Gene Hart of Bremerton also files for her seat as ‘taxpayer’ watchdog.

Port of Bremerton Commis-sioner Cheryl Kincer will not be running for re-election this year, according to Chief Operating Officer Tim Thomson.

Kincer did not return repeated calls seeking comment, but Thomson confirmed Kincer informed him she would not be filing this week for re-election.

“She feels she’s accomplished many of her goals and that this was a good time for her to go in another direction,” Thomson said Wednesday.

Fellow port commissioner Larry Stokes said Kincer also informed him she would not be running this year.

As to the reasons she gave for not running, Stokes said his understanding was she needed more time for herself and her family.

“She served two terms and after 12 years she wanted more time for herself,” he said.

Stokes said Kincer had pointed to Guy Stitt of Bremerton, the founder of AMI International, as the candidate she was recommending to replace her.

However, Stokes said that, “My understanding is he’s changed his mind.”

Thomson confirmed Stitt would not be running.

The filing deadline for candidates is 5 p.m. today.

As of Wednesday, only Seabeck resident Roger Zabinksi and Bremerton resident Gene Hart had officially filed for Kincer’s seat.

Hart, a regular attendee of board meetings, said the reason why he wanted to be on the board was simple.

“I’m running because just about two years ago, I opened up my tax statement and saw that it had increased by 155 percent,” he said, referring to the Industrial Development Tax the port passed in 2006 to pay for improvements to the Bremerton Marina. “I started attending the meetings and when I got deeper into it, I found there were more problems and challenges.

“I can do better,” he said, “and the port can do better.”

As for the port’s Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) project, Hart said he is not opposed to it in theory, but, “I am not interested in having the port spending one more penny on it,” he said.