mankamyer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mankamyer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a civil engineer and local business owner, I’ve spent nearly 30 years delivering cost-effective solutions to public projects across Skagit County. I’ve managed budgets, navigated regulations, led teams, and helped businesses grow. Now, I’m putting that experience to work for the Port of Skagit. I have lived in Skagit County for nearly 30 years with my husband, Scott Jackson, and our rescue Huskies. I enjoy gardening, kayaking, woodturning and traveling.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am the best qualified candidate for the Port of Skagit Commissioner District 2 position. My Bachelors degree is in Aerospace Engineering, my Masters is in Civil Engineering. My nearly 30 years experience as a civil engineer working on public projects is directly applicable to the type of projects that the Port undertakes.
• I joined the Port as a Commissioner because I believe in the Port of Skagit’s role as a driver of good jobs, business opportunities, and smart growth. From supporting local farms through the Genuine Skagit Valley label, to expanding rural broadband, and redeveloping the SWIFT Center in Sedro-Woolley, the Port is building a stronger future for all of us.
• I am not a career politician. I was appointed by my fellow Commissioners to fill the vacancy left by the untimely passing of my predecessor, and now must run for the remaining term to stay a Commissioner. I’m proud to serve, and I’m committed to helping our community thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about long term planning for all of the Port facilities. Looking ahead, I’m focused on:

• Growing our business centers
• Revitalizing the La Conner Marina
• Expanding broadband access to our rural communities

• Supporting the growth of local small businesses and agriculture

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To me, the most important characteristics for an elected official are personal integrity and a genuine interest in the people they serve.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The quality I possess that makes me a successful Port Commissioner is that I can look at various parts and pieces and see how they fit together into the big picture. This is useful in developing the long-term plans for the La Conner Marina, the SWIFT Center, the Skagit Airport and the Port's business parks.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for a Port Commissioner are to weigh the various development opportunities and make critical spending decisions to optimize economic growth and job creation.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Skagit County Commissioner Lisa Janicki

Port of Anacortes Commissioner Bonnie Bowers

Fire District 14 Commissioner Chris England

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Financial transparency and government accountability are vital to maintaining public confidence in our elected governments. The Port of Skagit is subject to annual audits by the State Auditor's office. This ensures that the public gets a full accounting of the Port's expenditures every year.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Mankamyer completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• VoteWA Profile

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