Category Archives: Election 2008

Port of Manchester IDD: Take the Poll

Should the Port of Manchester form an industrial development district to buy land for a future community center? Read the post, then take the poll on the homepage of this blog.

Port of Manchester to Revisit IDD Tax Monday
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Manchester Library

Revenue would be used for land acquisition and debt service.
By Chris Henry
chenry@kitsapsun.com
MANCHESTER
Port of Manchester Commissioners will vote Monday on whether to form an industrial development district, a taxing district affecting property owners within port boundaries. Revenue from the IDD would fund the purchase of a downtown Manchester property that could some day be developed as a community center.
The IDD, which does not require a public vote, would allow the port to move quickly on the purchase while property prices remain low, said Alan Fletcher, contract administrator for the port.
Strong resistance to the new taxing district at the port’s Aug. 10 meeting led the board to defer the vote and leave the record open for a month. Some who testified supported the IDD, but opponents loudly protested the tax increase and called for at least an advisory vote on the matter.
Under the IDD the port could collect up to 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value in addition to the current levy (just more than 14 cents per $1,000 for 2009) for up to six years. Port commissioners estimate they would need to collect 20 to 25 cents per $1,000 to purchase the land.
Fletcher calculates the proposed tax would cost the owner of a $250,000 home about $57.50 per year. The IDD tax is temporary and would expire at the end of the six years.
The proposed community center on the site eyed for purchase is part of the port’s parks and recreation plan, developed with community input. The center would be developed in the future in partnership with civic groups and would likely include an expanded library with space for community activities.
A portion of the IDD revenue would go to retire debt related to expanded parking at the port’s marina.
Port commissioners Steve Pedersen and Daniel Fallstrom, who were elected in 2008, expressed disapproval during their campaigns for the Port of Bremerton’s IDD, formed in 2006 to pay for the new Bremerton Marina. That IDD, which was not well publicized, became a political albatross for the Port of Bremerton.
Fallstrom in 2008 said Port of Bremerton residents should have had a say about the new tax that was set at the full amount allowed by law and in many cases more than doubled individual property owners’ payments to the port. Asked why he did not support an advisory vote for the Port of Manchester’s IDD, Fallstrom said, “It’s too late to do that this year, and cost for a special election would be $15,000, which the port can’t afford.”
Fallstrom added that Manchester’s IDD would not be as costly to property owners.
Residents who favor the community center have told the board they want to secure land for future generations rather than seeing it lost to development, Fallstrom said.
“What we’re trying to do is we have a great opportunity here to get things for the future generations at a great price,” he said.
Fallstrom would not say how he will vote on Monday.
“This is one of these hard decisions elected officials need to make. We’ll just wait ’til Monday and see what the three of us decide,” he said.
Pedersen said the board made extra efforts to seek residents’ opinions on the port’s future in part because of Bremerton’s debacle. He was a proponent of the recently formed port advisory committee whose input led the board to float the IDD. Responses from residents during and after the public hearing have given him pause.
“It’s really made me step back and take a good hard look at the authority and power to tax people, and I take that very seriously,” said Pedersen. “Just because an IDD is a tool, it doesn’t mean you take it out of the tool box and use it.”
Long-time commissioner Jim Strode, who is running unopposed in the upcoming November election, said at the meeting in August, “If I go down in flames for any decision we have to make, I’m OK with that.”

Here’s a map of the Port of Manchester:
manchester22

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Matthes Congratulates Garrido

Chris Henry

Tim Matthes has sent the Kitsap Sun a letter to the editor congratulating Charlotte Garrido, the winner of the tight race for South Kitsap Commisssioner, position 2. The Kitsap County auditor certified the election today. Here is Tim’s letter and the final vote count:

“I previously stated that it’s not over until the last vote is counted. Well, the votes have been counted and the election has been certified. I have fallen short of our goal of becoming the next South Kitsap County Commissioner by less than one and one half percent.

I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who voted for me. I want to thank all of you that spent your time, energy, and money working on this campaign. We may have came up a little short of our goal, but we gave it our best effort. A simple thank you just does not do all your work justice, but it will have to do for now. If any of you are thinking of running for public office I would encourage you to do so because this has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever undertaken.

Congratulations to Charlotte Garrido on her win. We should all say a prayer that she will display great wisdom and strength in all her decisions resulting in a better Kitsap County because of her term in office. I plan to support her and to assist her in keeping her campaign promises which are; balanced decisions, representing all of the county’s residences, a balanced budget, and supporting business in Kitsap County, just to name a few. These ideals and goals are ones that we all can support and work together to accomplish.

Thank You All !

Tim Matthes

Vote Count	Percent
– Tim Matthes	55,992	49.14%
– Charlotte Garrido	57,648	50.59%
Write-In	305	0.27%
Total	113,945	100.00%

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Updated Numbers in SK Races

Chris Henry

Republican Jan Angel is holding onto her lead over Democrat Kim Abel in the race for the 26th District, position 1. Last night, the state auditor had Angel at 50.77 percent of the vote to Abel’s 49.23 percent. Today, it’s 51.20 to 48.80 percent. Results in Kitsap are 50.61 percent for Angel, 49.14 for Abel.

District-wide, incumbent Larry Seaquist’s lead over Republican challenger Marlyn Jensen has narrowed from 61.02 (compared to Jensen’s 38.98) percent last night, to 59.92 (compared to Jensen’s 40.48) percent today, a moot point given Seaquist’s sizable margin over Jensen. In Kitsap, Seaquist has 60.97 percent of the vote to Jensen’s 38.89.

The numbers in the South Kitsap Commissioner’s race have not changed: Garrido with 51.92 percent of the vote; Matthes with 47.88. To elaborate on Matthes’ comments yesterday evening on his apparent loss, he said he had no regrets about running. He was disappointed that he didn’t win. He said, “I learned a lot, and I probably would do some things differently.”

The Kitsap County Auditor’s office will update numbers at 4 p.m. today. Political reporter Steve Gardner will post a story later today with updates on all Kitsap-related races.

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An Historic Election Event at MoonDogs Too

Chris Henry

I spent Tuesday night in downtown Port Orchard shuffling between Amy’s on the Bay and MoonDogs Too.
At the former, 26th Legislative District candidate Jan Angel celebrated her 62nd birthday and a slim lead over her Democratic opponent, Kim Abel. Abel, meanwhile, was partying at MoonDogs with supporters and State Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, who would end the evening with a comfortable lead in the race to retain his seat.
I did not plan it this way, scout’s honor, but I happened to be in the Democratic camp when presidential candidate Barack Obama shattered the 270 electoral vote barrier to become this nation’s first African-American president elect. The time was 8:01 p.m.; Obama had 284 electoral votes. Within 15 minutes, by my estimation, the stations were broadcasting news that Republican contender John McCain had graciously conceded the fight.
When news of Obama’s victory broke, cheers and whoops erupted from the crowd in the upstairs room at MoonDogs.
Say what you will about Obama, the fact that Americans elected, by an overwhelming margin, an African American president is an historic event.
The fact wasn’t lost on people like me, 53, who are old enough to remember an all-too-recent time when race was either a stumbling block or a privilege.
Beyond that, Obama’s supporters seem to respond to his charisma (whether that’s enough to run a country in dire economic straits is yet to be seen).
I looked around at the crowd and saw 67-year-old Kay Travatte, watching the screen, hands to her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“This means a lot to you?” I asked.
“It’s been a long time,” she said referring to both Obama’s campaign and the last time she was so moved by a political leader.
Travatte, a Gig Harbor resident, was too young to vote for John F. Kennedy, but she worked on his campaign. She held a job with the F.B.I. the year he was assassinated and it took the wind out of her political sails … until now.
“From the first time I saw him talk, he made me want to come forward and do something for this country,” said Travatte of President-elect Obama.
Another woman, old enough to speak with authority, Marcia Loraditch, 62, of Port Orchard, summed it up this way, “We just stepped into history,” she said.

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Dueling Campaign Signs

Chris Henry

Last minute campaigners for both the Republican and Democratic parties set up camp yesterday evening on opposite street corners at the intersection of Bethel and Lund avenues in South Kitsap.

Mike Acosta was among a group of more than a dozen people who braved the rain Monday to wave signs for local and national Republican candidates. Behind him, left to right are Adam Isackson, Marlyn Jensen, candidate for the 26th Legislative District, position 2, and Eric Stancin.

Gabriel Fernandez, 3, stayed dry while his mother, Rhiannon Fernandez, and others waved signs for local and national Democratic candidates.

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A Word on the Kitsap Sun’s Video Campaign Coverage

Chris Henry

A story on the South Kitsap Commissioner’s Race will be posted shortly on the Kitsap Sun’s Web site. Our coverage of the race includes a video of Charlotte Garrido. Candidate Tim Matthes chose not to be videotaped.

As our Web coverage of local news has evolved, it has allowed us new ways to inform readers about the issues, including videos. That has made for some interesting times in the newsroom, as reporters pick up cameras and learn the ropes of video production. But, be assured, we do apply the same rules of journalism to videos as we do to stories.

In the case of the campaign videos, we applied the same rules to all candidates. Each was allowed up to three minutes to make a statement. The reporter followed up with questions, and the candidate was given an unlimited time to respond. Aside from editing out the sound of silence between questions, we made no alterations to the tapes. No splicing, no dicing, no sound bites. What we saw and heard is what you get.

Besides Tim Matthes, Jan Angel, running for 26th District Representative, position 1, and incumbent Sen. Phil Rockefeller, running to retain his seat in the 23rd District, also declined the video interview.

Just thought you ought to know in case anyone wonders why these candidates are missing in the video lineup of our 2008 election coverage.

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Commish Candidate Matthes Resigns as KAPO VP

Chris Henry

Lack of time — and not the desire to distance his candidacy from the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners’ strong stand on property rights — was the driving reason for Tim Matthes’ recent resignation as vice president of KAPO. But the need to appeal to a broader base did play a small role in his decision, Matthes said today.

A Republican, Matthes is running against Democrat Charlotte Garrido in the race for South Kitsap Commissioner. The two survived the top two primary Aug. 19. Democrat Monty Mahan failed to make the cut.

Matthes said his run for commissioner is demanding more time than he had expected. Last week, he missed the Kingston Chamber of Commerce forum at which Garrido was present.

“I believe I underestimated the amount of time a viable candidate puts in for the general election,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is going to be hard, but I’ll have the time.’ It was brought home last week. I made two mistakes and one (missing the Kingston forum) was horrible.”

The other event, nearly missed, was a KAPO meeting, Matthes said.

Besides stepping down from his post with KAPO, Matthes has arranged to have his seat on the Kitsap County Board of Equalization covered for the next two months. The volunteer board hears challenges to property tax valuations.

Asked if his decision was, in any way, a strategy to reach voters who may define him solely by his membership in KAPO, Matthes said, “probably a little bit.”

KAPO is known for its advocacy of individual property rights and interest in local land-use issues. Matthes remains a member and said, “I still feel strongly about property rights.” But he added that, as a candidate, he has been trying to connect with voters of all persuasions.

“I think an commissioner needs to have an open mind, not an empty head,” he said. “You meet so many people and get so many different ideas, you can’t help but broaden your perspective.”

Vivian Henderson, executive director of KAPO, supports Matthes’ decision.

“I think he’s doing a very responsible thing,” she said. “He needs to concentrate on his campaign. It’s critical.”

Matthes’ post with KAPO will be filled by Jackie Rossworn, who was voted on by its board of directors. She will serve through February, the end of Matthes’ term, when KAPO will elect new officers.

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Speaking of South Kitsap: On Vacation with Obama

Chris Henry

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and I spent the past week vacationing on Oahu, visiting family and soaking in the Aloha spirit.

No, our paths did not cross, but they easily could have. It’s not that big an island – you can drive from one side to another in an hour or less – and Obama, with his family, immersed himself in island activities, rubbing elbows with the locals (Secret Service agents in tow).

While I sponged off my sister, who lives above Pearl Harbor, Obama and his entourage settled into a vacation rental in Kailua.

On Saturday, while I hiked the Aiea Ridge Trail and lounged by my sister’s pool, Obama jogged on the beach and attended a rally at Ke’ehi Beach Lagoon Park.

He later played golf at Olomano Golf Links and Country Club in Waimanalo, where his unannounced appearance created a delighted stir among fellow golfers.

According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “The senator went around to shake hands, smiling, flashing a shaka every once in a while and greeting golfers with the occasional ‘Howzit’ while they snapped photos with digital cameras and cell phones.”

On Tuesday, I body surfed at Waimanalo Beach and took in the Nuuanu Pali overlook. Obama played basketball with his buddies at Punahou School, his alma mater. He later bought his gang/entourage burgers and fries at the Kua ‘Aina Sandwich Shop (spending $116 and leaving a $40 tip, it was noted) then had a picnic at Ala Moana Beach Park. The fare was (presumably) a little more upscale at a $2,300-per-person fund-raiser that night at the Kahala Hotel and Resort (the second and last official appearance of his trip to Hawaii).

On Wednesday, while I went snorkeling on the North Shore, Obama took in the Pali Overlook and ate shave ice with his daughters. He later visited the grave of his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, a World War II veteran, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater.

On Thursday, while I did some more hiking and more lounging, Obama went body surfing at Sandy Beach (recommended for “locals only”).

He later threw petals from a lei into the ocean on the east coast, where his mother’s ashes were scattered following her death in 1995 from ovarian cancer.

Yes, it was a busy week for Obama and me. But while the press took no notice of my presence on the island, they followed Obama’s every move, checking out what he ate and what he wore, hanging on his every casual word (he was reported to have said of the shave ice that he bought keiki or child-size because, “It is right before dinner. I don’t want to get in trouble.”)

Comparisons to Paris and Britney aside, Obama is certified buzz material.

The question then – surely raised before and sure to be raised again – is whether Obama’s celebrity-like status could be considered a distraction or liability.

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Matthes Ad (designed by Neatherlin) to Be Pulled from Cable

Chris Henry

The Kitsap Sun has requested a campaign ad for Tim Matthes, Republican candidate for South Kitsap Commissioner, be pulled from cable television stations, where it has been running for the past couple of days.

The ad begins with a Kitsap Sun logo and the title of a letter to the editor, “County Government: We’re in Trouble,” by Marion Larm of Poulsbo

Deb Smith, director of marketing for the Kitsap Sun, called Matthes earlier today asking him to pull the ad because it uses the Kitsap Sun logo without permission. Smith cited another ad she saw that used the title of a letter to the editor by Vivian Henderson, director of the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners. Matthes is a member and past president of KAPO.

“By juxtaposing headlines from letters to the editor and using voice-over with our logo, the commercial improperly attributes their opinions to us,” said Smith in an e-mail.

Matthes said the ad was designed and submitted to the station by Randy Neatherlin, Republican candidate for the 35th District. Matthes said he was unaware he had done anything wrong in approving the ad.

“My intent is to take everything off there, at least the offending portions,” said Matthes. “I’m going to change it. I have to modify it and take anything off that has to do with the Kitsap Sun.”

On Friday afternoon, Matthes was trying to contact Neatherlin and also an attorney to see what the law says about campaign ads.

Managing editor Jeff Brody said clearly Matthes is not entitled to use the Kitsap Sun logo without permission. The only time that would be appropriate is if the Kitsap Sun had actually endorsed a candidate, Brody said.

Democratic candidate Monty Mahan received the endorsement of the Kitsap Sun’s editorial board over the past weekend.

Neatherlin, contacted later in the day, was surprised at the Kitsap Sun’s objection to the ad, material for which he pulled from the Kitsap Sun Web site

Neatherlin, a business owner whose “sideline” is making advertisements for other candidates, said use of newspaper headlines in campaign ads is a routine practice. He has used it before and never run into problems, he said.

Neatherlin apparently did not differentiate between headlines on articles and editorial titles. “From everything I understand, it’s 100 percent legal,” he said. “It’s common practice for political ads.”

Neatherlin said he would not speak for Matthes, but would defer to his wishes on the matter.

A note on the photo above: Matthes submitted this campaign photo to the Kitsap Sun. It shows the candidate seated at a table with the Kitsap County logo in the background. Matthes is a member of the county’s board of equalization.

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Friday Afternoon Club: Saturday Fundraiser Set for Garrido

Chris Henry

If you can’t find enough reasons to stay outdoors during spring’s fleeting visit to the Northwest, if you’re curious about local politics or inclined to whip out your checkbook on behalf of a particular candidate for local office, you may want to stop by a campaign kick-off for Charlotte Garrido, Democratic candidate for South Kitsap Commissioner. Here’s the information from her husband and campaign manager:

A Port Orchard Campaign Kickoff will be hosted by Citizens to Elect Charlotte Garrido on Saturday, May 17th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Bay Leaf Bistro, 834 Bay St. Port Orchard. Charlotte Garrido will meet and greet attendees. Food and beverages will be served.
Information is available at www.charlottegarrido.com.
Contact Ray Garrido at info@charlottegarrido.com or 360 447-7386.

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