Most Kitsap elected officials say they’re not interested in become a county commissioner.
The chairman of the Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee
said Thursday that he will announce the process and time line for
seeking candidates to replace North Kitsap County Commissioner
Chris Endresen next week.
Carl Olson said he’s heard from a number of people interested, but
won’t name them until the committee has finalized details of the
process it will use to select candidates for Endresen’s
replacement. The Democratic Central Committee is charged by the
state constitution with nominating three potential candidates for
Endresen’s seat.
The remaining two commissioners will select from the list to
determine the next county commissioner. If they cannot agree, the
governor will make the selection.
Some likely prospects for the job have stepped forward to say they
are not interested. They include state Rep. Sherry Appleton,
D-Poulsbo, state Rep. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island,
Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade and Bainbridge Island Mayor Darlene
Kordonowy.
Appleton was particularly clear about her status.
“Everybody’s asked me. I’ve said the same thing: Not only ‘Hell,
no.’ but ‘Hell, hell, no!’” Appleton said.
“I have no desire under any circumstances. I like what I do.”
State Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, and Mary McClure,
executive director of the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council, are
leaving the door open on a run for Endresen’s seat.
“I’m aware of the speculation,” Rockefeller said. “I guess it’s
something I would consider, but I’m also very pleased to be doing
the job I am as a state senator.”
McClure said she is weighing the personal and professional issues
that would be involved in a major career change. She expects to
make a decision early next week.
“I love the work I’m doing. I feel like it’s really valuable,”
McClure said. “I’m working hard to evaluate if this is something I
want to do.”
McClure, who ran for county commissioner in the early 1990s, said
her experience on the council since 1992 — and as its director
since 1999 — has contributed significantly to her understanding of
county government.
“I have to say, I have a far better understanding of what the job
is than I did when I ran,” she said.
McClure said it’s not surprising more people haven’t stepped
forward with a firm commitment.
“It’s really sudden. For anyone who’s currently engaged, it’s a
huge rearrangement,” she said. “I think everyone’s probably asking
themselves these questions: ‘Am I better positioned to have an
impact where I am or as a commissioner?’”
Appleton said she prefers working to effect change at the state
level, and added that she had no stomach for stepping through the
mine field of land-use debate that dominates county government.
Rolfes, who was elected to the Legislature in 2006 by defeating
Republican Beverly Woods, said she has no plans to make a switch
any time soon.
Quade and Kordonowy also said they would be reluctant to abandon
their current positions.
“That’s a really tough job,” Kordonowy said. “Not that I’m afraid
of tough jobs, but I’ve got a job to do here, and a pretty tough
one at that.”
Said Quade: “I have thought about it briefly, and I feel I have a
commitment to the city of Poulsbo to fill out my four years.
There’s a lot of things I have cooking right now that I don’t want
to walk away from.”
Vacancy: What’s Next?
Carl Olson, chairman of the Kitsap County Democratic Central
Committee, said he will announce the deadline for applications for
the North Kitsap commissioner’s seat next week.
The Democratic Central Committee will take applications and conduct
interviews. In the end, the full central committee will vote to
determine the slate of potential commissioner candidates.
Talk about the Candidates
The Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats will meet at 1
p.m. May 12 at the William G. Reed Public Library in Shelton to
discuss the recent legislative session and potential candidates to
replace Endresen. The public is welcome.
As the process to replace her gets rolling, many local lawmakers
say they don’t want the job.
