The San Juan County Council has announced the appointment of Marlis Sandwith of Orcas Island to serve as a Land Bank Commissioner, effective immediately. She replaces Matthew Wallrath, who served as the District 2, position 2 Commissioner for two years, before relocating to Wisconsin.

A lifetime native of the Pacific Northwest, Sandwith grew up outside of Seattle, often visiting her grandparents and uncles on San Juan Island, where she later attended high school and made her family home with her husband, Roger, a sixth-generation islander whose family homestead is still in existence.

After leaving the islands for a several years, Marlis and her family returned, this time to Orcas Island, where she and Roger live, work and play with their three children.

“As both a frequent user of land bank lands, and a mother of three seventh-generation islanders, I am so honored to work toward preserving some of the islands’ most treasured spots for generations to visit and enjoy,” says Sandwith about her appointment by the county council.

Marlis studied political science at the University of Montana and is very involved in the Orcas community, including past work with the non-profit Lahari and Orcas Island Elementary PTSA, Booster Club. She is a certified K-8 Waldorf teacher and certified marine naturalist, having completed one of the first trainings at the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, and is on the board of the Funhouse. Marlis currently works as a licensed broker with T. Williams Realty.

Marlis joins Land Bank Commissioners Jim Skoog (chair), Amanda Azous, Christa Campbell, Doug Strandberg, Amanda Wedow and Brian Wiese.