POULSBO — Incumbent Mayor Donna Jean Bruce topped challenger city councilman Mike Regis in the unofficial general election counts and will continue her position in Poulsbo’s top seat for the next four years.

Bruce, who served the last three years as appointed mayor, was re-elected on the platform that she would ensure the Poulsbo’s small town character remains intact and that the enhanced quality of life here continues to improve. She also promised to continue her “lead, don’t meddle” governing style which has proven effective for the city during her tenure.

“I think it’s great,” Bruce said after the election results were tallied. ”I’m really pleased with everything. The first count indicates a good council and that we’ll get a lot of work done together — with no hidden agendas.”

Poulsbo City Council

Position 3 – Incumbent city councilman Jim Henry will fill out the remaining two years of the unexpired term left open by his challenger Donene Munroe. Munroe resigned her post two years ago but failed to regain the position through legal means.

Henry is a retired Naval officer and served as a Poulsbo Planning Commissioner for eight years prior to being appointed to council in 2000.

“Obviously, I’m delighted , but it’s not over until the last vote is counted,” Henry said, adding with a smile, “This is a new experience for me.”

Henry promised to continue his role as a team player and as an advocate for transportation options for the city. He has spearheaded local efforts to restart the once

popular Mosquito Fleet here and provide passenger-only service from Poulsbo to Seattle.

Position 5 — Poulsbo councilman Ed Stern ran unopposed in the general election, taking over 98 percent of the vote.

Position 6 — Incumbent city councilman Dale Rudolph defeated challenger Larry Craig in the unofficial counts for the general election, tallying 1,030 votes to Craig’s 669. Rudolph has served on the council for the last eight years and worked on virtually every committee the city has.

“The people have spoken,” he said after the first numbers were in. “I just want to get back to work. I think this process is a good thing in that it gets us all out in the public more, but it also distracts us from our work.”

Rudolph over the next four years will work to continue fiscal responsibility of Poulsbo, planning for managed growth and keeping a positive relationship between the city, the county and other municipalities.

Position 7 — Challenger Kathryn Quade upset Connie Lord in the the general election, knocking the incumbent out of position 7 by a vote 1,013 to 718. Quade, who served on city council in the early 1990s, hopes to bring Olympic College to Poulsbo during the next four years and wants to make sure that problems which have plagued the city since her time on council do not continue into the future.

“I’m pretty excited,” Quade remarked. “I’m looking forward to being that independent voice on council, working with the public and serving them again.”

School District

District 1 — Dick Endresen has a long record of public service. Now, that record will grow by four more years.

Endresen has been re-elected by voters to the North Kitsap School Board in his race against Myron Lee.

Endresen served on the board for four previous terms. He has seen a lot of changes in the North Kitsap School Board, among them the initiation and growth of Spectrum Community School, the building of Gordon Elementary, the implementation of the WASL, and most recently, the passing of a $60 million bond that will fund a new secondary school in the Kingston area.

“I think this shows that the public endorses what the school board has been doing … that they’re happy with what’s been going on with the board,” Endresen said.

Lee, who owns his own business and had a daughter graduate from NKHS last June, was making his first bid at a school board seat.

District 5 — His father is a college dean. Now Brad Camp will be the youngest member of the North Kitsap School Board. Camp had no opponent in his race for the North Kitsap School Board’s district five seat, which was vacated when Marie Hebert stepped down.

Camp, who is a community relations director for Sprint, is married and the father of a young daughter.

District 3 — Bethany McDonald was board president as voters passed a $60 million bond to help propel the NKSD into the future. Now, she will be able to oversee the results. McDonald has been reelected by voters for a second term.

“I’m pleased that I can look forward to serving another four years,” McDonald said.

The voters, she said, have proved they are pleased with the school district’s direction.

“All the trends are positive as far as test scores, class size, and passing the bond,” she said. “I think we’re on the right track.”

Incumbent McDonald was opposed by newcomer Christopher Tibbs.

Port of Poulsbo

Position 1 – The Port of Poulsbo Commissioner race between incumbent Tony DeCarlo and challenger Nan Mader was still very close but DeCarlo led by a small margin of 790 to 742 on Friday.

DeCarlo has served as commissioner for one term and has 30 years of experience with Navy ships. He said the rock wall at the port was his biggest concern as was working with the city toward a solution.

DeCarlo said of his early lead, “It’s too close to tell right now and I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch.”

Mader, a member of the Poulsbo Planning Commission for 10 years, stressed that spending at the port had to be more controlled and that the failing rock wall along Liberty Bay and Waterfront Park should be replaced.

Position 2 – Incumbent Port of Poulsbo Commissioner Glenn Gilbert was also locked in a tight race against position 2 challenger Richard Nutter in the Friday unofficial results.

Gilbert posted a 697- to 667-vote lead, according to late night counts, putting him ahead 51 percent to Nutter’s 49 percent.

If elected, Gilbert said he is looking forward to a partnership with Poulsbo to repair a sloughing rock wall.

Fire District

NKF&R Position 2 — In an election that is proving to be just as close as expected, incumbent Idar Slothaug and Leon Thomas, who has served for 12 years as commissioner for Hansville Fire District 14, are only about a hundred votes apart in a race that may not be decided until all the absentee ballots arrive in the mail.

Slothaug was a bit surprised at the votes so far. He was out Tuesday evening rallying for last minute votes at Kountry Korners.

“Now it’s up to the voters,” he said. “I’ve done all that I can do. I am still hopeful and confident.”

Thomas, who awaited returns with friends at his home in Hansville Tuesday night, said he wasn’t sure how confident to be about his early lead. “I’ve got my hopes up. I feel really good about it.”

Slothaug believes the department should strike a balance between available tax dollars and the desires and needs of the community. During his tenure

Thomas played a key role in the fire districts’ merger and serves as president of the Washington Fire Commissioners Association.

Thomas plans to increase communications by issuing a newsletter and encouraging people to attend commissioner meetings.

Poulsbo FD 18, Position 2 — Voters in Poulsbo overwhelmingly chose Randy Odden over his opponent Ginger Magures to Position 2 on the District 18 Fire District Board.

“I am pleased to be able to continue working with the board,” he said Tuesday night. But he added, there is a lot of work after the campaigning is over.

In the district’s other race, Darryl Milton was unopposed for Position 5 on the fire board.