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Ron Wesen, a Bow dairy farmer, threw his hat into the county commissioner ring Monday, announcing he’ll run for the District 1 seat held by Don Munks.

Munks announced last week he will not run for re-election, citing his health and family desires.

Wesen, a Republican, is concerned about the economy, the environment and education.

“In all three areas, our decisions today will dramatically affect the quality of life for future generations,” he said in a press release announcing his candidacy.

The county will see a lot of growth in the coming years and Wesen said he prefers that growth go on the hills, keeping agriculture on the lowlands.

“Protecting the character and economy of Skagit County would be my top priority as commissioner,” he said.

Through the state Growth Management Act, the county needs to decide how to protect the land and how to fill in the growth, and it’s got to happen with the residents’ input, he said.

“I am committed to serving all the citizens of Skagit County, not just a specific jurisdiction, or urban or rural, but the county as a whole,” Wesen said in his press release.

Not everyone will get what they want but they have to help decide what they want the county to look like in two or three generations, he said.

“We know people are coming. We can’t just shut the door,” Wesen said. “We need to decide where the growth is going to take place.”

Wesen, 49, is a businessman and fourth generation dairy farmer on the same land his great-grandparents bought in 1907. He, his parents and four brothers run the certified organic dairy farm in addition to growing 900 acres of corn and grass.

He is a graduate of Burlington-Edison High School and California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo.

He is a founding member of the Skagit County Agricultural Leaders work group, has served as Skagit County Farm Bureau president, and Skagit County Drainage and Irrigation Improvement District 16 commissioner. He is a member of the technical review team for Pioneers in Conservation Grants, which promotes stewardship in agricultural practices.

In the education realm, he’s served on the Burlington-Edison School District facilities study committee and as a vocational advisory for the high school.

With a campaign motto of “A Leader Who Listens,” Wesen plans to follow in Munks’ footsteps.

“He was someone you can go to and ask questions and get a straight answer,” Wesen said. “I think he did a pretty good job.”

District 1 includes Anacortes, La Conner, Bay View, Bow, Edison and the Blanchard area. Filing week to run for commissioner in the Aug. 19 primary and Nov. 4 election is June 2-6.

Anacortes City Councilman Bill Turner and Sedro-Woolley solid-waste supervisor Leo Jacobs of the Bay View area, both Democrats, have announced they will also run for the District 1 seat held by Munks.