A group calling itself the Friends of Bainbridge Island is suing the city of Bainbridge and the developers of the Island Gateway project.

Filed with the Kitsap Superior Court on Tuesday, the lawsuit alleges that the city failed to follow due process in its approval of the 75,000-square-foot project at the intersection of Highway 305 and Winslow Way.

A key issue is the city’s decision to vacate a portion of a 30-foot right-of-way along the west side of the highway to allow more room for the development.

The group contends that the city’s decision did not adequately take into account the vacation’s impact on traffic safety and future mass transit and regional trail options.

“While the city claims to have considered these factors, the (City) Council’s decision was not supported by substantial evidence, was clearly erroneous and arbitrary and capricious,” the lawsuit states.

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City Council candidate Tim Jacobsen conceded on Thursday that his opponent Kirsten Hytopoulos has an insurmountable lead in their race for the South Ward seat.

Unofficial election results released Thursday evening showed Hytopoulos with a four percentage-point lead over Jacobsen’s 47.7 percent.

“I don’t see how I can close that kind of gap,” Jacobsen said. “I think she has won.”

Hytopoulos also believes the gap has widened enough that she will be declared the winner when the election is certified on Nov. 24.

“I’m excited and honored and humbled,” she said. “To have an opportunity to help lead this community is quite an honor.”

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Bainbridge basketball standout Steven Gray is going “hippie.”

At least that’s what his coach thinks.

Since heading over to Spokane to play for Gonzaga University, Gray has sprouted a wispy beard and grown out an afro. He’s taken up longboarding and is playing a gay athlete in a school play.

It’s all part of key lesson Gray has learned since leaving the island: “I just feel there’s a lot more to life than basketball,” he said.

Read more about how Gray has grown as a person and a player here.

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Support for the Bainbridge school bond inched up in unofficial election tallies released Wednesday night.

Needing 60 percent approval to pass, the bond had 60.19 percent on election night. By Wednesday, the bond was up to 60.41.

A nearly identical bond failed by .02 percent in May.

Updated vote totals are expected today at 5 p.m.

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On the morning after Bremerton overwhelmingly rejected a $30 vehicle licensing fee increase, the Bainbridge City Council decided to draft a proposed $20 hike.

Unlike the Bremerton proposal, Bainbridge’s fee increase would not go to a public vote.

Read more here.

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In Bainbridge Island’s two close City Council races, South Ward candidate Kirsten Hytopoulos saw her lead climb slightly while Bob Scales, the leader in the North Ward race, held steady with three percentage points over incumbent Debbie Vancil.

Hytopoulos’ edge rose from 50.5 percent on Tuesday to 50.8 percent on Wednesday. Tim Jacobsen, her opponent, was drawing almost 48.7 percent.

Scales, at 51.1 percent, continues to lead Vancil’s 48.2 percent.

Central Ward candidate Debbi Lester saw her already overwhelming lead grow on Wednesday. She now has 53.5 percent while opponent Dee DuMont’s percentage fell to 45.9 percent.

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Central Ward City Council candidate Debbi Lester had an apparent unbeatable lead in early election returns released Tuesday night. Her opponent, Dee DuMont, conceded defeat shortly after results showed Lester with 53 percent of the vote to DuMont’s 46 percent.

The north and south ward races were too close to call on Tuesday.

Below is a statement Lester released this morning.

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Bainbridge park board candidate Paul Bang-Knudsen had 51.9 percent to opponent Jay Kinney’s 47.1 percent in early election returns released Tuesday night.

The winner of the race will replace board member Dave Shorett, who did not seek re-election.

More results will be posted by elections officials at 5 p.m. today.

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Bainbridge voters gave strong support for a property tax hike that would staff firefighters at stations on the island’s north and south ends.

About 73 percent of voters are approving the the measure, according to early election returns posted Tuesday night.

Read more about the levy here.

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The $42 million Bainbridge school bond was passing last night, but by only .19 percent.

That means the bond could, again, come down to just a handful of votes.

Early returns on Tuesday night showed the bond taking 60.19 percent. The bond needs a super-majority of 60 percent to pass.

A virtually identical bond failed by a few votes in May.

We’ll have an updated vote tally by 5 p.m. today.

For more, read Marietta Nelson’s story here.

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The first batch of election results show Debbi Lester, Kirsten Hytopoulos and Bob Scales leading in the three City Council races.

North Ward
Scales: 51.13 percent
Vancil: 48.17 percent

Central Ward
Lester: 53.33 percent
DuMont: 46.17 percent

South Ward
Hytopoulos: 50.47
Jacobsen: 49.02

Read the candidates’ election night comments in my story below….

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Kitsap election officials told me today that 41 percent of Bainbridge voters have cast a ballot as of yesterday evening.

Many more are expected to come in today from ballot drop off locations and through last-minute mailings.

The 2007 general election (the last time a presidential race was not on the general election ballot) drew almost 62 percent on Bainbridge.

Elections officials are expecting a comparable turnout for today’s election.

Check back here around 8 p.m. today for the first election results update.

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