The new year for Mayor Patty Lent and the new City Council kicked off with a few shake-ups and new faces.
By the swearing-in of elected city officials Wednesday afternoon, Lent had replaced Financial Services Director Andy Parks with Kitsap County Treasurer Barbara Stephenson, who is resigning her county post to join Lent’s administration, and Director of Economic Development Gary Sexton’s position had been written out of the budget.
And Wednesday, the council elected Nick Wofford as president and Will Maupin as vice-president.
Lent confirmed her decision to replace Parks this week, adding that she sought out Stephenson in mid-December because she had “stronger credentials for our city.”
“She is dedicated and passionate about public service,” Lent said. “We share some of the same values about how to spend taxpayer money.”
Stephenson and Lent worked together in county government from 2003 to 2006, when Lent was county commissioner.
“I was impressed with what she had done for the county,” Lent said.
Stephenson, 57, is serving the last year of her second term as treasurer. She intended to run for a third term this fall when Lent approached her about the city job.
“I was not looking for a change,” Stephenson said. “I was happy in the treasurer position. But I am ready for a new challenge, and the Bremerton job came my way.”
Lent declined to offer specifics about why she let go Parks, only saying she had been seeking a replacement who aligned better with her goals, and that Parks was better-suited for his background in consulting than he was for city management. Parks was notified of Lent’s decision Jan. 1.
Meanwhile, another city post was vacated, but without a replacement. On Dec. 31, Gary Sexton, director of economic development often credited as a guiding force in downtown Bremerton’s development‚ retired because his position was written out of the city budget passed in December as a cost-saving measure.
Because of the progress made in downtown revitalization and the slow influx of city revenue, full-time attention will no longer be needed, Lent said. Instead, she hopes Sexton will work on city development projects on an as-needed basis.
Cary Bozeman, the former mayor who left last spring to head the Port of Bremerton, said that many downtown developments – including the Harborside Plaza, Anthony’s restaurant and the tunnel – could be credited to Sexton.
“It couldn’t have been done without Gary,” Bozeman said. “Gary was absolutely the person that made it happen. There was a vision that we had and the city owes Gary a great deal of gratitude.”
In addition to the loss of Sexton’s job, the city will save money in the long-term with the 13 retirees who will leave by the end of June as part of the city’s early retirement plan, Lent said, and be replaced with lower-paid employees.
Two new city councilmen were also sworn-in on Wednesday: Councilman Jim McDonald, replacing Brad Gehring, and Councilman Greg Wheeler, filling in the open seat left when Mike Shepherd ran for mayor.
Both emphasized that parking, street and sidewalk repair, and continued development were among their top priorities.
McDonald, who beat incumbent Brad Gehring by 10 votes in November’s election, said he was interested in helping shape the development process downtown and throughout Bremerton. He also said that Bremerton must have more conservative budget priorities and build a larger reserve fund.
Wheeler said more attention should be given to the individual neighborhoods of Bremerton, especially in places that need more lighting and street repair.
“Our folks have a strong desire to feel safe, and rightfully so,” he said.
He also said he supports Lent’s initiative to improve city government’s efficiency as a cost-saving measure.
Lent is bringing in Seattle firm The Prothman Company to assess the city government‚ efficiency in the next month and conduct about 50 interviews with the city’s top management.
But as far as further changes go, Lent said she will likely settle down for now.
“I’m going to coast for probably about the first quarter,” she said.
