I received the Kitsap County Official Local Voters Pamphlet and diligently read the backgrounds, experience categories and priorities of all the candidates. I then read the questions and answers of those running for re-election and their opponents.

The incumbents listed how great their accomplishments and fiscal responsibility were, but the lack of those accomplishments is what their opponents are running on.

Let’s see, the state Democratic legislators and local politicians have spent the state into a $3 billion deficit. The Democratically controlled county commissioners last reported $4.7 million in debt.

They don’t seem to understand that balancing a budget takes more than cutting back on projected increases in spending. To the most uninformed, when you increase a budget by any percentage it is still an increase. So the incumbent’s fiscal responsibility is not so responsible. Where is the incumbent’s integrity — obviously it’s not in telling the truth?

I also attended the local county commissioners’ debate. I listened to Josh Brown weasel word around the commissioners last pay raise and his justification. When it came to tax increases, not unlike most Democrats, Brown denied he would even consider raising taxes. Yet, if you read the Kitsap Sun, he stated new taxes needed to be considered.

His support for and claims that the Puget Sound Regional Council’s 2040 vision on transportation was a futurist plan is partially true; but agreeing with that vision is an egregious action which opens the door to immediate taxing.

If keeping the avenues open for taxes and running on an over-spent credit card debt is fiscally responsible then the definition of responsible needs to be changed. Governor Christine Gregoire said she would not increase taxes. Tell that to the candy, soda, cigarette, bottled water companies and consumers. Voters should be getting tired of political gamesmanship and vote tax-and-spend incumbents out.

Dean Jenniges

Bremerton