Today is Election Day. Ballots must be postmarked today or deposited into a dropbox by 8 p.m.
A lot is at stake — in many communities, a majority of city council positions and school board positions are on the ballot. But this election may be equally remembered for its dearth of candidates — of 66 positions on the ballot countywide, 38 candidates are unopposed. The elections office predicts the voter turnout will be 45 percent.
Voters will decide whether to grant the Kitsap County Public Utility District the authority to become a wastewater utility.
Bainbridge voters will elect four council members — three candidates are running unopposed — and will decide whether to fund construction of a new police station and municipal court building next to city hall. They will also elect three school board members, two members of the parks and recreation board, two fire district commissioners, and a member of the sewer district board.
Bremerton voters will elect three council members; two candidates are unopposed. They will also elect three school board members.
Port Orchard voters will decide whether incumbent Tim Matthes or Councilman Rob Putaansuu will serve as the full-time, salaried mayor. They will also elect four council members.
In Poulsbo, council appointee Ken Thomas and community-involved resident Amanda Cheatham are running for Position 1 on the City Council. Two candidates are unopposed for reelection. Another is virtually unopposed since his opponent dropped out of the race. Kingston voters will elect two Village Green Park and Recreation District commissioners; both candidates are running unopposed.
North Kitsap voters will elect three school board members, two members of the North Kitsap Fire & Rescue commission, and one member of Kitsap County Fire Protection District No. 18 (aka Poulsbo Fire); all fire district candidates are running unopposed.
Central Kitsap voters will elect three school board members; each is running unopposed. They will also elect a fire district commissioner and vote on two fire district propositions. South Kitsap voters will elect three fire district commissioners and vote on a fire district proposition.
Port commissioner positions will be decided in Bremerton, Brownsville, Illahee, Indianola, Keyport, Kingston, Manchester, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Tracyton and Waterman. Water district commissioner positions are on the ballot in Manchester, North Perry, and Silverdale.
Also on the ballot are state initiatives regarding the sales tax rate and the trafficking of animal species threatened with extinction; and advisory votes on legislation related to taxes imposed on crude oil (for oil spill response), medical marijuana, and software manufacturers.
Read the voters’ pamphlet you received in the mail; you can also read it online atwww.kitsapgov.com/aud/elections.htm, and get links to candidates’ websites.
Ballot dropboxes are located at:
Bainbridge Island Fire Department
8895 Madison Ave. NE
Bainbridge Island
Kitsap Regional Library
1301 Sylvan Way
Bremerton
Norm Dicks Government Center
345 6th St.
Bremerton
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue
26642 Miller Bay Road NE
Kingston
Kitsap County Auditor Administration Building
619 Division St
Port Orchard
Poulsbo Fire Station
911 N.E. Liberty Road
Poulsbo
Central Kitsap School District Administration Building
9210 Silverdale Way NW
Silverdale
Visit our website Election Night for results and coverage of what those results mean to you.
