Central Ward City Councilman Kjell Stoknes said today he will
not seek a second term.
“It’s time for someone else to take the rein,” he said. “I will
have had four interesting, challenging years and am ready to move
into the next project.”
Stoknes, a former real estate appraiser and municipal planner,
defeated sales executive Doug Smith in a mildly contested race four
years ago. Both candidates had similar platforms, promoting higher
density downtown and environmental preservation in the Winslow
area.
Stoknes has lately expressed a hesitance to run because of the
deep divisions on the council over Winslow Way utility work, the
Winslow sewer plant upgrade and financial matters.
Kirsten Hytopoulos
Community activist Kirsten Hytopoulos announced today she will run
for the South Ward City Council seat currently held by Chris Snow.
Hytopoulos, a 39-year-old Blakely Court resident, is the first
candidate to formally announce a bid for one of the three council
positions slated for November’s ballot. Her announcement was
followed by information posted on the Kitsap County Auditor’s
website that Bill Point resident Tim Jacobsen is also running for
the South Ward position. More on his candidacy later.
Hytopoulos’ community activism has focused on environmental and
city financial issues.
“With a new form of government and a community looking for
positive change, we have a unique opportunity to create a
responsive and responsible city government that reflects our
community’s core values,” Hytopoulos said in a statement. “It’s
time to recommit our city government to the community’s shared
vision, which includes preserving our unique island character and
way of life while living within our means, fiscally and
environmentally.”
Hytopoulos is the founder of the Green Voices for Bainbridge
Island Internet site and was a co-founder of the Save Winslow Way
Coalition, a group concerned about future development on downtown’s
main thoroughfare.
She was also active with the a group advocating the city’s
recent switch to a council-manager form of government.
Hytopoulos is self-described full-time mother of three. She has
worked as a prosecuting attorney in Seattle and taught
college-level criminal justice in Bangor and Whidbey Island.
Snow, who was elected unopposed almost four years ago, has not
decided if he’ll seek reelection.
