Kitsap primary
His vote is the undeclared one
I will be one of the several thousand votes that will not count in the recent primary as I did not mark one of the “Voter Statement” blocks.
I was unable to check either block as the first one said in part “I declare that I consider myself to be a DEMOCRAT … ” while the second one said in part “I declare that I am a member of the Republican Party … .” My problem, along with others, is that neither one of those statements is correct for me yet I am asked to check one and sign my name.
I realize that perhaps I should adopt a more politically correct attitude of “not caring,” but I thought a person’s signature meant more than that.
A cover story in the Feb. 6, North Kitsap Herald clarified the situation. “Kitsap County Republican Chairman Jack Hamilton acknowledges the difference in the wording … .” “He said that a voter could sign the oath without ever joining the GOP and become a Republican on the spot. … You can sign the oath, but you then have a moral obligation, … After you sign the next thing you do will be to go online to a Web site and find out exactly what you need to do to satisfy that obligation. Usually that involves signing up somewhere and sending in a few shekels.”
The arrogance of the Republican Chairman/Party is nearly beyond measure, and makes even a long-time conservative and general supporter of the Republican Party such as me wonder how we got here.
Apparently, one has to decide if it is better to “consider” oneself a Democrat for free or declare oneself “ … a member of the Republican Party … ” for a few shekels. Somehow, that doesn’t seem quite right.
Denis Stenwick,
Poulsbo
Poulsbo Place
Letter writer
was ‘right on’
Thanks to Jean E. Ford for her letter regarding the proposal to change the present density plan for Poulsbo Place II from 50 single family and duplex units to 211 condos or 211 senior independent living units.
She is absolutely right on when it comes to assessing severe impact on traffic, water, sewer and all the services the city provides.
She neglected to mention taxation to pay for all these necessities. Also the fact that Poulsbo Place II is not the only area that is being built up in Poulsbo that needs to be addressed.
Do we — Poulsbo residents — want or are we able to afford to pay for higher taxes? If not, write the city council and tell them not to approve any changes in the master plan. Hopefully they will listen to their constituents. Any precedent set now would affect all Poulsbo in the future.
Marijo Dowling,
Poulsbo
City Hall
They found the love
This letter is in regard to the Feb. 12 editorial “Looking for love in all the wrong places.”
Our love is in the right place for city hall’s location.
Is it wrong for the mayor and city council to love the new location for new city hall because they know that the citizens of Poulsbo voted for the right place for city hall?
We, signatories below, believe the citizens voted in favor of keeping city hall downtown did so for love of Poulsbo.
Love to keep our historic downtown vital and sustainable.
Love to focus our government, business and residential in our urban core.
Love to have major projects built in the downtown core which will bring the financing necessary to refurbish the utilties, parking facilities and traffic solutions so desperately needed for all who travel to and through Poulsbo.
Love the fiscally responsible concept of keeping city hall downtown that will bolster and attract new businesses as well as support existing businesses to help maintain the necessary sales and property tax revenues to fund our city services.
Love that future growth of city hall can be vertical, than one of urban sprawl, so we can follow our state’s growth management goals and keep our rural and critical areas pristine.
The 10th Avenue site has a stream and wetlands, which had attracted substantial opposition from environmental groups who rightly claim that a major development on that site would be detrimental.
Love that our mayor and city council had the foresight to hold a city election so they could find the right place for city hall and are utilizing the city’s land assets to best serve our city’s needs.
David and Barbara Smith,
Poulsbo
Barry Keenan,
Poulsbo
Mike Brown,
Poulsbo
Steve and Cindy Garfein,
Poulsbo
Susan Baker,
Poulsbo
Tom Pellan,
Poulsbo
Tammy Mattson,
Poulsbo
Rob Difilippo
Tax rebates
There’s better
ways to save money
Forget the $600 to $1,200 dollar rebate per person economic stimulus package. How about ending this misguided Republican farce in Iraq and save us all 15 billion a month?
Jim Nicks,
Poulsbo
