Lary Coppola, who has already publicized his intention to run
for Mayor of Port Orchard, is so far the lone candidate for this
position.
Coppola was among 24 people who showed up at the Kitsap County
auditor’s office bright and early this morning to file for an
office in 2007 county elections.
Incumbent Port of Bremerton Commissioner Mary Ann Huntington, who
announced last week that she will seek re-election, is also
unchallenged at this time. Huntington will have to defend her seat
in the wake of a large port tax hike to fund a major upgrade of the
Bremerton Marina.
Also in Port Orchard, two non-incumbents who have closely followed
the City Council’s deliberations on a proposed downtown plan for
economic development, have stepped up to file for seats on the
council. Jerry Childs, who has headed a neighborhood association of
residents concerned about future building heights that may be
allowed by the plan, has filed for the at-large position currently
held by Bob Geiger. Geiger has said he will not run again. Cindy
Lucarelli, another neighborhood association leader, has filed for
position 4, currently held by John Clauson. Clauson has not said
whether he will run again.
Port Orchard City Council incumbents Robert Putaansuu, position 3,
and Rick Wyatt, position 5, have filed for re-election in their
respective positions. Wyatt had been considering a run for the
mayor’s seat. He was not immediately available for comment.
The week is young, and candidates have until 4:30 p.m. Friday to
file. The Kitsap Sun will file updates on significant races
throughout the week. The auditor’s office will post updates on
filings twice daily on the county’s home page,
www.kitsapgov.com.
Speaking of South Kitsap Reporter Chris Henry talks about life in the county seat of Port Orchard and surrounding areas.
It doesn’t seem like a good omen that “Huntington will have to defend her seat in the wake of a large port tax hike to fund a major upgrade of the Bremerton Marina,” but no other candidate filed today.
Is there really no one champing at the bit, wanting to take her on?
Bob,
I think you would make an excellent Port Commissioner!
(ducking out of sight before Bob finds a big bat to thump me with)
Regards,
Kathryn Simpson
Kathryn, I actually was thinking more along the lines of wanting someone to file as a candidate who has a chance of winning!
I would need a lot more help from Huntington — say, two or three more “industrial development districts” and their 45 cents per $1000 property taxes slipped quietly into our tax bills.
Think she can manage to do that before this November?
Oh wait — Catch 22. We wouldn’t be told about it until next February, which would be too late for this year’s elections.
But, but, but… she says that the public should be well aware of what the Port is doing… after all, she reminded the paper just in the last couple of days that all Port meetings are open to the public. According to Chris Henry’s article today:
“Huntington said nothing the port does should be a surprise to the public because all its meetings are publicized in advance. ‘The meetings are always open to the public,’ she said”.
Apparently there is no responsibility to inform the constituency except to comply with the Open Public Meetings Act. Legal? Apparently so. Right? I don’t think so.
Anyway, it looks like she has a contested race now. Martin D. Dilenno filed today. Perhaps there will be greater dialog on what happens at Port meetings and collaboration with the rest of the community on where our taxation priorities should be focused.
Regards,
Kathryn Simpson