James M. Olsen, candidate for House position 23rd District, has for many years been a prophet in the deserts of Bainbridge and Kitsap calling for fiscal reform and open government. Using his analytical abilities as a business man and executive, he called on Bainbridge City Council to mend their ways on spending excessive amounts of money on ill-conceived grandiose plans. He clearly saw the reality of a council spending lavishly of public art and public artists and not being faithful stewards of the taxpayers’ money. His opponent, Christine Rolfes, spent 6 years on COBI Council (2000-06) spending on real-estate speculation, over-staffing, and special-interest give aways. Olsen’s call for for staff reduction is finally being heeded but after $3 million per year waste.

Additionally, two years ago, Olsen, working with his Shining City Media, filmed the Bremerton Chamber Candidate Eggs and Issues forums and had them broadcast on BITV and BKAT. Thousands of voters saw their candidates on television. This is part of what Olsen holds near and dear: open, transparent and accessible government. Even though Rolfes refused to have her debate filmed that year, the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce adopted the Olsen-media model and airs all forum debates (See Chamber Facebook). Tellingly Rolfes failed to appear for one of this year’s debates in Bremerton.

Olsen has been part of the solution, not part of the problem of big government. While many officials were resistant to his calls for reform, in the end he was right. We need that intrepid spirit in Olympia. I endorse him to represent us in Olympia.

Jeffrey M. Sneller

Bainbridge