Kitsap County Commissioner Chris Endresen, who represents District #1 in North Kitsap, announced she will step down June 28 to take a position as state director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.
Endresen is serving her third term as county commissioner.
State Sen. Phil Rockefeller, a Bainbridge Island Democrat, and Kitsap Treasurer Barbara Stephenson initially emerged as candidates for Endresen’s position. While Rockefeller decided against pursuing the appointment in order to stay in the Legislature, Stephenson indicated she would actively pursue the position.
Kitsap County Public Information Officer, Clarence Moriwaki, who began his current job the week before Endresen’s announcement in April, will also join the fray.
Stephenson was elected, unopposed, to a second term as county treasurer in 2006. Prior to her election she served as director of the Kitsap County United Way.
Moriwaki claims the strongest party credentials, having worked for the Democrats for more than 20 years, including Gov. Mike Lowry, President Bill Clinton and Rep. Jay Inslee, whom he represented in Kitsap County for four years.
Kitsap Planning Commissioner Tom Nevins and Bainbridge resident and activist Chris Van Dyk are also declared candidates. Martha and Mary care center’s director of fund development, Robert Gelder, and Poulsbo City Councilman Ed Stern are considering seeking the post.
Applicants will be reviewed by the Executive Board of the Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee, which will announce candidates June 4. Three nominees will be selected at a KCDCC special caucus election scheduled for 6 p.m. June 18 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Events Center.
The three nominees will be submitted to remaining county commissioners, Democrat Josh Brown of Central Kitsap and Republican Jan Angel of South Kitsap, who will select Endresen’s replacement, presumably before Endresen’s June 28 departure. If the commissioners are unable to agree on a final choice, Gov. Christine Gregoire will make the decision.
(Some of this information was excerpted from an article by Charlie Bermant of the Kitsap News Group.)
