Tag Archives: Phil Rockefeller

Senator Rockefeller’s community garden

State Sen. Phil Rockefeller has opened up a piece of his land for community garden use. His is the latest in a recent Bainbridge community garden boom.

In her most recent column, Kitsap Sun garden writer Ann Lovejoy highlights the Bainbridge Democrat and his wife Anita Rockefeller’s effort to link people to island-grown food and each other.

“Our idea was to create a place where people can not just put food on the table, but also connect to the natural world and to the community,” Anita said. “We hope we’ll all learn from each other, becoming better gardeners and finding common interests to share along with the vegetables.”

The Rockefellers brought in sandy loam and compost to make several garden-ready beds on a third of an acre at their Tolo Road property. Th fenced and watered garden includes almost 100 tomato plants to help keep Helpline House supplied through the summer.

Green thumbs of varying shades make up the seven families using the Rockefellers’ garden.

Lovejoy reports that plenty of space is open. To reserve a plot, call (206) 817-0456 or e-mail: chocrock@seanet.com.

Click here to read Lovejoy’s column, which also explores the overall growth of the island’s community gardens.

Also check out Sound Food’s map of Bainbridge community gardens here.

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Rockefeller under consideration for EPA post

State Sen. Phil Rockefeller was named this week as a candidate to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s four-state Northwest region.

Rockefeller, a Bainbridge Island Democrat, said he’d likely take the job if it’s offered to him.

“I’d be honored,” he said. “But I love my current job and I’d be happy to stay in the Legislature.”

A strong advocate for environmental protections, Rockefeller said he’s not been informed who or how many other candidates are in the running for the EPA post. He is also unsure when a decision will be made.

“It’s a long process,” he said. “And I’m just one of many candidates for the position.”

Rockefeller has made protecting the environment a hallmark of his two Senate terms and three terms in the state House of Representatives. He helped develop the Puget Sound Partnership, which is leading renewed cleanup efforts, and toughened auto emission standards.

As administrator of the EPA’s Region 10, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, Rockefeller would oversee enforcement and implementation of federal environmental rules and regulations. Region 10 includes 650 employees and has an annual budget of $500 million.

With the Obama Administration now in charge, Rockefeller foresees a larger budget and expanded role for the EPA.

“Looking ahead, I see more federal resources to clean up our water and air,” he said.

If selected for the post, Rockefeller promised to focus greater attention on the clean up of Puget Sound and the Columbia River.

Rockefeller contrasted the expansive opportunities to improve the environment at federal level with the shrinking prospects at the state level.

“Right now the state’s starved for funds,” he said, noting the state’s budget deficit of almost $9 billion.

If he vacates his Senate seat, the 23rd Legislative District Democrats would choose three nominees to serve in his place. The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners would appoint one of the three nominees to serve the remaining three and a half years of Rockefeller’s four-year term.

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BI’s change-in-government bill flies through Senate

A bill aimed at allowing Bainbridge Island to hold a special election in May to change its form of government passed the state Senate today.

The bill now goes before Gov. Chris Gregoire for final approval.

“This was one of the fastest moving bills I have seen in ten years,” said Sen. Phil Rockefeller, a Bainbridge Democrat and the bill’s prime sponsor.

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BI’s change-in-government bill passes House of Representatives

Rep. Rolfes
Rep. Rolfes

A bill allowing Bainbridge Islanders to vote early on changing their form of government passed the state House by a wide margin on Wednesday.

Sponsored by Rep. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), House Bill 1066 passed 95 to two. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is scheduled for a committee hearing on Monday.

If expedited through the Senate, the bill could allow a public vote in May on whether to replace the city’s elected mayor position with a hired city manager.

“It was remarkable,” Rolfes said of the bill’s easy passage. “It passed by such a large margin most likely because it’s a very straightforward bill.  Legislators, all of whom have run for office, many of whom come from local government, could see the difficulty of the situation and were willing to fix it.”

Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-Bainbridge Island) persuaded his colleagues on Thursday to allow the bill an early hearing on the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee.

“This will expedite action on the special election bill, and I hope we can get it voted out of that committee quickly,” he said.

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