Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown is weighing a run for the 6th District congressional seat, adding to a large list of potential candidates who could succeed retiring Congressman Norm Dicks.
“I haven’t decided if I will run,” Brown told the Port Orchard Independent on March 9. “Im thinking about it.”
Brown was first elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2006, and has worked on the boards of Kitsap Transit, Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority and the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council.
As the senior member of the Board of County Commissioners, Brown would join State Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, as the highest profile area democrats looking to fill the seat being vacated by Dicks.
“I’m going to listen and see if there are folks with the same passion and drive that I have,” Brown said. “I could be very interested in running.”
Both Brown and Kilmer were mentioned by Dicks as possible successors after he announced his retirement on March 2.
“It’s a real honor that Norm would mention my name,” he said.
Though there was no time table behind a decision to run for Congress, he said he would make his decision only after careful deliberation.
“For me, I will be thoughtful and deliberative with any decisions I make,” he said.
Dolores Gilmore, Kitsap County elections manager, said if Brown won an election for Congress, he would resign his seat with the Board of County Commissioners and a democratic commissioner would be appointed to fill the vacancy. That position would then go to general election in 2013.
“It would be done much in the same way as Commissioner Gelder,” she said, referring to the appointment of county commissioner Robert Gelder in 2011.
No matter who ultimately fills Dicks’ seat, Brown said, they will have a lot to live up to following a congressman who served 18 consecutive terms. Brown called Dicks an “amazing leader.”
“There will be an enormous void,” he said of Dicks’ retiring. “Norm has always done what he could for the Navy, the area’s largest employeer. He has helped clean up Kitsap County and left a remarkable legacy.”
Possible successors that would take a seat across the aisle have also been gearing up to run for the open seat. Port Orchard businessman Bob Sauerwein and Gig Harbor technology consultant Jesse Young will enter the race as republicans.
State Rep Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, who said last week she was considering a running for Congress, announced on Saturday that she plans to stay put in her position in the State Legislator.
“I have been truly honored by those that have asked me to consider running for the 6th Congressional seat,” she said in a statement.
“I will be asking you to rehire me,” she said. “There is much work yet to be done and it would truly be my honor to again represent the people of the 26th District.”
