The Kitsap News Group endorses the following candidates in contested races in the Nov. 8 general election. The endorsements are made based on interviews with the candidates, information gathered at candidate and issues forums and Q&As with the candidates.
The Kitsap News Group consists of the Bainbridge Island Review, Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter, Kingston Community News, Kitsap Military Times, North Kitsap Herald and Port Orchard Independent.
Kitsap County Commissioner, District 2: We see no reason to replace County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido. She has good ideas to improve the efficiency in Public Works, Parks, Human Services and Department of Community Development’s response to constituent needs. She makes land-use decisions knowing that “people have to live with those decisions a long time.” She’s worked to improve the county’s codes related to agriculture, and wants to improve the ability of smaller growers to get their produce to market. She supports establishing zoning for tiny houses as a source of affordable housing.
Garrido’s opponent, Christopher Tibbs, supports improving traffic flow on Highway 3 through Gorst. County and regional governments are already working on it.
Garrido is a knowledgeable public servant who operates in a nonpartisan fashion. She sees working with city officials as a key ingredient in helping address important issues in the county, and has been front and center in helping seek solutions to the homelessness issue in the county. She involves residents in the formulation of county policy. She’s smart, is a quick study and is approachable. Re-elect Garrido.
23rd District State Representative, Position 1: Re-elect state Rep. Sherry Appleton. She had a formidable challenger in Loretta Byrnes, but Appleton showed a depth of understanding of issues and challenges that Byrnes did not. Appleton has good ideas on how to reform our tax structure (without establishing a state income tax, by the way) in order to free up funding for basic education. She also supports more access to early childhood education and community college. She’s worked hard to improve access to mental health care and chemical dependency treatment, protect victims of sex crimes, ensure school children are fed, and to protect older residents. Let’s keep her working for all of us.
6th Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Bremerton, has served our district well since his first day on the job, working for legislation that benefits defense, veterans and job creation. He’s also committed to changing the tone in the nation’s capital. He’s one of several members of the House from both parties who are committed to working across the aisle to identify issues on which both sides can agree, and accomplishing those. We are going to need that commitment to bipartisanship in a Congress that is so bitterly divided. Re-elect Kilmer.
Kitsap Public Utility District Commissioner: Elect Debbi Lester. We like John Armstrong and appreciate all that he has accomplished in his 24 years as a public utility district commissioner — he’s served the district and its constituents well. But Lester brings a fresh perspective. She’s a former mayor and city council member, familiar with community needs on a different level. She will pursue technology that can be employed to generate more energy (such as water-pipe turbines and methane gas generated at wastewater treatment plants).
She will bring fresh ideas to the management of our water resources, to ensure we are able to meet the needs of a growing Kitsap. She will work to make the district and its commission more accessible to the public, and will work to build stronger alliances within the district’s communities. Thank you, Commissioner Armstrong, for your service. Now, let’s give Lester an opportunity to serve.
