As it is a new election season and I did find that the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce is continuing the Eggs & Issues events, this starts the first of a 4 or 5 entries dealing with the General Election in November.
First of all I have been very disappointed in the election so far, the Primary was like a stealth election. I didn’t see a lot of involvement by the majority of the candidates. If I think it has been low key and I follow things in Kitsap as much as I can then those who do little research or are not involved are really out of the loop. I think the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce did not do Eggs & Issues for the Primary and the Kitsap League of Woman Voters was very focused on only certain primary candidates. It turns out the 35th Legislative District, of which much of South Kitsap is in, has its own League of Woman Voters who have a huge tendency to forget that Kitsap County is part of their Legislative District. Of course the Kitsap League of Woman Voters is much more concerned about the 23rd and 26th Legislative Districts and leaves the Kitsap County 35th Legislative District voters and taxpayers on their own to rely on a Mason County/Shelton oriented and focused League of Woman Voters. It is interesting how any Chamber of Commerce in South Kitsap doesn’t seemed involved in many ways when it comes to informing the people of the candidates. The Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce is focused on Silverdale and Central Kitsap. I do know at least a Port Orchard City Council member does moderate the event, but you do not see much involvement by any organization in South Kitsap beyond that. On the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce website they have their #1 Goal: “Promote Economic Vitality of Silverdale/Central Kitsap”. So again the attention to those who could inform the voters and taxpayers of the candidates leaves out South Kitsap. That seems to be a reoccurring theme over the decades.
I do want to thank the Cloverleaf Sports Bar & Grill for their work and service during the event. Having worked there many decades ago, I know a lot of work goes into preparing for an event. The food was very good as was the service. There was around 40 people present at the event.
The calendar schedule on the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce website has the next few Eggs & Issues happen in October. October 01 at 0800 at the Cloverleaf Tavern in Bremerton is the candidates for the 23rd Legislative District and on October 08 at 0800 at the Cloverleaf Tavern in Bremerton is the 26th Legislative District candidates. I was told on October 22 at 0800 at the Cloverleaf Tavern the candidates for the District 1 and District 2 Kitsap County Commissioners will be held. That was not on the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce Event Calendar as of 19 September. As a reminder, the General Election will have ballots mailed out by law on or before 18 October if I remember correctly. I think the Kitsap County Auditor will have them mailed out a few days before that. Funny how the candidates that will have a huge affect on Kitsap County the next 4 years will not be heard until a week after the ballots come out and two weeks before the election. Two of the Kitsap County Commissioner positions are up for the election with only 1 incumbent, District 1. Remember the County Commissioner position is unusual in that the candidates run in their District in the Primary but run in all three Districts in the General Election. That has been a big reason South Kitsap has had a Republican win the Primary in the last 3 elections, but lose in the General to the Democrat candidate. It should be interesting with two Republicans in the General this year. Yes, I will be covering that Eggs & Issues very closely.
Now on to the Eggs & Issues forum at the Cloverleaf Tavern. Attending was Drew MacEwen (R) and Emily Randall (D) both trying to replace Derek Kilmer as Washingtons 6th District Representative in Congress. Before I go into the actual questions and responses I wanted to do some research on both candidates. I went to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) website to see where funding for the candidates is coming from for the last 18 months. It was eye opening to say the least. First up was Drew MacEwen and his contributors. He had as of the 19th of September, 182 contributors ranging from Washington State Republican Party ($1,500) to Go Pac Go’s $2,500 contribution. Green Diamond Resource Company PAC gave $1,000 while David Mafrige gave $3,300 for the Primary & General. Even a Bruce Titus gave $1,000. Drew had contributions from a few states, WA, GA, OR, WI & TX. Most were well under $1,000. Emily on the other hand had 3,550+ contributions from WA, MD, NM, OK, IL, AZ, VA and some interesting ones from DC and MA. I did not look at all 3,500+ entries, but went over at least ⅓ or more of them. Emily received $2,000 from California Lofgren for Congress, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union from DC for $5,000 for the Primary and General and the Equality Project PAC gave $3,500 for the Primary and $1,500 for the General Election, both out of DC. The one that really stood out was ACTBLUE, a hybrid PAC out of MA focused on Democratic candidates & issues . I do not know how much they contributed total to the Randall campaign, but the FEC had 11,395 entries for Randall’s campaign ranging from $3.00 to $4,000 just from ACTBLUE. The FEC records showed ACTBLUE has contributed $1,993,411,376 over the last 18 months to various campaigns, including Randall’s. I have always found it interesting how many people outside our various legislative districts take great interest as to who is elected to represent us at the federal, state and local levels.
I will be adding my list of questions I submitted to the moderator at the Eggs & Issues event at the end of this entry.
Each candidate was given a 3 minute opening statement, 1 minute to answer questions and 2 minute close. They each had two red cards, or challenge cards, to further respond to an opponents comment. They did use both of them. The event was recorded by Bremerton Kitsap Access Television (BKAT). I think the video will be available on the BKAT or Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce websites, but as of 19 September I could not find it. The Kitsap Sun did do a short article in its September 19th issue on the event.
What I give is my impressions/understanding of the responses, not a word by word replication of the conversations. At times it is hard to hear the responses, especially when some in the audience seem to think it is ok to talk over the candidate to talk to their table companions. I would say for more details go to the video when it becomes available. Drew MacEwen is DM and Emily Randall is ER.
My favorite question that I have asked at many forums was first up.
1. If you had a magic wand, what piece of legislation would you pass in your first term? ER, Court reform, (I think it was targeted to the Supreme Court) DM, Balance the Federal Budget.
2. What common issues does Kitsap County have with the other rural counties in the district?
DM, Most very rural with more urban in Pierce and some of kitsap County. The lack of a skilled workforce and a failing education’s system are common to all. ER, Olympia is doing things to improve the education levels and there is an increasing cost to childcare.
3. How will you improve health care for the many active duty, retirees and Veterans and their families?
ER, health care has a primary care shortage and reimbursements rates need to be higher to attract more primary care services. DM, Naval installations and shipyard workforce need more investments in the workforce for health care.
4. The shipyard and Naval Bases have large projects coming up in the next decade, how will you help ensure the area is ready for the changes in traffic and additional people that the work will create?
DM, Billions will be spent investing in the area in the next decade. We need to federalize the Gorst traffic issues. ER, Olympia is funding Gorst studies now and we need better childcare and schools. DM, I2117 not a big issue, states budget has doubled in 10 years, it a lack of leadership not funding. ER, I2117 will cause budget cuts.
This was the first Red card question. One candidate seemed to want to defend Olympia and its fiscal policies while the other seemed to say the leadership in Olympia has been negligent in how it is spending funds.
5. They were asked their position on health care reforms.
ER, (I did not hear her response due to noise.) DM, has seen the reduction in military health care with demand up and supply down.
6. What is your priority for the Gorst traffic issues?
DM, Feds need to take over the Gorst issues and fix as it is a primary issue for the military to move people and freight. Need to use the existing rail line. ER, state money funding Gorst issues so needs are met for future planning and funding.
7. Should the DOD rail system be utilized for civilian traffic?
ER, need to look at Bus Rapid Transit and other options. There is a difference between moving freight and people. DM, supports it use and allow stops to pick up shipyard workforce in Mason County and transport to Kitsap military bases and shipyard.
8. What is holding back growth of jobs and housing in the district?
DM, lack of trained workforce and educational opportunities. ER, agrees workforce is the biggest challenge along with healthcare.
9. How to meet housing needs in the district. ER, need low income housing and housing for workforce. DM, difficult to build in Washington due to codes etc. Many issues contribute to lack of housing.
10. There are issues with permitting at all levels. What can you do?
DM, Don’t want feds dealing with permitting. ER, need training via apprenticeships and as a jump start.
Basically I think both are saying that permitting at federal, state, county and city levels relies on a trained staff with the knowledge to process the permitting requests and there are not enough trained people to fill the needed positions with knowledgable staff.
11. What can you do to to improve infrastructure supporting the rural communities?
ER, create paths for school students and increase the availability of broadband services and also childcare. DM, rural can’t support infrastructure projects and they need more affordable housing.
12. How will you improve health care for the many active duty, retirees and Veterans in District 6?
DM, need to bring back and increase health care at Naval Hospital bremerton. ER, need to add to the VA and improve wait times and work on dealing with mental health challenges.
13. If any, what new tax would you support and what should that tax be funding?
ER, need to look at bills effects and look at tax reform. DM, Do not support new taxes.
14. Do you support child tax credits?
DM, support it and it helps. ER, yes, it helped her family and families are struggling.
15. Is construction of EV facilities and lowering carbon use important?
ER, yes. DM, need a better handle on energy generation and transfer of that energy on the grid.
16. What are your thoughts on the immigration issues?
DM, it is an issue and many crossing are not families. Need a system to block undesirables and secure the borders. ER, supports bipartisan bill and there is danger at the border for immigrants.
17. How can you help WSF?
ER, state underfunds WSF and they need federal funds. DM, WSF fired ⅓ of the workforce during covid. The certification of mariners needs to be addressed to respond to the greater need for qualified workforce.
18. How should you fund your bills?
DM, go back to a balanced budget, stop using Continuing Resolutions. Address the issue of Navy building designing ships that fail and are retired after a decade of use. ER, need to see what works and need more oversight.
19. Regarding funding to schools from federal sources.
ER, CK gets federal funds, Bremerton doesn’t. DM, don’t want feds in education. expedite process for military to get educational certifications. Make trades education the same in all states.
20. What will add to politics in Washington State?
DM, need more practical people to build relationships. ER, bipartisanship is important.
21. What is your steepest learning curve in your first year representing District 6?
ER, big learning curve building relationships. The scale of what we represent and the size of the group, 535 representatives. DM, magnitude of size and a 5 hour travel each way. Need time to build and maintain relationships.
Closing comments and as part of that why would you be more qualified to serve the District 6 residents?
ER, proud of first place in Primary and has an open office door for constituents. DM, has well rounded resume, has Navy relationships from prior service, has worked as a state Senator and Representative and works with both sides.
That was pretty much it. Like I said I do not quote the candidates but hopefully you can find the video on BKAT or the Chamber websites. I hope this gave you some interest in learning more about those who want to represent you in the other Washington. I think one of the most telling things is how and where each candidate gets their funding from. I would like to think we choose our leadership, but now its all about the money and where it comes from and where it is going that really sets our path to the leadership that is set in position to represent us at all levels, not just federal.
Do your research, use Washington Public Disclosure Commission and the Federal Election Commission and really look at what the candidates are offering and who is funding them. Keep asking questions and demanding answers. When they get into office, make sure they are working for us and hold them accountable. We should not hear rumors or discussions on how difficult it is to contact our Representative in Congress. Ever who gets into office to Represent District 6 needs to follow Derek Kilmers lead in how to communicate with the constituents. My interactions with him were very good over the years.
Below it the list of questions I gave to the Eggs & Issues moderator. They did use a few of mine. Yes, I am working on the list of questions for the 23rd and 26th District candidates and the County Commissioner candidates.
Congressional District 6 U.S. Representative Questions:
1. If you win, what is your #1 priority for Congressional District 6 during your first term in office? Be detailed in your response.
2. What is your priority for the Gorst traffic issue in Kitsap County? Be detailed in your response and discuss funding sources.
3. Congressional District 6 is very rural with Clallam, Kitsap, Mason Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties and parts of Pierce County included in District 6. What will you do to improve the infrastructure supporting the rural communities in the 6th District? Be specific in your response.
4. Do you think the DOD rail system that serves the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsula’s military bases should be used to also move freight and people to improve the rural counties ability to find jobs and increase the economies of the rural areas? Please explain your response.
5.There are many active duty, retirees and Veterans in Congressional District 6, what will you do to improve health care for them and their families? Please explain in detail.
6. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor have large projects upcoming. What will you do to help ensure the area is ready for the increase in traffic and people that the projects will create in the next decade?
7. What is your #1 priority specifically for Kitsap County in your first term? Be specific what you want to accomplish.
8. What makes you more qualified to serve the residents of District 5 than your opponent? Be specific in your response.
9. In Congressional District 6 what do you see as the biggest impediment that is holding back the growth of jobs and housing? Be specific in your response.
10. If any, what new tax would you support and what should that new funding accomplish? Be specific in your response.
11. Congressional District 6 is made up of Kitsap, Clallam, Mason, Jefferson and Grays Harbor Counties and parts of more urban Pierce County. What common issues does Kitsap County have with the other areas you represent and how will you address those common issues. Be specific in your response.
12. With a magic wand, what piece of legislation would you pass in your first term as Representative for District 6? Why is this legislation important to you and to District 6 residents?
26 July 2024
I posted earlier on the Kitsap League of Women Voters forum and the responses from the 3 Democratic candidates that showed up. I am not sure that the Republican or the Abe Lincoln Democrat Party candidates were even invited to this League forum. If this was a Kitsap League of Women Voters forum just for the Democratic side I am very disappointed in the Kitsap League of Women Voters. If the other 3 candidates were invited but chose not to attend I am very disappointed in them as well.
I sent all 6 Kitsap County Commissioner District 2 Candidates a list of 3 questions using the email in the Voters Pamphlet that I pulled from my question bank on 7/11/2024. I had one, Stacey Smith, acknowledge the receipt of the questions and she stated response would be forthcoming. That arrived on 7/17. I commented on a Facebook post about the lack of response by the candidates and Matt Macklin, responded on Facebook that he had not received the e-mail but came back shortly after and said he had found it in his Junk folder. I received his response on 7/25/2024.
Below are the responses from both candidates with minimal editing by me to just fit it to my format. At the end of the candidates responses I will give my opinion on their response and opinion on the other 4 candidates.
Response from Stacey (Spencer) Smith:
1. Within your Commissioner District, what percentage of residents/taxpayers live in unincorporated Kitsap County (not within Bremerton or Port Orchard city limits)? How will you ensure their voices are heard when it comes to growth, development and infrastructure improvements in District 2? Be specific in your response.
There are approximately 280,000 people living in Kitsap County and roughly 93,000 people reside in district 2. Port Orchard’s city population is 16,000. Bremerton’s (total) city population is 44,000 and divided in ½ equates to 22,000. For estimates, 38,000 of the 93,000 the population lives inside a city jurisdiction. This is approximately 40% of the district 2 general population resides within city limits and 60% resides in the unincorporated areas.
My experience on the Kitsap Department of Community Development planning commission representing South Kitsap developing the 20 year strategic plan for growth, as well as developing two Kitsap Aging 4 year strategic Area Plans has underscored the importance of a strong communication plan to ensure community voice is solicited, received and incorporated into planning for growth, development and infrastructure.
A strong communication plan includes a multi-facet approach to ensure community members are aware of upcoming projects, project progress and opportunities to review and provide feedback. Kitsap County uses a variety of social media platforms to share information or meeting invitations (Facebook posts, Next Door Apps, Instagram, and X), outreach to local news group through press releases, featuring projects in newspaper articles, and other targeted media outreach. The Gov.Delivery notification system is available as a self-serve sign-up notification system for individuals to select topics of interest and how they want to receive information (email or text options). There are also opportunities to provide general feedback at standing public meetings, such as the Board of County Commissioners or Planning Commissioner meetings, that occur twice a month. Lastly, the traditional “yellow” postings on physical properties is also a useful way for local neighborhoods to be informed of upcoming projects and feedback opportunities.
As community-based plans and projects are developed, local government strives to establish strong connections with residents. Engaged communities are thriving communities. Feedback is solicited through community forums, townhalls, public hearings and work study sessions, as well as posting draft documents for community review and feedback on websites. Press releases and notification alerts are data driven strategies to connecting community.
As a Kitsap County employee, I have developed and analyzed community needs assessments to identify gaps and assess solutions. I have conducted community surveys, focus group interviews, and townhalls to present data, proposed successful strategies, and collect feedback.
With my experience in county government, conducting community needs assessment, 30 years living in the district and being district 2’s planning commissioner, I am best equipped to be the voice for district 2 as we continue to grow.
2. Kitsap County Commissioners sit on a number of boards and committees. What specific board or committee do you look forward to being a part of? Explain why that particular board or committee attracts your interest.
There are about 20 different boards and committees that Kitsap County Commissioners members participate. Some are local, regional (multi-county), statewide, and a couple national.
I am most looking forward to joining the Kitsap Public Health Board. I attend the monthly Board meetings as a member of the public. I appreciate the community project updates, status updates on our community’s health, special project presentations to ensure our community is aware of the broad array of services and information available through our local health district. The information is well presented and easily understood. I enjoy learning about my community and how we can thrive together.
The other Board I’m excited to join is the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) executive board. Kitsap Commissioner Charlotte Garrido currently sits on this board. Josh Brown, the PSRC Executive Director, is a former Kitsap County Commissioner. Nancy Buonanno-Grennan, the PSRC Deputy Director, is a former Kitsap County Administrator and Human Resource Director. I would use my existing relationships to advocate for District 2. I believe there are opportunities to learn from other regional models that are working well.
3. In your opinion, which would potentially bring more economic growth to South Kitsap, the proposed Community Center in downtown Port Orchard or the proposed STEM Educational Center & Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) facility in conjunction with a professional racetrack on the Port of Bremerton property? Be detailed in your response as to why one or the other could potentially have a greater fiscal impact in South Kitsap.
The Port of Bremerton Circuit of the Northwest project includes a racetrack, concert venues, townhomes, and other recreational/ tourism related activities. It’s a BIG project that has struggled with securing funding. It’s deadline for securing funding has been extended three times. If it is funded, it could potentially bring more economic growth to our area; however it may be sporadic, or specific to an event or season.
The Port of Bremerton is ranked the #1 port in Washington State. It is recognized for its leadership and ability to attract successful business models. It generates approximately $1 billion revenue to Wahington State. As District 2 Commissioner, I would rather focus on investing in economic growth that focuses on keeping our community healthy, maintains our character, compliments the existing businesses at the Port’s industrial park, preserves green space, and embrace innovative new businesses to Kitsap- like clean energy.
Response from Matt Macklin:
Dear Mr. Gay, Thank you for reaching out with your questions and for your patience in awaiting my response. I appreciate your engagement and look forward to addressing your questions. Below are my responses to your queries with specific ideas for county policy incentives and implementations that can accomplish the goals presented: 1. Within your Commissioner District, what percentage of residents/taxpayers live in unincorporated Kitsap County (not within Bremerton or Port Orchard city limits)? How will you ensure their voices are heard when it comes to growth, development and infrastructure improvements in District 2?
Be specific in your response.
Unincorporated Kitsap County Residents Approximately 75% of residents within Commissioner District 2 live in unincorporated Kitsap County, outside the limits of Bremerton and Port Orchard. Ensuring their voices are heard is crucial for balanced growth and development. I propose the following strategies: Regular Town Halls and Listening Sessions: The primary tenant of my campaign is “Leadership that listens. Action that Delivers.” That was chosen not as something that sounds good, because it embodies my record and approach to effective leadership and operations. I would implement a policy to hold monthly town halls and listening sessions in various unincorporated areas. These meetings can be formalized through a county resolution, ensuring that they are scheduled and conducted regularly. I have already begun doing this during my campaign. Reinviting local media outlets to board meetings will also re-engage the public with what has in recent times been under-whelming county government. Community Advisory Boards: Establish advisory boards through an ordinance that mandates the inclusion of representatives from unincorporated areas. These boards would meet quarterly and provide direct feedback to the County Commissioner on growth and infrastructure issues. Our boards are key to subject matter expertise, and this also goes for geographic immersion. Digital Engagement: Develop a county-funded digital engagement platform where residents can submit feedback, participate in surveys, and join virtual town hall meetings. This platform can be integrated with existing county websites and social media channels. This platform may also act as a more effective way to elicit and ensure public comment. Transparent Communication: Create a county policy that requires regular updates on development projects and infrastructure improvements to be published in a dedicated section on the county’s website and distributed via email newsletters. This policy would ensure accountability and transparency in all communication efforts.
2. Kitsap County Commissioners sit on a number of boards and committees. What specific board or committee do you look forward to being a part of?
Explain why that particular board or committee attracts your interest.
Board or Committee Involvement I am particularly interested in joining the Kitsap County Planning Commission and PSRC. These committees plays a vital role in shaping the future of our community through oversight of land use, zoning, and comprehensive planning. My focus would be on: Sustainable Development: Advocate for the implementation of a Green Building Incentive Program, which offers tax credits and expedited permitting for developers who incorporate sustainable practices and energy-efficient designs in their projects. We should aim to make KC a hub of green energy jobs and development. Affordable Housing: Propose a policy that allocates county funds to a Housing Trust Fund, which would provide low-interest loans and grants to developers building affordable housing units. This can be coupled with inclusionary zoning policies that require a percentage of new developments to be affordable. Infrastructure Improvements: Champion the adoption of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that prioritizes infrastructure projects based on community input and needs assessments. This plan would be reviewed and updated annually to ensure it remains aligned with growth patterns and community demands. This goes beyond the current process seen in the Comprehensive plan de
3. In your opinion, which would potentially bring more economic growth to South Kitsap, the proposed Community Center in downtown Port Orchard or the proposed STEM Educational Center & Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) facility in conjunction with a professional racetrack on the Port of Bremerton property?
Be detailed in your response as to why one or the other could potentially have a greater fiscal impact in South Kitsap.
Economic Growth Potential Both the proposed Community Center in downtown Port Orchard and the STEM Educational Center & EVOC facility with a professional racetrack have significant potential for economic growth in South Kitsap. However, I believe the STEM Educational Center & EVOC facility could potentially bring greater fiscal impact for several reasons: Job Creation: Implement a Workforce Development Program in partnership with local educational institutions and businesses. This program would focus on training and certifying residents for jobs created by the STEM center and EVOC facility, ensuring that local talent is utilized. Attracting Investment: Establish a Business Improvement District (BID) around the proposed facility to attract investment and enhance local infrastructure. The BID would fund improvements such as enhanced public transportation, parking facilities, and beautification projects, making the area more attractive to investors and visitors. Education and Training: Secure state and federal grants to support the establishment of the STEM Educational Center. This funding would help develop cutting-edge programs that attract students and educators, positioning South Kitsap as a leader in STEM education. Diverse Revenue Streams: Develop a revenue-sharing agreement with the facility's operators, ensuring that a portion of the profits from events and programs is reinvested into the community. This could fund local schools, public safety initiatives, and community projects. Community Engagement: Form a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to manage the development and operation of the facility. This partnership would involve local businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies, ensuring that the project benefits the entire community and aligns with local needs. At the end of the day, there is always benefit from discussion and perspective. I am committed to working collaboratively with all residents to ensure a prosperous and inclusive future for South Kitsap. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please feel free to reach out. Matt
My response and opinions follows.
This is a little different from a League Forum or debate as the candidates have as much time as they want to answer and can research their information used to respond to the question. Sometimes this is better than the 60 second response at a debate or forum, assuming of course the candidates don’t get the questions to be asked days before the event. I think a mix of the two is important to see how a candidate thinks and how knowledgeable they are. How well do they respond to a random question thrown at them versus a question they can research and really think about it over a few days.
Regarding the first question on how two involve those in South Kitsap that are not in an incorporated area I find very important. Commissioner District 2 has all of Port Orchard and significant part of Bremerton under its umbrella, but the majority of the voters and taxpayers live in unincorporated Kitsap which is some of the Navy Yard City area and areas South of SR3. Both Bremerton and Port Orchard also have areas that are part of their Urban Growth Area (UGA), which are areas that the cities should annex at some point. Those UGA’s are targeted by the Growth Management Act (GMA) to receive the majority of the growth in unincorporated Kitsap.
Stacey says communications is a key element and relies on many of the existing methods of contacting residents, social media, Gov.Delivery, and public meetings. Matt talks about Town Halls, Community Advisory Boards, digital engagement, and transparent communications. I use many of those sources to follow what is happening in Kitsap County. They are useful. My best information was when I attended as many if not more meetings than the County Commissioners did. Has any candidate for the Board of County Commissioner (BoCC), or even the present County Commissioners attended a Kitsap Public Utilities District (KPUD) or Port of Bremerton meeting? Some may not have noticed but unincorporated South Kitsap is rural, very rural. We don’t have facilities for community meetings that are close to where we live. When I was on a Wicks Lake/Coulter Creek committee we met at Long Lake. Believe it or not with SR16 dividing South Kitsap you have two different areas that have been ignored for many decades, East and West of SR16 is a very interesting mixture of people and lifestyles. Matt says he would have monthly Town Halls in various unincorporated areas. Odds are they will be in the UGA of a city because that is where the growth is going and where potential meeting locations could be found. The unincorporated areas outside the UGA’s have few meeting places that could hold a town hall. Long Lake has been used, but again there is a difference between east and west of SR16.
Regarding the Boards and Committees, Stacey was very interested in the Kitsap Public Health Board, which she attends already as a member of the public and the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). Matt was interested in the Kitsap County Planning Commission (which Stacey attends as a member representing District 2) and the PSRC. He was interested in shaping the future of the community. I am not sure an active County Commissioner sits on the Planning Commission, I think they assign a volunteer and get reports/recommendations from the committee, but I may be wrong. Matt also wants to create a Housing Trust Fund and a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that goes beyond the Comprehensive Plan CIP. That should be interesting, especially for funding.
Last was the two big projects in District 2, the Community Center in downtown Port Orchard and the STEM/EVOC/Racetrack facility on the Port of Bremerton property. First of all remember that the Port of Bremerton is part of the City of Bremerton, the city goes all the way along SR# to the Mason County line. The Community center is within the Port Orchard city limits. That has big tax implications for both cities along with potential revenue windfalls. Stacey doesn’t seem to think the funding for the Racetrack is really secure but if it was fully funded could have a big, but sporadic impact, while Matt thinks the STEM/EVOC facility could have much greater fiscal impact. Stacey did say she would want rather focus on investing in the Port of Bremerton Industrial Park potentially with “clean” industries.
If you don’t know what is going on at the Port of Bremerton there is movement towards a professional racetrack/entertainment facility that would include a STEM facility and a EVOC facility. The infrastructure to develop the area is already underway. STEM is education targeted to Science, Technology, Engineering & Math. The potential to create a facility that could work with the local high schools and Olympic College to create programs to support Marine, Air and other technological fields and could have a huge impact well beyond Kitsap County. An example is Raisbeck Aviation High School in Tukwila. The Port of Bremerton has an airport and marinas so the potential is huge. The EVOC is the Emergency Vehicle Operators Course. It is a course that is given to police, sheriffs, firemen, ambulance and other emergency vehicle operators. I have taken the course and it is very informative and very, very useful to the emergency vehicle operators. It has been given on the abandoned airstrips on the Ports property but that area is being opened to development and will be lost for use as an EVOC facility. The local EVOC is used by many areas outside Kitsap County and brings in people from all over the state. It is a very important faculty to have, especially as they operators would have to be sent out of county for the course.
Now for the District 2 candidates and my opinions.
Paul Nuchims (Abe D) wasted his time and money running for office. But it is his time and his money to spend.
Sean Murphy (R) seems more politically driven than community driven. He has ideas, like a bounty on fentanyl dealers but doesn’t really make it clear where the funding is coming from. Also his idea on train service needs a few reality checks. Why should I as a Kitsap resident help pay for a train service to just PSNS and Bangor? I would think the federal government would be the entity for that, not Kitsap County. And yes the idea or a few like that have been brought up before. Heck the rail goes all the way to the coast so it could be a true rail transportation system for more than just Kitsap County, but I seriously doubt the feds would buy off on the concept nor would voters support funding a rail line to shipyard workers and not the rest of the public. I wonder if Sean talked to the Port of Bremerton at all on the subject?
Jeff Coughlin (D) is a current Bremerton City Council, he is knowledgeable but he is a Bremerton City Council member and I do not think he really speaks for South Kitsap. I would not feel represented on the Board of County Commissioners with him as the District 2 Commissioner. I think he would be very focused on what he could do for Bremerton and forget that the great majority of District 2 lives South of Gorst.
Orin Root (R) has run for this position before. I have met with him in the past and I was impressed. I am disappointed he did not respond to the email with my questions, but such is the arena of digital communications. His website has some things like public safety where he will work with the Sheriff to ensure they have resources. In the past out of 3 County Commissioners I think only one actually visited the jail and had an idea of how it operated. I do not think the present County Commissioner Garrido has ever visited the Kitsap County Jail and considering the Sheriffs Department, which includes the Jail, is 60% plus of the budget you would think it would attract an occasional visit. I think past commissioners didn’t really want to know the things that might bite them in the budget, and the Jail is a big one. Also the front line Deputies should be recognized more often than the occasional BoCC meeting. I think every Kitsap County Commissioner should do a Ride Along and a visit to the jail twice a year. I find it interesting that many candidates are calling for the Department of Community Development (DCD) to streamline permitting. I have been to many meetings precovid and I am sure that was being done on a regular basis so I wonder what happened at DCD to get it to the condition it is in now, is it a leadership problem at multiple levels? Orin has a chance to win the Primary as Commissioner Garrido has not won a Primary, she comes in second. It’s the rest of the county that typically choses the commissioner for South Kitsap. I like that in the past Commissioner Wolf was a Republican and brought another point of view to the BoCC. Maybe we need that again.
Matt Macklin (D) I think is a big supporter of a hospital district in Kitsap County. You can see his responses to the 3 questions I asked. His website has the standard “beat my chest” accomplishments but it is short on actual answers. I would have to ask how he would accomplish things like “Prioritize the growth of small businesses in Kitsap County…”. I see many of his ideas as needing funding and I wonder where this funding will come from. Things like a Green Building Incentive Program offering tax credits and expedited permitting. Not sure how expedited permitting will fit well in a DCD that seems to be overwhelmed at this point. What I don’t see on his website is how he will work for South Kitsap. What will he bring to the table specifically for South Kitsap?
Stacey (Spencer) Smith (D) has been involved with Kitsap County for 25 years. She attends many of the same meetings as the BoCC. She is very knowledgeable when it comes to the social issues facing Kitsap County. She has served on the Planning Commission and is familiar with things like the Comprehensive Plan and GMA. I gather she is also a supporter of a hospital district in Kitsap County. What bothers me is the potential for her to be just a clone or echo of the outgoing Commissioner. I would like to see and hear things that would make her stand out from Commissioner Garrido. If she makes it into the General I will be looking for that from her. I do not think we need another commissioner for South Kitsap that seems uninterested in many aspects of the job. I would be impressed with any sitting commissioner or commissioner candidate who actually visits the jail and does a ride along with a Deputy. Her website seems to concentrate on social polices dealing with housing and behavioral health issues. I didn’t see anything regarding the current issues with DCD or Sheriffs Department, it was very ‘social issues’ focused.
This is the Primary so only the top two will go on to the General.
In no special order I have 3 that could be a decent pick to represent South Kitsap:
Oran Root (R) Stacey (Spencer) Smith (D) Matt Macklin (D)
Please look at their websites, attend forums and debates and ask questions.
Please vote, it counts.
22 July 2024
I have a few things to discuss today. I would have posted sooner but I decided to wait to see if I received any other responses. That and I have been with my spouse as she had a 3 way bypass done last week.
The Kitsap League of Women Voters had an online Zoom forum last week for the District 2 Kitsap County Commissioner candidates. Of course not everyone showed up. The two republicans were a no show as was the Abe Lincoln Democrat Party. I get the feeling the republicans think the League is a little biased politically, just a guess on my part of course.
The Kitsap League of Women Voters doesn’t count the voters in the 35th Legislative District as part of Kitsap it seems. They rely fully on another group to keep 35th Legislative District Kitsap County residents in the loop. I don’t think that has worked well at all myself.
Before I discuss the forum, I did send a list of 3 questions to all six candidates using the email address in the Kitsap County Official Voters Pamphlet. Out of the six candidates I received one response, that from Stacey (Spencer) Smith. She acknowledged the receipt of the questions but said she would answer them later. I received them after the forum of course. Another candidate said basically they did not receive the questions. He, Matt Macklin, said later he had found them in his junk file. I have yet to receive a response to the questions from Matt. It may be a good idea for candidates to look how the email system actually works and check their junk file.
As a side note the candidates were asked 7 questions during the forum. As typical I did send a few questions to the Kitsap League of Women Voters (16) and they used at least 4 of the questions at the forum.
I don’t record what I hear so there will be gaps and issues at times but I try to tell the story I hear as I hear it and remember it.
I won’t go through the introductions, you can go to the Kitsap League of Women Voters website and see the video. Also the first question dealt with their budget experience and of course they all had some experience with budgets, large and small.
The second question dealt with their top priorities. Stacey had issues with increasing housing and increasing behavioral health care access. Jeff says he will meet with all staff in the first 100 days and housing, growth, health care, transportation, ferries, roads and public safety are all priorities. Matt says the housing crisis/supply and public safety are the priorities.
Question 3 was how to support growth and infrastructure and economic development. Jeff said DCD permitting has issues and the ferries need addressed. Matt said he needed to better understand the DCD issues and would look for private/public partnerships. Stacey said to use the Port of Bremerton as an example and use their and the cities knowledge and skills to help with the growth.
Question 4 dealt with impact fees/property taxes and were they sufficient. Matt says there is always waste and never enough funding. He mentioned a hospital district. Stacey says impact fees cover costs and are they actually doing that would be a question to be answered. Jeff says it’s up to the citizens about taxes.
Question 5 dealt with the Growth Management Act (GMA) update and what were their concerns. Stacey said we needed to go for fewer single family homes and have greater density in growth. Jeff said there needed to be multiple forms of housing and Matt said GMA was not working good.
Question 6 dealt with the many thousands of voters and taxpayers who live in District 2 and are not in an incorporated area and how will they ensure their voices are heard when it comes to growth in South Kitsap. Jeff keep doing what he does as a Bremerton City Council member and meet people.Matt says he his always on duty and attends events. Stacey says she has lived here 30 years, goes to local meetings and uses social media.
The last question dealt with what boards or committees would they most look forward to being on. All three seemed to be very interested in sitting on the Kitsap County Public Health District Board. I found that very interesting and worrisome to a point. Matt talked a little about a lack of coordination in the county. Stacey said she looked forward to be on the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) while Jeff was interested in Kitsap Transit, Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council, PSRC and Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA).
I got the impression that all 3 were supporters of a Kitsap County Hospital District that would be supported by an increase in property taxes. This is the same thing that the incumbent Commissioner said she would be ok in leaving out South Kitsap from the district but still let them use the facilities. Personally I would have to really look at what a hospital district could provide and the property tax increases that would entail. I have spent the last week at the hospital facilities in Silverdale as my spouse had a 3 way bypass last week. It has been very interesting week or so to say the least.
I do not know what has happened at the County over the last few years. Many people I knew have left, including department heads and staff at many levels. I have noticed that the commissioners, at least the one that represents District 2 does not return e-mails and Public Works has a great tendency to not contact the voters and taxpayers when questions are asked. I have been told you must go through some administrator before you can even talk to a commissioner. How true it is I do not know, it is just what I have been told the last few months. If you do not know, I ran for District 2, 3 elections ago, and for another 4 or 5 years attended hundred of meetings of the BoCC, KRCC, KT, KPUD, PoB and many others so I do have a little experience in how things used to work. The push for a hospital district is interesting. In the meantime Silverdale is a big the economic driver for Kitsap County and odds are it will incorporate in the next 5 years, if not sooner. The candidates did not seem to really have a good feel for the GMA and how it has affected growth for the last 20+ years. I did not even bring up the study done by the legislature a number of years ago on how to better the GMA. It’s funny as I see the issues with DCD (Department of Community Development) as having a big influence on the housing issues. The GMA drives development and does give many restrictions on where growth happens. GMA and DCD are not coordinated to deliver less expensive housing. It is coordinated to follow the market and the market for housing has been high for a number of decades. Bottom line the only way to have affordable housing is to have government subsidies, one way or the other. When a city/county gives a developer a tax incentive, it falls on the rest of the taxpayers to take up the slack. It also reduces the taxes all of the 41 taxing districts in Kitsap County receive for term of the incentive. Bainbridge Island had a method/process I think was viable for long term affordable housing, but no one else seems to want to copy that particular process.
I do not think the County Commissioner for the last 12 years has really worked for South Kitsap. We have been at the bottom of the list for many things. We are rural, which GMA hates in many ways when it comes to development and the infrastructure needed to support growth. So the Bremerton and Port Orchard incorporated areas get 95% of the attention even though they are maybe 40% of the voters and taxpayers in South Kitsap. I think we need a Commissioner that at least recognizes this issue.
After the Primary I will concentrate on the two candidates and will try to set up a meeting one on one to ask questions and of course attend forums or debates as I can.
Ballots are out, so VOTE!!
13 July 2024
It has taken time to get back to updating the website as Domain.com did a major upgrade in April and I lost my access to the website in the way I had been accessing it for 5 0r 6 years. But I am back now. Like I mentioned in a previous post the 2024 election will be interesting to say the least. So I will be posting some of the election issues I see and I will be asking candidates questions and add their responses. I will also post on news articles, news articles regarding development and other government actions that I think need to be looked at closer. I also have a Facebook group called Peninsula Bridge to Bridge. In that I discuss the restaurants we go to and the businesses we visit. I will continue that on this website and will expand on what I think went well, or not, with my visit to the business. I may attend a few meetings, but nothing like I did precovid.
I wanted to attend the Eggs & Issues like before but I have seen nothing about the Chamber of Commerce having those again. I contacted the Kitsap League of Women Voters and found out they are doing remote events and to top it off, the 35th Legislative District was done months ago and not part of the wrongly named Kitsap League of Women Voters. It seems those in Kitsap County 35th Legislative District are not considered to be part of Kitsap County League of Women Voters concerns.
So first up this month is a few questions I sent to the Kitsap County Commissioner District 2 candidates. I used the Kitsap County Voters Pamphlet to get the 6 candidates email addresses as follows:
Jeff@KitsapForCoughlin.com JEFF COUGHLIN
Murphy4kitsap@gmail.com SEAN MURPHY
info@mattmacklin.com MATT MACKLIN
electoran@root4kitsap.com ORAN ROOT
info@Smith4Kitsap.com STACY SMITH
pnuchims@aol.com PAUL NUCHIMS
So far I have had 1 response as of 13 July and that was from Stacy Smith saying they were good questions and she would respond later with her response. Here are the questions I asked from my candidate question bank:
1. Within your Commissioner District, what percentage of residents/taxpayers live in unincorporated Kitsap County (not within Bremerton or Port Orchard city limits)? How will you ensure their voices are heard when it comes to growth, development and infrastructure improvements in District 2?
Be specific in your response.
2. Kitsap County Commissioners sit on a number of boards and committees. What specific board or committee do you look forward to being a part of?
Explain why that particular board or committee attracts your interest.
3. In your opinion, which would potentially bring more economic growth to South Kitsap, the proposed Community Center in downtown Port Orchard or the proposed STEM Educational Center & Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) facility in conjunction with a professional racetrack on the Port of Bremerton property?
Be detailed in your response as to why one or the other could potentially have a greater impact in South Kitsap.
Yes, I have a question bank of questions I have asked candidates over the last 10 years, its funny how many are still relevant today. When I receive a response I will post that response on this website.
On another note, Kitsap County Public Works has a number of road projects this year. One is near where I live on Glenwood Road. They are continuing the road improvement project that was started decades ago on Glenwood Road. It originally was to start back in May but it seems the contractor can't start work until the utility companies accomplish their work in moving the utilities. So far it seems Puget Sound Energy (PSE), Astound and Century Link have better things to do so this project is on delay until the utility work is done and the contractor can go to work. I hope it starts soon as I don't want road work going on in the late fall/early winter time frame. The detours add a few miles every trip to our outings. The lack of communications between Kitsap County Public Works and the public is interesting. I had asked question about the delay using Kitsap1. I received a response that the question had been forwarded to Public Works. I received a response from Theresa Smith who said the same thing Kitsap1 said which was they forwarded the question to Julie Hamon who is the Assistant Construction Manager. After a week or so I sent an e-mail to Commissioner Garrido regarding the lack of Public Works response and have not heard from her either. There is a communications breakdown in the county offices I think.
If you did not know, Kitsap Transit is building a big Transit Center near the intersection of Sidney and Sedgwick. You can see the work trailer in the lot on Sidney, that work should be starting soon. As a matter of fact Port Orchard put out a request for bid on a project in the same area. There is a creek nearby & WSDOT is building a new fish friendly culvert across SR16 now for Blackjack Creek. The city will be adding a lift station just feet from Ruby Creek (which feeds into Blackjack Creek) on the corner of the Transit Center property. It will serve 1900 ERU's and support the Transit Center and other growth in the area. It will have a wet well, two submersible pumps, 750gpm capacity, a backup diesel powered pump, generator and all support equipment. The ERU is Equivalent Residential Unit, it is used as a billing method for sewer/water systems. One ERU basically being the water one single family home typically uses. A business might be set at 2 ERU for billing purposes..
That is it for this entry. I hope to update at least weekly, more often when I get responses from candidates. I will let you know what is happening in Kitsap and the Facebook group Peninsula Bridge to Bridge and hope you find the posts interesting and useful.
22 January 2024
I want to remind readers that voting counts. Neither party, D or R, has a majority of the voters. It takes Independent and other party voters to give any party a majority. I would like to see better candidates than what will probably presented in November, but a choice needs to be made. We will have a snake oil salesman/con man and a very old and ineffective leader to pick from. Both seem to have issues and are only 4 years difference in age, heck I am younger than both by a few years and I would not feel competent enough to be president.
5 November 2020
This is the first entry in my modified blog/webpage. I have decided to stop attending meetings for the most part. Covid19 has put a glitch into the everyday face to face meetings I had attended previously and Zoom meetings seem to be very restrictive as to how the public is involved. My plan is to update this page every so often with my point of view on various subjects. I hope to keep up with local goings on, mainly by reading meeting minutes or viewing BKAT videos.
Part of why I am backing away from continuing my public involvement is the election results. I had hoped for change but at many levels change did not happen. It may be the future legislative redistricting may change how things are in Kitsap County, but I doubt it. Frankly when I see at many levels the quality of the candidates I have to wonder about the direction we are taking. We have over 328,000,000 in the USA and 7,600,000 in Washington State and this is the best we can come up with for candidates at many levels. That is scary in many ways. I will emphasize that I am not Republican or Democrat, I am an Independent voter who looks for the best person for the office, not a political poppinjay or parrot of political beliefs. Neither of the major parties have all the answers, heck neither one at times seems to even understand the questions. As for the smaller political parties, it usually is more of the same of the "my way or the highway' style of political posturing. So yes, basically I am tired of years of the same old bullshit from all sides.
The general public is not much better, they seem at times to bask in the glory of ignorance and misinformation. Instead of getting involved and actually getting their hands dirty learning and educating themselves on the issues most seem to use the internet exclusively to form their opinions. If Bill from Billings says on Facebook that a candidate is from Mars, then that becomes the mantra. Locally people act surprised when local politicians discuss something they do not agree with and act even more surprised when it happens. The fact it was discussed at previous public meetings, voted on at a public meeting and may have eventually had a newspaper article written about it is immaterial. No one came to their door or called them to tell them personally something that will affect them is happening. Oh, the horror of not being told personally. We have a tendency to forget who the elected officials actually work for, they work for all of us regardless of party affiliations. It is up to us to ensure they do not forget that and that takes work and involvement on our part.
Yes it is hard to be informed, I know, I spent the last four years going to hundreds of hours of meetings and talking one on one with many community leaders. I will stay informed, I will still research the issues and I still have the elected officials on my list of people I e-mail or phone call to discuss the issues. I hope they know that I am willing to listen to their ideas and give my feedback and I hope they listen to my concerns.
Kitsap County is changing and changing much more rapidly than many people expected. That will not change, in fact it may increase in speed in the next few years even with the economic recovery from Covid19 that is on the horizon. How we in Kitsap County change to meet the future will be interesting. I expect Silverdale will be incorporated in the next 5 years with Kingston following in the next 10-15 years. That will greatly change the dynamics in Kitsap County and have a huge affect on unincorporated Kitsap County and the services they receive.
Hopefully I will discuss this in this blog in the next few years and I hope to keep you informed a little bit. I leave many of the details to you to hopefully get you more involved with our community, the county, the state and our country.