2016 Voter Guide

Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 • A 5

2016

Voter Guide LEADER SPECI AL FOCUS

Be informed The best voter is an informed voter. Don’t know much about the candidates on your primary ballot? Here are some websites that contain candidate statements and/or Q&A sessions: Washington Secretary of State Elections & Voting tinyurl.com/j9qojtl Jefferson County Auditor’s Voter Guide (includes statewide, judicial, legislative district and county-level races) tinyurl.com/h27aopu League of Women Voters of Washington (The league sponsors candidate forums on commissioner of public lands, lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction. See their website on where to find the videos.) lwvwa.org

Lots of state-race choices on Aug. 2 primary ballot Patrick J. Sullivan The Leader

to take it to the post office counter and have it canceled by hand. There is no guarAlthough only two races antee a letter dropped into for partisan office are on a mail slot on Aug. 2 would the Aug. 2 primary ballot be processed with that day’s in Jefferson County, every date, Johnson noted. registered voter here has plenty of choices to win- DISTRICT 1 RACE now the field of statewide Voters within the city of candidates.

Port Townsend and an adjaThe Jefferson County cent precinct have the most Auditor’s Office is slated to local impact, with only two mail about 23,239 ballots of the five candidates for on Wednesday, July 13, on the Board of County Comtop of the ballots sent last missioners (BOCC) District month to voters who are in 1 seat advancing to countythe military or live overseas. wide vote Nov. 8.

There are 23,546 active The county commission registered voters today, race not being a countywide compared to 21,886 for the affair in the primary still general election in 2012, ac- surprises some voters. cording to Betty Johnson, “We expect to get a lot deputy auditor and elections of phone calls asking why supervisor. this commissioner is not on The primary election bal- my ballot,” Johnson said. lots are due Tuesday, Aug. “In a primary, only the spe2. Johnson noted that vot- cific district’s voters are ers who wait until Aug. 2 to involved.” mail a ballot are encouraged

PARTISAN RACES There are different election rules for partisan races “The primary (county commissioner, state Legislature) than for non- ballot is full, partisan races (public utility and voters are district commissioner, supereminded to look rior court judge, etc).

All partisan races, even at both sides.” those with only one candidate (such as BOCC District Betty Johnson 2 incumbent David SulliDEPUTY AUDITOR, van) appear on the primary JEFFERSON COUNTY ballot. Nonpartisan races, however, only appear on the primary ballot when The statewide primary there are three or more ballot is packed with cancandidates. didates for state offices, including governor (11), PCO RACES lieutenant governor (11), There are 10 contested secretary of state (three), political party precinct com- treasurer (five), auditor mittee offices on the prima- (five), commissioner of pubry ballot; these only appear lic lands (seven), superinwithin the specific voter tendent of public instruction precinct they represent. The (nine), attorney general PCO races are decided in (two) and state insurance the primary. commissioner (three). In all races, the two top primary STATE RACES voter-getters advance to the

general election.

“The primary ballot is full, and voters are reminded to look at both sides,” Johnson noted.

JUDICIAL RACES One judicial race is on the statewide primary ballot; nonpartisan races only appear in a primary when contested by more than two people. There are three candidates for the Supreme Court’s Position No. 5.

FEDERAL RACES At the federal level, incumbent U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer has five opponents for the 6th Congressional District seat, including Tyler Myles Vega of Port Townsend, whose political party preference is the Green Party. The top two vote-getters advance from the primary. Sen. Patty Murray has 16 primary election opponents. Again, See BALLOTS, page 6▼

Jefferson County Democrats (Profiles of Democrats running for county commissioner, District 1) tinyurl.com/jsfj6k8

BOCC candidate forum July 13 in Port Townsend

Candidates for Jefferson County commissioner District 1 gather for a public forum at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 13 at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St. Five candidates are seeking the District 1 position, which opened upon the retirement of Phil Johnson. Kate Dean, Cynthia Koan and Tim Thomas state a preference for the Democratic Party; Jeff Gallant prefers the Republican Party; Holly Postmus states no party preference.

The top vote-getters among District 1 voters in the Aug. 2 primary advance to countywide vote Nov. 8.

July 25 deadline to register for primary vote

The deadline for registering to vote in the Aug. 2 election is Monday, July 25, and it has to be done in person. That is only for those who are not currently registered anywhere else in Washington state.

The Jefferson County Auditor’s office is at 1820 Jefferson St. in Port Townsend and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 385-9119.

every

vote

counts

Dean, Thomas lead campaign fundraising 3 candidates opt for mini reporting, pledge not to spend more than $5,000 Allison Arthur The Leader

tributor. As a result, they do not have to report their campaign contributions to the In the race for the District PDC, although they do have 1 seat on the Jefferson Coun- to keep records. ty Board of Commissioners, PDC spokesperson Lori Democrat Kate Dean has Anderson said those records a solid financial lead in the do need to be made public to five-candidate pack with the anyone who asks the candimost campaign contributions dates in the last eight days raised to date. leading up to the Aug. 2 priDean has raised $9,678 mary election. That is true of as of July 6 and has spent all candidates, not just those $3,176, according to infor- opting for mini reporting. mation filed with the state Public Disclosure Commis- HOW MUCH? sion (PDC). Her closest fiDean said she’s been told nancial rival is Tim Thomas, she needs to raise $20,000who has raised $4,324 and $30,000 to be elected to a job spent $720. Thomas ran for that pays roughly $64,000 a District 2 commissioner as a year, benefits not included.

Republican in 2012 and now “I think I have been sucis running for District 1 as a cessful in getting a lot of doDemocrat. nors with smaller amounts Three other County and I believe this represents Commission candidates – the grassroots campaigning Democrat Cynthia Koan, Re- I’ve been doing,” Dean said. publican Jeffrey Gallant and Dean is planning a getHolly Postmus, who has list- out-the-vote party July 20, ed no party preference – all which she said would be have opted for mini report- focused on having fun and ing. They pledge to raise and building community. “I’m spend no more than $5,000 trying to inspire people to and not to accept any more get engaged locally, especialthan $500 from any one con- ly when the national politi-

“I’m trying to inspire people to get engaged locally, especially when the national political stage is so wacky.”

Kate Dean DEMOCRAT, CANDIDATE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

cal stage is so wacky,” Dean said.

The top two primary voter-getters within District 1 advance to the countywide vote Nov. 8. Most of Dean’s initial fundraising is being done in District 1; if she advances to the general election, she plans to move the fundraising efforts out to Districts 2 and 3, where she also has lived.

Dean also hopes to get endorsements that would bring in larger contributions, from, say, the Jefferson County Democratic Party, which has not endorsed a primary candidate. A number of Dean’s

contributors are moversand-shakers in the local Democratic party, including Michelle Sandoval of the Port Townsend City Council, former city Mayor David King, and Teri Nomura, former chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party.

Dean notes that she wants to have a larger fundraising account than Thomas, who is recycling his red campaign signs from the 2012 election. Thomas said he spent $250 on stickers so he could reuse his old signs, changing the “R” to a “D,” as well as changing the district number from “2” to “1” and changing the address since he’s no longer using a post office box this time around.

Thomas is focusing on being cost conscious this time.

“Last time, we raised about $17,000. If I can keep my expenses down, we should only have to raise $12,000 or $13,000,” Thomas said. “It depends. You can spend as much money as you raise. You can do ads and mailers. There’s no limit for how much you can spend.

We’re trying to be wise with our money this time and figure out how we want to do it.”

Recycling those campaign

“We’re trying to be wise with our money this time and figure out how we want to do it.”

Tim Thomas DEMOCRAT, CANDIDATE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

signs saved him an estimated $3,000, he said, and not renting a post office box saves money, too.

“We did all this stuff last time, and I look back. We’re not in some big city,” he said.

Thomas said he’s waiting to see what happens in the primary to do more fundraising.

One of Thomas’ larger campaign contributors is Sheriff David Stanko, who switched from having a “D” by his name after he was elected in 2014 and officially became an independent.

Stanko had sought the supSee MONEY, page 6▼

A 6 • Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Ballots: Postmarked Aug. 2

▼Continued from page 5

the top two vote-getters advance.

WRITE-IN POSSIBLITIES The door remains open for write-in candidates, although Johnson has received no indication such candidates exist locally.

In the BOCC District 2 primary race, for example, in which Sullivan is uncontested, a write-in only needs 1 percent of the total vote to qualify for the general election.

In primary races with two candidates, it is also possible for a write-in to make a difference in the toptwo election format.

“If one candidate thinks they are automatically going to the next election without campaigning, a write-in

Jefferson County Courthouse, located at 1820 Jefferson St. in Port Townsend (office hours are 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.) or at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.

The drop boxes located outside are accessible 24/7 until 8 p.m., Aug. 2.

On Election Day, ballots also can be turned in to the auditor’s office between 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.

People who choose to mail their ballots on Election Day may want to have them hand canceled at the post office service window to BALLOT RETURN ensure it makes that day’s All ballots must be re- mail. turned or postmarked (firstPeople who do not receive class postage) by 8 p.m., a ballot in the next few days Tuesday, Aug. 2. Hand-de- or who need a replacement livered ballots go into drop ballot should contact the auboxes inside or behind the ditor’s office at 385-9119. candidate could get more votes and they would move on to the general,” Johnson said. “It is unlikely, but possible.”

To be a “declared” writein candidate, a person needs to file a declaration at the auditor’s office, and pay a filing fee, by 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 15.

A person able to organize their own campaign, however, could stand as a write-in without a declaration, and would qualify if receiving 1 percent of total votes cast for that office.

Money: Campaign signs recycled ▼Continued from page 5

port of Jefferson County Democrats that year and when he didn’t get it, he initially dropped out of the three-person primary, then returned to the campaign after being asked to do so. He advanced from the primary and won the general election over the endorsed Democrat.

Richard Hild, who ran as a Republic county commission candidate in 2008, also has donated to Thomas. Former Sheriff Mel Mefford also is supporting Thomas.

KATE DEAN Contributions to Kate Dean’s Kate for Commissioner race came from: $250: Sarah Fairbank, Steve Moore, Steve Ramsey, Judy Ruggles, Michelle Sandoval, Frank White $200: Mary Dean, John Fabian, Frances Van Cleave $125: Bill Dean $100: Barbara Allen, Janie Anderson, Al Bergstein, Martha Breunig, Tom Camfield, Brandon Cardinal,

Judy Edwards, Heidi Eisenhour, Robert Friedman, Adele Govert, Sarah Grossman, Caitlin Harrison, Teri Hein, Linda Herzog, Patricia Jones, Alison Kaplan, Kees Kolff, Kathryn Lamka, Shirley McRae, Carol Ann Modena, Teri Nomura, Wendy Nordquist, Tina Podlodowski, Ann Pougiales, George Randals, Jane Rioseco, Dave Robison, Kate Roosevelt, Sarah Rubenstein, Judith Rubin, Roger Schmitt, Don Schusler, Michele Seelbach, Bob Simmons, Doug Van Allen, Scott Walker, Bonnie Wright $75: Earll Murman, Karen Obermeyer, Seth Rolland, Amanda Webby $65: Daniel McEnerney $60: Phil Andrus $50: Judith Alexander, Elizabeth Covey, Shannon Davis, Bill Dean, Jim Dodd, David Faber, Marilyn Fenn, Jim Funaro, Deborah Gellert, Kathleen Gilmore, Joyce Gustafson, Abby Jorgensen, David King, Carol Light, David McCulloch, Julie McCull-

och, Andrew McGregor, Nicole O’Hara, Cynthia Osterman, Jessica Plumb, Fran Post, Brent Shirley, Steve Shively, Susan Slate, Susan Slate, Jim Tolpin, Amanda Webby, Bly Windstorm, Linda Yakush $40: Danie Hulett $35: Doug Milholland $30: Pamela Murphy $28: Heather Macrae-Woolf $25: Shannon Davis, Kate Dean TIM THOMAS Contributions to the Tim Thomas and the Committee to Elect Tim Thomas came from: $1,000: LD Richert Construction $500: Joseph Daubenberger, John Gieser, Richard Hild $400: David Stanko $200: Carey Cantrell, Bernt Ericsen $100: Chet Boutilier, Sheryl Coyote, Mel Mefford $74: Tim Thomas Sr. $50: Jewel C. Atwell, Helen Brink, Sandy Ellis

Democratic process Democrats attending the March 26, 2016 presidential caucuses in

Jefferson County check out a precinct map to figure out where to go to caucus. Voter interest shown during the caucus may be why Democrats have 10 contested races for precinct committee officers on the Aug. 2 ballot. See a story on the PCO races starting on page A1 of this edition. File photo by Nicholas Johnson

Sutton elected to Democratic National Convention committee

Linda Sutton of Cape George has been elected to the rules standing committee of the Democratic National Convention, following the Washington State Democratic Convention on June 17-19.

Sutton is to join the Washington delegation in Philadelphia later this month, along with Jefferson County residents Jeff Engels

and Ryan McAllister.

All three are currently running for precinct committee officer (PCO) positions in the upcoming Aug. 2 election. Unlike others on the ballot, PCOs are elected during this primary.

Sutton, a lifelong Democrat, was a member of the California Democratic Party’s Rules Committee

prior to her move to the Port Townsend area more than five years ago. She was also co-chair of Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, an elected member of the Los Angeles County Central Committee and a recipient of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s Roosevelt Democrat of the Year Award.

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Democrats! Vote in the August 2 Election!

Candidates endorsed by the Jefferson County Democrats ✓ Patty Murray – Incumbent ✓ Derek Kilmer – Incumbent ✓ Jay Inslee – Incumbent ✓ Tina Podlodowski ✓ Bob Ferguson – Incumbent ✓ Mike Kriedler – Incumbent ✓ Kevin Van De Wege ✓ Mike Chapman ✓ Steve Tharinger – Incumbent ✓ David W. Sullivan – Incumbent ✓ Barbara Madsen – Incumbent

United States Senator U. S. Representative Congressional District 6 Governor Secretary of State Attorney General Insurance Commissioner State Senate State Representative Position 1 State Representative Position 2 County Commissioner, District 2 State Supreme Court Justice

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The County Commissioner District 1 contest has drawn five candidates, and the two who get the most votes in the primary will be on the General Election ballot. Three of the candidates filed as Democrats: Kate Dean, Cynthia Koan, and Tim Thomas. See their profiles at jeffcodemocrats.com. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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for District 1 County Commissioner Tackling tomorrow’s challenges starts with solutions based on science, technology and community coordination TODAY. Citizens of Jefferson County: It’s a fact of life that goods and services cost more in rural America. Time and distance from production and distribution centers are challenging obstacles to small business enterprises. Rural economies constantly struggle with sustainability because of our dependency on urban-style consumerism. But, • By promoting and directing growth into the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area (UGA), we can serve all of eastern Jefferson County, not just those that live near Port Townsend.

• By directing government spending toward local businesses and employment, we can build capacity for economic stability.

• With proactive maintenance and development of capital facilities, we can eliminate costly and wasteful spending.

Paid for by Committee to Elect Jeff Gallant 2880 Hastings Ave., Port Townsend, WA 98368, 360-379-3283

Candidates for Democratic Precinct Committee Officer (PCO)

Democrats will elect all the Precinct Committee Officers of our party on August 2.

In ten precincts, competing candidates for PCO will appear on the ballot.

Unopposed candidates for PCO will not appear on the ballot, and will be deemed elected.

• 102 Port Discovery Ryan McAllister, Al Scalf • 104 Cape George Marty Gilmore, Linda Sutton • 106 North Jacob Claire Roney*, Skeeter Ezell • 303 Hadlock Wilma Hackman, Heidi Eisenhour • 501 Port Ludlow Adele Govert, Christine L. Thompson • 702 Port Townsend Gary Engbrecht*, Rick Dennison • 703 Port Townsend Gary B. Larson, Jackie Aase • 706 Port Townsend Julia B. Cochrane, Gary D. Felder*, Dan Erlenborn • 708 Port Townsend Tim Ota, Rick Doherty • 709 Port Townsend Jeff Engels, Pat Vaughan * elected incumbents To learn more about all the candidates, visit or call

jeffcodemocrats.com • (360) 774-6678

See you at the Fish Feast, July 24!

Paid for by Jefferson County Democrats, P.O. Box 85, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 • A 7

Senate-candidate showdown at Chimacum forum Van De Wege, Turissini discuss education, jobs Jacqueline Allison The Leader Senate candidates for Washington’s 24th Legislative District spoke to a full house in Jefferson County July 6, clashing over education funding and tax breaks.

About 70 people packed the Chimacum Grange hall to watch Danille Turissini, a self-described independent Republican from Port

Ludlow, and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, a five-term Democrat from Sequim, meet in their first public debate.

The two are contending for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jim Hargrove, a Democrat known for his conservative approach. Although the candidates are on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, the race is to be decided in the Nov. 8 general election.

The candidates disagreed over how to fully fund the state’s K-12 education system, as required by the state’s constitution. The McCleary decision – named for a lawsuit brought on behalf of a family living in the Chimacum School District – is a 2012 court order from the state Supreme Court that requires the state to fully fund basic education by 2018.

“We’ve made progress, but we need $3 billion more to put into McCleary,” Van De Wege said. A capital gains tax could help generate new revenue, he noted.

Turissini suggested a “levy swap” involving state school levy money from wealthier, property-rich school districts to help fund schools in propertypoor districts. The plan is supported by the Majority Coalition Caucus in the Senate, she said.

“The levy equalization creates a pool,” she said.

“People in cities would have to pay more and the people here in our rural areas would have to pay less.”

Turissini added: “I won’t do [new] taxes unless I have looked at everything else.”

Van De Wege thought a levy swap would be insufficient: “It’s more of a shift, not really generating more money.”

In response to a question about a 2015 business tax break that saved the

Boeing Co. $305 million, Turissini said Boeing is not the only organization that “wants their hands in the pot.”

“Jobs are needed in Washington state, and the tax break helped,” she said.

Van De Wege voted for the tax break, but expressed the need for accountability.

“We’re trying to amend the tax break and say if Boeing moves jobs out of state, they repay that tax money,” he said.

Turissini came to Washington in 2001, serving as the grassroots director for the Family Policy Institute of Washington and as a legislative aide in Olympia.

“I like the leadership style in the Senate,” Turissini said. “I like that any Democrat can come over to [the Majority Coalition Caucus] and work across party lines.”

Van De Wege has been a representative for the 24th District for 10 years and is currently House majority whip.

“The original reason I ran for the Legislature is because I love the Olympic Peninsula and the people here,” he said. “Going to the Senate, I look toward starting fresh and working on district issues.”

Turissini opposes abortion and gay marriage, and has worked with organizations that include Positive Christian Agenda and Washington Evangelicals for a Responsible Government, she said. “[My faith] does influence my decision making, but it’s not a single issue.

We have lots of big issues,” Turissini said. “It’s never influenced anything I’ve done in any community forum,” she added.

“You can’t go down to Olympia and say it’s not going to influence you,” said Van De Wege, who said he is pro-choice. “There are many issues and votes we take on [a woman’s right to choose].”

Turissini said she did not support a November ballot measure that urges a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

“I have to learn more about [the proposal],” she said.

“I support the initiative,” Van De Wege said.

“Corporate personhood is something that is not right in this country.”

Turissini said she wasn’t familiar with a plan to turn Port Townsend School District’s Lincoln School into subsidized

senior housing and that some projects simply won’t receive funding due to budget constraints.

“We’re seeing that a lot, where the state is dipping into funds that don’t belong in other areas,” she said.

“Our seniors and elderly are extremely important, and we need to fight hard for them,” Van De Wege said, noting the poor living conditions he has seen as a firefighter in Sequim.

Both candidates agreed that a ballot measure to introduce a carbon tax and 1 percent reduction in state sales tax would cost the state too much money.

In her closing statement, Turissini said: “People need jobs, and we need to lift that burden off them.”

Van De Wege said one of his proudest accomplishments was a six-year effort leading to a 2016 ban on flame retardants.

“I’m passionate about the environment and making sure our kids have a good place we’re passing onto them,” he said.

The candidates are likely to meet at another public debate in Jefferson County before the Nov. 8 general election.

24th District Senate candidates Kevin Van De Wege (left) and Danille Turissini are listed on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, but the race won’t be decided until the Nov. 8 general election. Photos by Jacqueline Allison

Seventy people filled the Chimacum Grange hall July 6 for a public forum featuring two races that won’t be decided until the Nov. 8 general election. Here, the audience listens to 24th District Senate candidates Kevin Van De Wege and Danille Turissini. The two candidates for Jefferson County Public Utility District were also on the slate.

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A 8 • Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader

Jefferson County commissioner, District 1 Voter Guide

Kate Dean

Age: 41 Years a resident here: 17 Years an elected public official here: 0 Party preference: Democrat

Jeff Gallant

Age: 58 Years a resident here: 29 Years an elected public official here: 0 Party preference: Republican

Cynthia Koan

Holly Postmus

Age: 53 Years a resident here: 53 (minus college) Years an elected public official here: 0 Party preference: Democrat

Age: 55 Years a resident here: 3.5 years Years an elected public official here: 0 Party preference: None

Tim Thomas

Age: 45 Years a resident here: 42 Years an elected public official here: 0 Party preference: Democrat

1) What leadership experience has prepared you for this elected public position, and how?

“As the director of a nonprofit council of governments that oversees community and economic development projects, I’ve been given invaluable insight into the workings of local governments and the importance of collaboration. This position has put me in leadership roles for important, multipartner efforts such as planning for climate change and the revitalization of Chimacum Crossroads.”

“I have been in the Army, in activist organizations and the head of the maintenance department of the marine science center. I have served as a member of the executive committee of the Jefferson County Marine Resource Committee and currently I am in business as a general contractor. I developed a strong belief in the necessity of team work.”

“As chair of the Jefferson County Planning Commission, I have the opportunity to lead the commission through difficult and divisive issues. By listening to different points of view with patience and curiosity, always with the intention of learning from and with each other, we come up with better solutions together than on our own.”

“I was employed as a Colorado county employee for 15 years, the last five of which I was head of my department.

I am familiar with the inner workings of county government, policies, procedures and the budget process. I was on a county planning board, open space advisory committee, the Board of Directors of Colorado Weed Management Association. This experience involves establishing planning priorities and goals; experience which a county commissioner should have.”

“For the past 10 years I have run a successful company through the worst financial period in recent history.

As an excavator, I have 25 years’ experience making the construction goals of a community compatible with the science of clean water and soil, and the politics behind utilities and zoning regulations.”

2) Tell us about a mistake you have made in your life and what you learned from it.

“My greatest regret is selling Old Tarboo Farm in Quilcene. We left seeking better soil and more community, but shortly after we left, many families started to settle there. I was simply too young to appreciate all that we had built, and didn’t realize the difficulty of starting over.”

“While in the Army and for a few years after, I drank too much and had some trouble with the law.

In order to move forward, I learned that self-governing people are happier and more productive.”

“I make mistakes every day as I learn and expand my knowledge and skill. I have learned to stop, own up as quickly as possible, assess what I need to know or do to repair any damage and course correct as required.”

“Moving from Colorado to Washington state without a job offer has proven to be a financial mistake. I had never experienced a problem in securing employment in Colorado. I learned that before moving, I should have done more research on the demographics and community values.”

“As a person who purchased a business at the beginning of a recession, I sacrificed time with my family to maintain contracts that would allow me to keep my employees working. I have learned to value time with my family, because once it has passed, you can’t get it back.”

3) What roadblocks might prevent the county commissioners from making countyowned land available for affordable-housing projects?

“The county must participate in a thorough planning process with the city and key housing players to identify where we want to direct growth, and how to fund services for that growth. A failure to participate in this much-needed process is the biggest roadblock.”

“Finding the appropriate vehicle for investment by the community is a better question. Affordable housing should be sited near public transportation with access to open space, bike trails and markets. Whether developing an Affordable Housing Trust, a Public Development Authority or other Public Private Initiative, the largest impediment is having high-quality, high-energy and competent leadership.”

“Local governments are generally restricted by state law from selling or leasing public lands for less than fair market value, However, exceptions can be made for the poor and infirm. If countyowned land was determined to be underutilized but otherwise suitable, a public process could determine eligible properties, projects and partners.”

“Roadblocks might include: NIMBY sentiment, or conflicts with other potential uses, such as infrastructure needs, special interests, preservation or historical use needs.”

“The county could deed land, but the ability to develop the buildings rests on water access. Land outside of city limits cannot be developed without extensive drain fields, which are based on the number of bedrooms within the structure. Within city limits, there is access to water and sewer.”

4) Salary levels coupled with housing prices have contributed to the county’s difficulty in both retaining and recruiting employees in the past year. How might the county commissioners adjust the budget to better attract and keep employees?

“I suggest the county prioritize the advancement of mid-career professionals for leadership positions. This is difficult when highly qualified applicants wish to locate here for a couple of years before retirement, commanding higher salaries. Additionally, providing employees with professional development opportunities will increase their competitiveness for higherlevel positions.”

“We should look at the revenue side of the budget.

A modest amount of growth in Port Hadlock could help build the tax base while maintaining sustainable rural livelihoods and affordable housing. A sewer system in Port Hadlock would help accomplish these and other goals.”

“We must create and implement a process to evaluate and assess compensation as compared to our cost of living and comparable positions, as well as in terms of gender-wage equity. Once those determinations have been made, working to adjust employee compensation across the board for current and future employees is vital and urgent.”

“In my opinion, many administrative salaries are inflated. Ranges of salaries could be increased to reward and encourage retaining long-term or exceptional employee’s work, but should also be based on population, performance and workload.

Ideally, all positions within the county should meet the cost of living in Port Townsend.”

“We all know that the current budget is stretched thin. If we want to escape the cycle of ever-increasing taxes to meet our budget shortfalls, then we need to grow the economy by attracting more employers, and building the housing and infrastructure needed for a thriving workforce.”

elect KOAN

Jefferson County COMMISSIONER District 1 (D)

We’re different, together! koanforcommissioner.com

State representative, 24th District, Position 1 Voter Guide

Mike Chapman

Age: 52 Years a resident here: Lifelong Washington resident, 20-year Clallam County resident Years an elected public official here: 4-term Clallam County commissioner; elected in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Party preference: Democrat

Paid for by Cynthia Koan for Commissioner, 1308 14th St., PT, WA 98368

1) What leadership experience has prepared you for this elected public position?

“I earned a bachelor’s (organizational management) from Northwest College and a master’s (leadership and liberal studies) from Duquesne University. I have served since 1991 as a police officer and sergeant, U.S. customs inspector and county commissioner. I have been chair, board of commissioners; chair, board of health; chair, Clallam Transit System; president, Olympic Peninsula Boys and Girls Clubs; and chair, Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization.”

“I had the opportunity to join the military right out of high school and instead I went to 2) Tell us about a mistake work as a construction laborer. That delayed the start of my career in public service, and I you have made in your life learned that delayed decisions can have lasting impacts.” and what you learned from it.

“I would like to serve on the agriculture & natural resources, environment, transporta3) What committee tion and community development, housing & tribal affairs committees.” assignments would you, as a freshman representative in Olympia, believe to best fit the 24th District’s needs?

4) How would you help the Legislature in 2017 meet its constitutionally mandated duty to fully fund basic education, as ordered by the state Supreme Court?

“I support reforming our regressive tax code that hurts low-middle class workers and small businesses while corporations get tax breaks. This tax structure has our poorest families paying about seven times more of their income in taxes than the top 5 percent. Education funding must come from a fairer tax system. I support asking the top 5 percent and corporations to pay their fair share to help fund education.”

State representative candidates do not respond The primary election for the 24th Legislative District, representative Position 1 is a three-candidate race.

The top two vote-getters advance to the general election.

The Leader received no response

from candidates Tammy Ramsey of Hoquiam, who prefers the Democratic Party, and George Vrable of Port Ludlow, who prefers the Republican Party. Neither of these candidates responded to multiple emails and tele-

phone messages.

Vrable and Ramsey did submit candidate profiles to the online voters’ guide posted on the Jefferson County Auditor Office’s website.