Kitsap Caucus

Stephan Brodhead becomes the latest Republican to announce his intention to run for Congress in the 6th District.

Brodhead’s press release announcing his run emphasizes his belief that the 6th District military bases need to remain strong. From his email announcement:

“In great measure, our representative must be strongly familiar with defense related technologies and its application to ‘Post-Cold War reality.’ The competence of our representation influences the quality of our future military. It influences our Northwest economy. We must get it right. We must continue to move forward. Hiring a representative with zero military experience or awareness of our DOD system makes absolutely no sense.”

Brodhead frames all of this from his own family’s military history, including his own. Brodhead, whose campaign site is here, also ran for Congress in Oregon’s 1st District in 2010, losing in the primary.

We’ll get more from all the candidates after they officially file in May. Brodhead joins Doug Cloud and Jesse Young in the Republican party. State Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, remains the only Democrat yet to declare and file with the Federal Elections Commission.

Recently I was awarded a scholarship for a two-day conference in Washington, D.C. to attend classes on the ins and outs of what the Citizens United decision means for politics, and how I can find data about campaign spending in this new arena.

On Saturday, though, I got a great primer from the group at “This American Life.” As usual, the one hour provides so much information without making you feel like you were sitting in a class. It’s as entertaining as watching “Breaking Bad.” If you’re into politics at all, or you just care about your country and your government, take the hour you’ll need to listen to this.

Brynn writes:

What a beautiful weekend, too bad it had to end and we’re back at the office. Here’s the week’s agendas:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, April 9, 10 a.m.: Like most Monday mornings this one starts with an hour-long legislative Update with Tom McBride. The board will then hold an hour-long information sharing and adjourn at noon.

2 p.m.: The meeting starts with a parks update with parks priorities from parks director Jim Dunwiddie; next is a presentation of the Kitsap 1 budget for an hour; followed by an hour-long property tax discussion. Adjournment at 4:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.: The board will review a resolution from the auditor’s office to amend the voting precinct boundaries; there is nothing scheduled for the public hearing.

Wednesday, April 11, 8:30 a.m.: The meeting starts with an update on the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance with John Powers for 25 minutes, followed by a closed session regarding labor relations. The board will meet with Eric Baker for 30 minutes to discuss a grant opportunity for the Kitsap Forest Plan and Bay project and then will recess into executive session to discuss real estate.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, April 11, 5 p.m.: The council has a study session planned. Find the full agenda here.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, April 10, 7 p.m.: Two presentations include one on the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance and the introduction of the royal court for the Fathoms O’ Fun festival.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, April 11, 7 p.m.: The council will hold a public hearing on its Shoreline Master Program update. The council could vote following the hearing on the document or it could postpone the approval for another meeting.

In March we had a story about the state Department of Corrections program that would be part of a number of changes affecting Kitsap County jail. The program passed the state Senate today. I’ll post the Senate Democrats press release after this little comment.

Kitsap Sun commenters caught the quote from Chad Lewis, state Department of Corrections spokesman, who said Corrections considered the program because it would cost less to implement how it handles parole violators now. What commenters apparently missed was the second part.

Lewis said the new, less expensive, program works better.

Hence the reference to the Pew Center on the States study that reported the same program in Hawaii meant violators were “less likely to be arrested for a new crime, to use drugs and to have their probation revoked.”

Because commenters missed or ignored that part of the story, the ongoing argument was over taxes, budgets and liberal and conservative spending values. That argument was not completely inappropriate, because the state did go into this looking for cost savings, which means the corrections budget is being cut. And it does translate to bad news for the county, because there is less money for the budget.

Still, did the point “It costs less and works better” pass by everyone? Did I write the story that badly? Be honest.

In some ways I thought this was a good news story, though clearly it’s tough for the county jail to be counting on less money. The positive, though, was in someone’s ability to take advantage of a crisis, to find a solution perhaps no one would have sought had there not been a problem.

Apparently the state Senate thought it was a good idea. The bill allowing for the program passed 43-2.

Read the rest of this entry »

The First congressional will have an election at the end of this year and it will be in the old boundaries. That means residents who live in the current first district (me and about half the county) will vote for a member of congress in two different districts.

The first will be the one to temporarily replace Jay Inslee, who resigned as congressman to run full time for governor. The other will be to vote for the replacement for Norm Dicks, who retires at the end of this term.

So if you’ve ever wanted to be a member of Congress, but two years is just too dang long, this could be your chance to fill in temporarily, get a decent little salary, free mail and a travel allowance.

The governor’s press release follows.

Read the rest of this entry »

Brynn writes:

Happy April, lets hope spring really does make an appearance this month…

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, April 2, 10 a.m.: Like most Monday mornings this one starts with an hour-long legislative Update with Tom McBride. The board will then hold an hour-long executive session to review the performance of a public employee.

2 p.m.: Meeting canceled.

Wednesday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.: Meeting starts with a review of the board’s agenda for its April 9 meeting; From 9:15 to 10 a.m. the board will share information; a review of the DCD annual report/department structure will follow from 10 to 11 a.m. and then the board will recess into executive session to discuss potential litigation for 30 minutes and real estate for another 30 minutes. Noon adjournment.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, April 3, 5:30 p.m.: After meeting upstairs at 5 p.m. for a briefing the council will head downstairs for a regular session. The one business item is an amendment to the concession agreement with Bremerton Ice Arena, Inc. related to the sale of beer and wine. The council will also hold a closed meeting to discuss labor negotiations.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

No meeting this week.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, April 3, 7 p.m.: Business items include an application for a special event for the Poulsbo Farmer’s Market; discussing 2012 carryover related to the budget; and continuing the council’s workshop on its Shoreline Master Plan update.

Housing Kitsap (345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Tuesday, April 3, 1 p.m.: Housing commissioners will meet on the fifth floor of the Norm Dicks Government center from 1 to 3 p.m.

A complaint by Dave Kimble to the Washington State Auditor’s Office regarding arrangements between the Port of Manchester and the Manchester Water District has been addressed. But first this important announcement:

The Manchester Community Association will host a forum on two measures that will be on the April 17 ballot. The event is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Manchester Library.

First up on the agenda is discussion of South Kitsap Fire & Rescue’s levy. Voters served by SKFR will be asked to renew a special property tax levy that generates more than 12 percent of the fire district’s annual budget of around $14 million. The six-year levy would replace the current levy lid lift, which expires at the end of 2012.

The MCA also will facilitate discussion of a proposal to decrease terms for Port of Manchester Commissioner from 6 to 4 years. The measure was placed on the ballot by citizen initiative, spearheaded by Kimble. MCA President James Derry says he hopes the discussion will be informative and remain civil.

“As an organization, the MCA does not oppose or support either initiative,” Derry said. “Our goal, in accordance with our mission statement, is to sponsor programs to help educate the residents of Manchester on issues of local importance. We hope to foster public discussion without confrontation or rancor, where neighbors can learn, share opinions and make their own decisions.”

Likely Derry is concerned about civility due to ongoing friction between Kimble and port commissioners. For most of the past year, Kimble has been riding the port on multiple fronts, including the term reduction issue. Kimble asserts the measure is needed to break up what he describes as a good-old-boy network.

Kimble’s complaints to the SAO centered on allegations that the port and the Manchester Water District had violated bidding and small works roster requirements. That allegation was deemed by Port Orchard Audit Manager Brian Taylor to be unfounded.

Taylor did recommend that the port formalize a 2006 agreement it had with the water district for accounting and administrative services, and a verbal agreement that water district staff periodically check on port facilities and conduct minor repair and maintenance, since the port has no staff. Projects that went beyond “usual and ordinary” required action by the port commission.

Taylor met on March 13 with port officials, including the port’s attorney and “one of the commissioners who sits on both the port and water district boards,” as well as the water district manager who serves as the port’s contract administrator. One of Kimble’s beefs is that port commissioners Steve Pedersen and Jim Strode serve on both boards.

Taylor recommended the written and verbal agreements be formalized as an “interlocal” agreement, provided for under the state’s Interlocal Cooperation Act. The port complied and approved the interlocal agreement at its regular meeting March 13. Minutes of the meeting are not yet available on the port’s website. On March 22 the document, signed by both entities, was filed with the Kitsap County Auditor’s office, as required by law.

On March 23, Taylor sent a letter to Kimble indicating the upshot of the investigation. Taylor noted the next regular audit of the port will be in the fall of 2013.

Kimble also claimed another gotcha against the port when he noted last week and reported to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission that the port’s website contained an improper notice against Proposition 1, the term reduction measure. A screen shot Kimble took shows a message on the home page, “The Port of Manchester does not support Proposition 1. Vote NO on shorter commissioner terms.”

State elections laws prohibit the port, or any other public agency, from making a public statement for or against a ballot measure. Strode and the port’s attorney hastened to have the message taken down as soon as Kimble informed them of it. According to Strode, the message was posted by the woman who updates the website. “She just thought she was doing the right thing,” Strode said.

PDC Compliance Officer Kurt Young, to whom Kimble submitted the complaint, asked if, other than the website statement, the port had distributed any other information encouraging a “no’ vote on Prop 1.

Young wrote in email to Kimble Wednesday, “If the answer is no to that question, then staff will be sending an e-mail reminder to the Port of Manchester, reminding them of RCW 42.17A.555 and attaching a link to Interpretation 04-02, Guidelines for Local Government Agencies in Election Campaigns. No additional enforcement action will be taken, since the port took corrective action about the information on their website.”

Here’s a copy of the letter Young of the PDC sent to the port.

Kimble has also submitted reports to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s office alleging that 26 of his campaign signs have been stolen since March 18. Kimble said he believes the theft of election signs is a felony. It is a misdemeanor. KCSO Spokesman Scott Wilson noted the reports, but said there is not enough information about possible suspects for the sheriff’s office to pursue the case. Unfortunately, Wilson said, reports of sign theft are common in the run-up to elections, and like other property thefts, hard to prosecute.

All the nation that pays attention is paying especial attention to the U.S. Supreme Court this week as it considers health care reform. Chris Henry is working on a story about a local woman who says she has insurance and has received benefits because of the new law. She will be taking a letter to Rob McKenna, Washington attorney general, asking him to drop the lawsuit he is in along with 25 other states. I wouldn’t look for McKenna to reconsider at this point.

When I had a chance to sidle up to the McKenna the governor candidate when he visited the area in January, he joked that the odds were 5-4, a reference to the idea that the decision could be a 5-4 split among the justices.

Calling it “The” decision is actually incorrect. Today the court hears arguments on whether it should be considering the law now, or wait until the mandate actually kicks in, which is 2014.

The mandate decision, whether Congress can write a law forcing you to buy something, is the key question, and those arguments are on Tuesday. On Wednesday is an argument over whether the entire law should be scrapped if the mandate is killed.

Should you like to be informed as the debate goes on, allow me to provide you several links that will prepare for conversations around the watercooler on Facebook.

PolitiFact.com provides the primer Everything you want to know about the health care law* and also gives you a chance to check out the truth or falsehood of several claims about the law. I’m not sure why there is an asterisk in the headline. Maybe it’s an unexplained admission that “everything” probably isn’t accurate.

On NPR’s All Things Considered is a piece about this week’s activities. The package begins with a story about a guy who sells places in line to get into the hearing for $36 an hour. The first customer placed someone in line on Friday, for Tuesday’s arguments. Further on Nina Totenberg responds that she doesn’t know which side will win, but Clarence Thomas is the only one predicted to be solidly against the act. Four justices — Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor — are predicted to be locks in favor of the law and the constitutionality of Congress mandating what people have to buy. Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito are considered in play and Anthony Kennedy is seen as a swing vote. An interesting tidbit: Chief Justice John Roberts could end up voting to uphold the law if there is already a 5-3 vote among the associate justices, because a 5-4 decision “wouldn’t be good for the court as an institution of the country.”

The New York Times and ABC News both have stories on a 1942 Supreme Court decision that serves as the basis for arguments on both sides.

Finally, on Salon, an academic explains some of the motivation behind how judges may rule. Andrew M. Koppelman, John Paul Stevens Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University, goes into some detail explaining some of the difficulty for the justices in overturning the law. That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t do it, but there are consequences that go beyond the new things the law introduces.

When you read the follow-up news stories on each day’s arguments, you could very well get an inkling of where this will end up in June. Both sides have reason to be optimistic, and to worry.

Brynn writes:

Here’s the meetings for the week:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, March 26, 10 a.m.: Like most Monday mornings this one starts with an hour-long legislative Update with Tom McBride followed by information sharing between the board until noon.

2 p.m.: Meeting kicks off with a budget update until 2:30 p.m.; the board then recesses into an executive session on potential litigation until 3 p.m. and then reopens the meeting to review a Public Works grant approval request for five minutes; next the board will move into the commissioner chambers for the county’s 6-year budget plan meeting for 10 minutes and then it will discuss this until its 4:30 p.m. adjournment.

5:30 p.m.: NOTE THE NEW MEETING TIME: The first two public hearing items include a hearing to review a petition to vacate a piece of property in Central Kitsap and a long list of applications for current use open space, farm and agriculture conservation land and timber land. Other public hearing items include an ordinance repealing Kitsap County Code (KCC) Chapter 9.32 relating to Methadone Treatment; an ordinance approving revised commissioner district boundaries; and then a continuation of a previous public hearing to consider a resolution approving the 2012 update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan.

Tuesday, March 27, 6 p.m.: As part of the on-going public process to review the proposed updates to the Shoreline Master Program, County planners are hosting an open house in the commissioner chambers in Port Orchard.

Wednesday, March 28, 8:30 a.m.: This meeting starts with a trails update by trails planner Dennis Oost and Bill Zupancic, it will include an update on the community trail planning schedule and a draft of the trail plan; a Kingston Village Green update will follow for 30 minutes followed by a grant approval on Public Works trust fund loans until 10 a.m.; the meeting concludes with an executive session on real estate from 10 to 10:30 p.m.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, March 28, 5 p.m.: The council will meet for a study session. For the complete agenda, click here.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, March 27, 7 p.m.: The council will hold its regular meeting, to see a full agenda of discussion items, click here.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

No meeting this week.

Port of Bremerton (meets at Bremerton National Airport, 8850 SW State Hwy 3)

Tuesday, March 27, 5:30 p.m.: The commissioners will meet for a study session to discuss the port’s 6-year capital plan review. At 6 p.m. the board will open its regular meeting. Action items include: an amendment to the port’s agreement with the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance; an agreement with Merchant Patrol Security Services Inc.; Task Order #12 with PND Engineers for underwater inspection and engineering assessment; Port policy on community support or endorsements; Resolution 2012-20 endorsing the South Kitsap Fire & Rescue temporary levy lid lift proposition.

Rob Gelder and Chris Tibbs could rematch. Linda Simpson wants to unseat Charlotte Garrido. We won’t know for certain until August whether these four candidates will be the final two in each commissioner race. What we do know is the race will be contested, that there will be two candidates in each race on the November ballot.

And these are the people we know who for now are the only ones going for the job.

So let us who know who your TWO picks are in the survey on the righthand column. Pick one in each race.

So James Olsen, known for many things political but most recently candidate for the state House of Representatives this year and in 2010, sends out this email with the message:

Friends — I received this link in the email- Democrat Donkey Game. Oh, so true. You will recognize many of the Donkey gamers from around the area.

While his statement that he “received this link in the email” might be technically true, I wouldn’t blame if you suspect he knew it was coming.

In 2010 a guy in Colorado got wind of Olsen and did three anti-Olsen videos. The other two have a robot dancing in underwear. The following one has production problems, but it’s short and you get the point.

Brynn writes:

And just like that we’re halfway through March. Tuesday marks the first day of spring, here’s to hoping we see more sun and less snow in the coming weeks. Without further ado, here’s the week’s meeting:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, March 19, 10 a.m.: Monday’s a light day. The afternoon briefing has been canceled and the morning meeting is only an hour-long legislative Update with Tom McBride until 11 a.m.

Wednesday, March 21, 8:30 a.m.: The meeting kicks off with a review of the agenda for the board’s March 26 meeting until 9:15 a.m.; next is information sharing for 45 minutes; then a 30 minute 2012 PSRC funding strategy meeting; followed by another 30 minute discussion on 2012 proposed budget and personnel changes and then an executive session on real estate until 11:30 a.m. with adjournment to follow.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, March 21, 5 p.m.: The meeting starts upstairs for 30 minutes before heading to council chambers for the regular meeting. There are no public hearings and the only general business item is approval of joint ferry service and funding agreement for summer Sundays and holidays.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, March 20, 7 p.m.: Work study discussion items include a presentation on realigning the water/sewer utility billing; a discussion with Citizens United regarding corporations; a discussion on the lodging tax funding/ordinance amendment; a discussion on McCormick “STEP regular maintenance”; discussion on the appointment of the City Clerk; and discussion the change order, purchase order and contracts authority process.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

 Monday, March 19, 5:30 p.m.: The city is holding a public meeting to hear from business owners and people about its plans for Anderson Parkway, which is planned to repave with pervious pavement and install rain gardens to reduce the amount of runoff going into Liberty Bay.

Wednesday, March 21, 7 p.m.: Business agenda items include finalization of turnback agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation; 2012 Puget Sound Regional Council federal funding cycle project selection; and a workshop on Anderson Parkway.

Port of Poulsbo (meets in the floating meeting room at the port’s marina)

Monday, March 19, 9 a.m.: The port commissioners will hold a special meeting to discuss the city’s planned update to the Shoreline Master Program and how that might affect the port’s plans for its comprehensive plan update.

Bremerton Housing Authority(meets at 4040 Wheaton Way)

Monday, March 19, 5:30 p.m.: The housing board will hold a special meeting to discuss regular business. The authority’s March 26 meeting has been canceled.

Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown, whom outgoing Congressman Norm Dicks had on a short list of possible replacement candidates, announced Sunday he will not seek to represent the Sixth Congressional District.
Brown, a Democrat, said he feels he can be most effective in his current position as Central Kitsap Commissioner, a post to which he was re-elected in 2010.
“I ran for commissioner six years ago to make a difference in the community I grew up in, and I think I’ve done that,” Brown said. “At the end of the day, my passion is really working at the local level and on regional issues.”
Locally, Brown cited his role in the completion of a YMCA in Central Kitsap. Regionally, as president of the Puget Sound Regional Council he was able to help secure a long-term commitment from Boeing, he said. Brown also chairs the Hood Canal Coordinating Council.
Brown said his decision was in no way influenced by state Sen. Derek Kilmer’s recent announcement that he will run for Dick’s seat.
“I don’t make decisions dependent on other people,” Brown said. “I make decisions based on what’s right, and what’s right for me is to stay on the board of commissioners.”
Brown said he was honored Dicks mentioned him among fewer than a half dozen potential Democratic candidates, including Kilmer, Marilyn Strickland, mayor of Tacoma, and Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. McCarthy has endorsed Kilmer.
Brown said he hopes whoever replaces the long-time congressman will have Dicks’ same commitment to Kitsap’s Naval bases and to the environment.
“I was really surprised at Norm’s decision a couple of weeks ago,” Brown said. “He’s a good friend and the best congressman anyone could ask for.”

Chris Henry, reporter

Now comes word that the state may have to hold an election to fill the last month of Jay Inslee’s term within the boundaries of the district he represents.

That means for one month people in Central to North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island could have a member of Congress after all. According to an AP story we have on our site, the election would be held at the same time voters here would be electing a new member of Congress in the Sixth district.

Detailed information follows, but I can’t tell you how much it pains me that I can’t run for the job. It seems like one month in Congress would be about right, especially because the entire body is in recess for much of the time. I would consider it an amazing and lucrative addition to the internships I had in the 1980s, one as a reporter and the other working in a senator’s press office. I got paid nothing in the senator’s office and $100 a week stipend as a reporter. Or maybe it was $100 a month. A month in Congress is worth $14,500, which is significantly (I mean ginormously significant) more than I make now.

I could go as an independent. The problem is, I might have to vote on something. In fact, I would probably have to have public opinions on a lot of things, even if I didn’t have to vote. Then I’d have to come back and report on things, and someone would be there saying, “But you voted for the darn thing,” and someone would be right.

Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of any party for a one-month term as your congressman.

The Secretary of State’s office statement follows.

Read the rest of this entry »

The announcements from both parties were politically predictable in the wake of Jay Inslee’s decision to quit being a member of Congress for the rest of the year.

“It’s shameful of Congressman Inslee to lie to his constituents and the people of Washington about his intentions,” said WSRP Chairman Kirby Wilbur.

“It was a difficult decision, but what I need to do right now is focus all my attention on talking to people about what’s really important – creating jobs and growing our economy,” said Inslee.

The reaction from traditional allies on the left, however, has not been kind. Joel Connelly at seattlepi.com and Nina Shapiro at SeattleWeekly.com compared his decision to Sarah Palin’s resignation as Alaska governor. There is other precedent for it being a successful move. Neil Abercrombie left Congress to run for governor of Hawaii.

For locals the bigger impact is half of Kitsap County will not have a member of Congress to vote for them for the rest of the year and a few days into 2013. His staff will continue to work to help constituents. I don’t know how much heft is loss when those staff members don’t have a member of Congress.

Some members of the First District will have a member of Congress for the month between election certification and inauguration. Whoever wins the First District race in November will begin serving the district as soon as the election is certified. That new member of Congress however, will be serving in the new boundaries drawn up as part of redistricting. That means about half of all Kitsap residents will still have to wait until Jan. 3, 2013 when the new Sixth District member of Congress is sworn in.

Because of redistricting, it also means that some Washington residents will have two members of Congress, wherever the new First and the old districts overlap. Lucky them, I guess.

Two potential candidates to replace U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks in Congress announced over the weekend.

As a result we have narrowed the choices on the survey we have on the right. Some of you voted for state Rep. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, or state Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam. Those votes have been erased.

As you can see, Jesse Young’s supporters have shown up in massive numbers, that’s massive numbers for this site.

Glad to see most of you didn’t fall for the Alan Smithee trap.

Brynn writes:

Here’s the week’s meetings:

Kitsap County Commissioners (meet at 619 Division Street, Port Orchard)

Monday, March 12, 10 a.m.: Legislative Update with Tom McBride for an hour followed by board information sharing until noon.

2 p.m.: The meeting starts with an executive session regarding potential litigation with DCD director Larry Keeton until 2:30 p.m.; Parks director Jim Dunwiddie will give a parks update until 3 p.m.; next is adding the electronic sign code and preliminary docket to the county’s comprehensive plan amendment with supplemental information from 3 to 4 p.m. Adjournment follows.
4. Electronic Sign Code & Preliminary Docket to Comp 3:00 – 4:00 PM

7 p.m.: The board’s regular Monday night business meeting includes the following public hearing items: Amending an ordinance reducing the existing 35 mph speed limit to 30 mph on Ogle Road NE in North Kitsap, fiscal Impact: $300 – Road Fund; taking public testimony on an Intent to Lease county property located at 7266 Tibardis Road for the purpose of utilizing the transmitter room and antenna tower only; a resolution approving the 2012 update to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan.

Wednesday, March 14, 8:30 a.m.: Canceled.

City of Bremerton (meets at 345 Sixth Street, Bremerton)

Wednesday, March 14, 5 p.m.: Study session agenda can be found here.

City of Port Orchard (meets at 219 Prospect Street)

Tuesday, March 13, 7 p.m.: Business items include: Meeting with initiating parties regarding notice of intent to petition for Retsil annexation; Approval of a contract authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with PND Engineers, Inc. for the final design and construction administration for the DeKalb Pier/float improvements; Approval a contract authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with the Department of Ecology regarding acceptance of municipal stormwater capacity grant program; Confirmation of Appointment of Ms. Brandy Rinearson to City Clerk/Assistant to the Mayor.

City of Poulsbo (City Hall, 200 Moe Street)

Wednesday, March 14, 7 p.m.: Public hearing is about the disposal of existing structures and real estate; the next item on the business agenda is continuing the city’s discussion of its Shoreline Master Plan update.

Central Kitsap Community Council (Seabeck Conference Center)

Tuesday, March 13, 7 p.m.: The CKCC is holding its monthly meeting in Seabeck in an attempt to better reach the communities it serves. The meeting is at the Seabeck Conference Center. The schedule for the night is as follows: Stations will be set up for various presenters and at 7:30 p.m. the first break-out session starts — each participant will provide a presentation and/or discuss issues of importance between 7:30 and 7:50 p.m.; The second break out session will start at 8 p.m. and to run until 8:20 p.m. A final gathering will be held at 8:30 p.m. for general feedback from the public, followed by an opportunity between 8:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for the public to talk with participants.

Port of Poulsbo (meets in the floating meeting room of the marina)

Monday, March 12, 2 p.m.: The port will hold a special meeting to discuss the city’s planned update to the Shoreline Master Program and how that might affect the port’s plans for its comprehensive plan update.

Chris Dunagan’s story about the Legislature’s help with cutting the cost of the purchase of 7,000 acres in North Kitsap has behind it a tremendous lobbying effort taken on by legislators and citizens just to get the bill heard in the state Senate.

Those involved shared e-mails. Someone shared with us the exchanges of e-mails and I’ve done the work to pretty much show them to you in the order they happened. I took out the names of the 67 people who were CC’d on the e-mails, in large part because we would love to continue receiving e-mails like this in the future if someone finds a string that illustrates a story like this. I found out a couple of years ago that legislator e-mails are not public record. There are local officials in the mix here, so all these e-mails would be public record, if you’re interested in doing a record request through the county or city of Poulsbo.

We’re including the e-mails to tell a story of what was happening behind the scenes, the events illustrated in the following part of Dunagan’s story:

Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, said the bill got hung up because it appeared to affect only a small group. But, with the clock winding down, lobbyists from timber companies, environmental groups and local governments joined together, along with many local supporters. They pushed Senate leaders to move the bill to a vote, which was unanimous in the Senate after only one dissenting vote in the House.

“It took teamwork,” Rolfes said, “but it was very easy to say that everyone wants this.”

Jon Rose, who is spearheading the land deal for Pope Resources, said the legislation shows how people can make things happen when they need to.

“This was one of the best examples of a diverse group of Kitsap County residents coming together for a positive result,” he said, “and I would like to see more of it.”

The evidence follows.

Read the rest of this entry »

The rumor mill was right. Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer is not ruling out the idea of running to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair.

According to someone who attended a meeting of real estate pros tonight Boyer stopped by the meeting briefly and after he left those still at the event began discussing whether Boyer might run.

“It’s always in the back of my mind that you’re looking for the next way to serve,” Boyer said by phone Wednesday night.

Boyer was elected Kitsap County Sheriff in 1998 as a Democrat and was a Washington State Trooper for 27 years before that. The sheriff said he was honored people called him to ask. “It’s nice people thought enough to call me from both sides of the aisle,” he said. “I gotta look at it.”

Three Republicans and one Democrat are on record so far saying they’re aiming to replace Dicks. Republicans Doug Cloud, Jesse Young and Bob Sauerwein (Based on a tip from one of the commenters I called Sauerwein and he said he withdrew three weeks ago. I have also removed him from the poll in the right column.) are lined up against Democrat Derek Kilmer, state senator from Gig Harbor.

Kilmer sent out a list of 37 leaders from the region, including 14 from Kitsap County, who have already lent an endorsement.

Boyer praised Kilmer, but said, “It’s better that we have a number of qualified candidates rather than the lesser of two evils.” He also said he thought he could do a good job in Washington, D.C.

State Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, also thought about running, but decided now was not the time. Several others, including state Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, and state Rep. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, may still considering whether to run.

The Belfair Water District commissioners are holding a special meeting Thursday at 2 p.m.

The meeting will be an executive session on legal and personnel.

Q: What makes me and others who live in the area think this is news?

A: It is at 2 p.m. Most regular meetings are at 6 p.m., because that’s when the commissioners find it easier to attend. That doesn’t work for the district’s manager, Dave Tipton, whose contract pays him extra money for meetings that late. The commissioners have worked around that before. Apparently they don’t plan to on Thursday.

This has got the neighborhood buzzing.