By JENNIFER MORRIS

Staff writer

Poulsbo City Council Member Connie Lord announced her candidacy for the Washington state Senate Thursday. She will run against 23rd District Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D) this November.

Lord, a Republican, is currently serving her third term on the Poulsbo City Council. She also is the city’s deputy mayor and currently serves as chair of the Community Services and Public Art committees.

A news release sent Thursday stated Lord is convinced the voters of the district need representation that provides strong, consistent support for a well-maintained and efficiently operated state ferry system.

“For this to occur, the representatives of our district must take the lead in the legislature every year, helping ensure the reliability and safety of the ferry system,” Lord stated. “For our communities of Kingston, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton and Bainbridge Island to continue to be economically sound, we need strong leadership to reform the ferry system to one that functions dependably and economically, but does not burden the riders.”

Lord said she recognizes how government over-regulation inflates taxes and expenses on property and businesses. In this vein, she is currently working as part of Poulsbo’s City Council on revamping land use plans and annexation policies within the city’s comprehensive plan.

The release also states she is acutely aware of a disconnect between the state agencies and the local governments which causes extra costs to taxpayers. She said local testimony on state projects must be given incorporation by state agencies to avoid unintended consequences and she will work to improve coordinated dialogue when it comes to potential impacts posed by regulations.

Kitsap County Republican Party Chairman Jack Hamilton said he was pleased at Lord’s announcement and believes she’ll better serve the interests of Kitsap residents.

“I think it’s great. She’s done a super job in Poulsbo and I think that she’d do a wonderful job in Olympia,” he said. “(She) certainly would be more representative of the way people in Kitsap County think.”

Lord boasts more than 16 years of government work experience, including for the city of Winslow. In Poulsbo she served for four years on the Long Range Planning Committee and also represents the council to the West Sound Watersheds Council.

She is a former small business owner and has worked in management for companies varying from engineering to arts magazine editing. She lives in Poulsbo with her husband, Kent, and is a member of the Poulsbo-North Kitsap Rotary Club, Sons of Norway, Friends of the Library, Poulsbo Historical Society, Marine Science Center and Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce. She also currently sits on the Finance/Administration Committee and is the city’s liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Rockefeller earned degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School. He was named the 2007 Legislator of the Year by Washington Conservation Voters and previously worked for the U.S. Department of Education. He served as Assistant Majority Floor Leader in 2005 and also on several committees and boards including the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board, Council of State Governments-West Western Water and Environment Committee and the National Conference of State Legislatures Clean Energy and Air Quality Working Group.