Josh Farley writes:
It’s February, and you know what that means: the beginning of
political campaign season.
OK, maybe that’s not the first thing on your mind. February’s
supposed to be about groundhogs and hearts, while voting’s more
more akin to pumpkins and the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. But
those running are already plotting their courses to November. And
while the fireworks of 2012 included a presidential and
gubernatorial election and our state’s historic legalization of
marijuana, 2013 will have some firepower of its own — at least at
the local level.
In Bremerton, the city council will be reduced in size, from
nine to seven, thanks to a staunchly voter-approved measure a few
years back. Increasing the population of each district could make
the races more competitive, in a city where it’s not uncommon to
see council members run unopposed.
Greg Wheeler, first-term councilman currently representing
district 5 (an area that includes a chunk of West Bremerton near
Evergreen Park and a portion of East Bremerton near East Park)
called me Monday to say he’s throwing his hat in the ring for what
will be the new council district 4. That new district will
encompass a big portion of West Bremerton, from the Port Washington
Narrows to the Shipyard north to south and from Warren Avenue to
about Hewitt Avenue east to west.
I asked Kitsap Sun political guru Steven Gardner if he’d heard
of anyone yet filing with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission
(candidates have to wait until May to file in the county
officially) and he took a look at the PDC’s web site. Wheeler’s not
there yet, but Adam Brockus, city councilman representing Manette,
is — and he appears to be the first from Kitsap’s local governments
to file.
Brockus, in seeking a third term on the council, is running for
a district 3 seat that will expand to encompass downtown Bremerton
as well as its existing Manette territory.
We’ll keep you posted as filings come in. I should also mention
that aside from all council members being up, the terms of
Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent and Municipal Court Judge James Docter
are coming to an end this year. Before you know it, the campaign
signs will be up.
