Melanie Bacon

Ex Officio Board Member

Commissioner Melanie Bacon is currently Chair of the Board of County Commissioners and Commissioner from District No. 1, which encompasses all of Whidbey Island south of the greater Oak Harbor area.

Prior to becoming County Commissioner, Melanie was an experienced executive and manager. She left her job as the International Compensation Manager for a Fortune 500 company to serve Island County as Human Resources Director, champion worker benefits and process improvements, and provide solutions sensitive to both taxpayer and employee needs.

Besides her work with the county, Melanie has devoted her life to working for the public good. She has served the U.S. Army in military intelligence, farmed 580 acres and raised cattle in Minnesota, acted as a human resources consultant to tribal governments, been a NOW leader, actively participated as a founding member of an educational endowment foundation and as a member of numerous city committees, and lastly, she was the chair of a planning commission and zoning board responsible for the 10-year plan that guided her city’s growth while it was the fastest growing region in Minnesota. Melanie is also a well-published author of several novels including a new series.