This is part of a series of Q&As with candidates for local office in the Nov. 4 general election. This Q&A: Linda Streissguth and Ed Wolfe, candidates for Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, District 3.
Kitsap County commissioners approve laws and manage the county budget. Commissioners are responsible for county policies relating to community development, county finance, environmental protection, human services, parks and recreation, public safety and health, solid waste, transportation, and other duties as directed by the state Legislature. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms.
LINDA STREISSGUTH
Residence: Bremerton
Occupation: Kitsap County commissioner, District 3
Education: B.S., business administration, City University, Bellevue; certification in management studies, City University, Bellevue; designation American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association.
Relevant experience: Kitsap County commissioner, January 2014 to present
Q: What are the top issues in this campaign?
Streissguth: What I’ve heard consistently from constituents across our community is that building a thriving economy with living-wage jobs and preserving our quality of life are the two most important issues for Kitsap County. Providing local employment opportunities is an important factor in addressing the increase in poverty and homelessness we are seeing within our community. A thriving economy requires both attracting new employers and supporting existing businesses while diversifying our economy to ensure sustainability for the long-term. Quality-of-life issues include making certain we have safe, healthy neighborhoods, resources and community-based solutions to address the rise in mental health and substance abuse problems, and a long-range strategy to preserve our natural environment.
Q: What are your priorities if elected?
Streissguth: Promoting economic development and the creation of family wage jobs for the residents that live here and growing opportunities for the next generation.
Adequate resources to provide essential public services that residents need. Examples include utility and transportation planning; resources to address gaps in community services for mental health and substance abuse
Preserving our quality of life including keeping our neighborhoods safe, preserving the natural beautify of Kitsap County and planning for our future.
Q: How would you accomplish those priorities?
Streissguth: Economic development — continue to support our ongoing Lean Process Improvement work with the Department of Community Development to streamline development permitting and predictability for land use projects. We need to increase our outreach with the business community, and individual applicants, to identify areas for continued improvement.
Public health and safety are basic to the quality of life, and local government has direct responsibility for keeping our neighborhoods safe and to ensure we have the resources to respond when situations require.
The most important policy document the Board of Commissioners approves each year is the county budget, and I’m already at work reviewing programs and resource requests for 2015. I believe the county needs to continue a focus on efficient, effective services as we plan for appropriate levels of service in the years ahead. I believe we need to develop a long-range plan which balances the six year revenue forecast with anticipated growth and increased demands for service as we plan for Kitsap’s future.
Q: Regarding bipartisanship: Provide some examples of how you’ve worked cooperatively with someone of another political party to reach consensus or accomplish a goal.
Streissguth: My background in the private sector has provided me many opportunities to serve on boards and commissions where different viewpoints and political ideologies are represented. My professional reputation is one of being a collaborative problem solver and I have continued with this perspective as your county commissioner. My reputation has gained bipartisan support for my election from numerous community leaders and organization alike, including Congressman Derek Kilmer and the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington (a bipartisan organization that supports women running for public office). Please visit my website for a full list, http://retainlinda.com/endorsements/
I am committed to bringing people together to listen to one another, discuss issues and develop solutions to complex problems. I will continue seek input from various viewpoints as I have always done. I fundamentally believe we make better decisions as the result of outreach to seek diversity in perspectives.
Q: What experience do you have that makes you most qualified for the position you seek?
Streissguth: As the incumbent commissioner, I have direct experience which qualifies me for the position. Among the many duties I am performing each day, I am currently engaged in budget hearings and deliberations for the 2015 countywide budget; I am working with stakeholders on development of a multi-year plan for redevelopment of the Silverdale Community Campus; and meeting with citizen groups to actively solicit input for the update to the Comprehensive Plan and Silverdale subarea plan.
I bring an extensive background in long-range planning, coordination and delivery of essential public services, ordinance review, comprehensive plan and land use-issues, environmental services and affordable housing. I have experience developing and monitoring budgets for organizations of a similar size. I am a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners. This balanced experience is critical to performing the job of county commissioner and I look forward to the opportunity to continue putting my experience to work for you.
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ED WOLFE
Residence: Bremerton
Occupation: Small-business owner, Wolfe Law Offices, Attorney
Education: Graduate, George Mason University School of Law, West Virginia University. Completed Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Management Program.
Relevant experience: Founded Wolfe Law Offices in Kitsap; attorney, international law firm Junker & Thompson; deputy assistant Secretary of State, rank of ambassador; served in U.S. Army; Superior Court arbitrator; judge pro tem for District and Municipal courts in Kitsap.
Q: What are the top issues in this campaign?
Wolfe: In addition to issues like the Comprehensive Plan and budget allocations, my top issue is making sure that voters know I have a diverse background which will bring a rich and different perspective to all issues before the commission. Right now, those on the commission have similar experiences. They unanimously agree on most key points of policy which directly impact the lives of individuals, many of whom have a different way of approaching these policies. Having a voice from someone with a different background, who has owned a business, and worked in government as well as the private sector will be enough to considerably change government in Kitsap County so that it represents all citizens.
Q: What are your priorities if elected?
Wolfe: My focus will be making sure that Kitsap is a safe, economically robust, and beautiful place to work, live and play. If we are going to have safe communities, economic opportunities and places where we can kayak, hike and play close to home, we need to bring all groups to the table and find solutions that benefit all citizens, not just those with a limited perspective.
Q: How would you accomplish those priorities?
Wolfe: If I am elected I will meet with parties from both sides to come to a complete understanding of the problems that we face. In the past, the commission has made decisions that polarized and endangered our ability to work effectively with other county departments, and with our profit and non-profit groups. Because our current commission is so alike in how they see the world, they are missing opportunities to improve their policies that would result in a broader more positive impact on our community. As an attorney and a moderate, a political centrist with a history of public service from the Reagan Administration on down to local government, I pledge to “Bring the Balance Back.”
Q: Regarding bipartisanship: Provide some examples of how you’ve worked cooperatively with someone of another political party to reach consensus or accomplish a goal.
Wolfe: I have been active in the community for nearly two decades. During that time, I have worked with people on both sides to accomplish projects that benefit our community. Along with community leaders Jerry Reid, Peter Braun, and Norm Johnson, I founded the Boys & Girls Club in Bremerton. We received support from Congressman Derek Kilmer and former Congressman Norm Dicks to move that project forward.
I am running to bring civic-minded centrism to the County Commission. I have been committed to working with people from both political parties for many years to achieve results. This is apparent by the type of individuals and organizations who are supporting me. I have received a major contribution from the Suquamish Tribe, and I have the endorsements of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Kitsap County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild, along with those in the private sector like the Home Builders Association and the Association of Realtors. This demonstrates that I have a long history of being a centrist, civic-minded leader and will continue that tradition as county commissioner.
Q: What experience do you have that makes you most qualified for the position you seek?
Wolfe: We need someone with experience and understanding of how government actions impact taxpayers and businesses, as well as someone who represents Kitsap community values. I am a veteran, a small-business owner and a concerned citizen who has spent countless hours volunteering for organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, Rotary, Puget Sound Naval Bases Association (past president), Admiral Theater, Bremerton Chamber of Commerce (past president), among others to make life better in Kitsap County.
I’ve been on the business owner and homeowner side of the permit counter and know firsthand the impact of regulations, taxes and fees. Protecting what we have, and working to provide even greater opportunity for our children and future generations, requires new and effective leadership. As a business owner, I know that eliminating burdensome regulations and encouraging infrastructure improvements will influence the growth of family wage jobs. Currently, that perspective is not represented on our County Commission.
If elected, I will be the only commissioner with real-world business-owner experience — essentially, a voice for the second-largest employer in Kitsap County: small business.
