Jefferson County Voter Guide

Jefferson County General Election Voter Guide

A product of

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For the election ending November 3, 2009

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

FOREWORD

Be sure to vote by 8 p.m. Nov. 3

THIS SPECIAL SECTION of the Peninsula Daily News, also available at no charge at the county courthouse, libraries and other public places across Jefferson County, provides voters with information about the Nov. 3 general election.

It profiles the candidates for countywide and local races in which there is more than one candidate, and also discusses measures on the ballot.

The primary election was held Aug. 18.

Compilation of information, including the question-and-answer segments, was coordinated by PDN Senior Writer Paul Gottlieb.

Candidates’ answers to questionnaires were limited to 75 words per question and were edited for length, grammar and spelling.

Races in which there is only one candidate are not profiled in this section. Neither are write-in candidates.

In Jefferson County, all voting is done by mail. There is no Election Day precinct polling.

Mail-in ballots were sent to registered voters in the appropriate jurisdictions by Oct. 14.

They must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3 or dropped off by no later than 8 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Election calendar Here are some significant dates relating to the general election:

■ Oct. 26: Voter registration deadline for people not currently registered to vote in Washington.

Registration must be done in person at the Auditor’s Office in the county courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

■ Nov. 2: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 4 general election at the County Auditor’s Office in the courthouse.

■ Nov. 2: Last day for write-in candidates to file a Declaration of Candidacy for the Nov. 4 election.

■ Nov. 24: Deadline for County Canvassing Board to certify the general election returns.

■ Nov. 25: Last day for county to mail abstract of general election returns to state.

■ Dec. 3: Final day for secretary of state to certify general election returns from across the state.

Got questions?

Questions about Jefferson County elections can be posted to the County Auditor’s Office elections division at 360-3859117 Mondays through Fridays.

Voter registration information is available by phoning 360-385-9119.

Statewide elections information — including a link to the state’s online voters guide — is available from the Secretary of State’s Office in Olympia on the Web site, www.vote.wa.gov.

They’ve already won: Uncontested races The following candidates are unopposed in local elections, although their names and the positions they seek are on the Nov. 3 ballot in the appropriate jurisdictions.

Uncontested candidates are not profiled in this voter guide.

Fire Protection District No. 5 Commissioner, Position No. 2 n Ford Kessler Cemetery District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 2 n L. Scott Loring Cemetery District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 3 n Myrtle Corey Cemetery District No. 2 Commissioner, Position No. 1 n Marjorie Schafer Cemetery District No. 3 Commissioner Position No. 2 n Diane (Movius) Martin Water District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 1 n Cal White Water District No. 2 Commissioner, Position No. 3 n Wayne Schlaefli

Public Hospital District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 3 n Carol J. Young Public Hospital District No. 2 Commissioner, Position No. 2 n Chuck Russell

Quillayute Valley School District No. 402 Director District 4 n Brian Pederson

Queets-Clearwater School District No. 20 Director, District No. 2 n Steve Sansom

Fire Protection District No. 3 Commissioner, Position No. 1 n Gary L. Coffey

Queets-Clearwater School District No. 20 Director, District No. 5 n Wilson (Sandy) Wells

Parks and Recreation District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 1 n Laron Williams

Jefferson County Sheriff n Tony S. Hernandez

Parks and Recreation District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 2 n Dennis Schmitt

City of Port Townsend Council Member, Position No. 1 n Michelle Sandoval

Parks and Recreation District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 3 n Larry Robinson Parks and Recreation District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 5 n Richard A. Hull Sequim School District No. 323 Director, District No. 3 n John Bridge

City of Port Townsend Council Member, Position No. 2 n Catharine Robinson City of Port Townsend Council Member, Position No. 5 n Mark Welch City of Port Townsend Council Member, Position No. 7 n Kris Nelson

Sequim School District No. 323 Director, At-Large Position No. 4 n Beverly Horan

Queets-Clearwater School District No. 20 Director, District No. 1 n Lyle Pfeifle

Quillayute Valley School District No. 402 Director, District 2 n Rick Gale

Queets-Clearwater School District No. 20 Director, District No. 1 n Sandra Wells-Kalama

Brinnon School District No. 46 Director, District No. 1 n Valerie Schindler Brinnon School District No. 46 Director, District No. 3 n Diane Bressler Brinnon School District No. 46 Director, District No. 4 n Bill Barnet Brinnon School District No. 46 Director, District No. 5 n Wendy Ryan-Hogan Quilcene School District No. 48 Director, District No. 2 n Gary Rae

Chimacum School District No. 49 Director, District No. 1 n Ted Friedrich Chimacum School District No. 49 Director, District No. 2 n Cammy Brown Chimacum School District No. 49 Director, District No. 5 n Kevin M. Miller Port Townsend School District No. 50 Director, District No. 1 n Holley Carlson Port Townsend School District No. 50 Director, District No. 2 n Jennifer James-Wilson Fire Protection District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 2 n Rich Stapf Jr. Fire Protection District No. 1 Commissioner, Position No. 3 n Jess L. Bondurant Jr. Fire Protection District No. 2 Commissioner, Position No. 2 n Michael K. Whittaker

Quilcene School District No. 48 Director, District No. 3 n Katie Williams

Fire Protection District No. 3 Commissioner, Position No. 3 n Ronald Helmonds

Quilcene School District No. 48 Director, At-Large Position No. 5 n Bonnie Hitt

Fire Protection District No. 5 Commissioner, Position No. 1 n William P. Gallant

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

For the election ending November 3, 2009

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PORT OF PORT TOWNSEND

Port commissioner, Position 2

How will you make the time to attend all meetings and be an effective, full-time port commissioner?

Schuessler: I will approach the port commission meetings as a job and go to the job like millions of other people in the country.

To me, the port commissioner position will entail a lot more time and effort than just attending the meetings.

Thompson: As I have for the previous term.

What is the proper use of closed-door executive sessions, and how would you balance that with the need to conduct the public’s business in full view of the governed?

them to a position that is debatable in full view of the public.

Schuessler: I would advocate closed-door sessions to discuss anecdotal topics or sensitive issues that could disparage individuals or businesses.

If opposing views are polarized to the extreme, a closed-door session allows a little “in your face” confrontation that tends to soften the extremes and brings

How much should the port expand Jefferson County International Airport to accommodate non-aviationrelated light industry and manufacturing, and how would you finance it?

About the job Port of Port Townsend Commissioner, Position 2 Term: Four years Election boundaries: Countywide.

Registered voters: 21,876 as of Sept. 24 Meetings: Second and fourth Wednesdays Duties: ■ Pass an annual budget that for 2009 is $6,276,560.

■ Can increase the tax levy by up to 1 percent without a vote of the people. The levy rate is 16 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

■ Can increase property taxes up to an additional 45 cents per $1,000 of valuation for up to six years without a popular vote, after which the levy increase must be approved by popular vote or eliminated.

■ Hires an executive who is responsible for hiring a work force that in 2009 is 26 full-time staff.

■ Responsible for managing Point Hudson Boat Haven and shipyard, Jefferson County International Airport, Herb Beck Marina in Quilcene, where the port managed 40 acres of uplands; and about a half-dozen boat ramps throughout the county.

■ Manages 600 acres, not including tidelands.

Compensation: ■ $104 per meeting and for every day commissioners conduct port business and up to $200 in monthly stipends up to $12,384 annually for meetings and stipends combined.

■ The IRS gas mileage rate, currently 55 cents per mile.

■ Medical and dental insurance.

Thompson: For issues of real estate, litigation and personnel — everything else is public.

Schuessler: I don’t see light industry — aviation or non-aviation manufacturing — beating a path to the airport but I could envision aviation enthusiasts building hangar homes with airport access.

Once that was established light industry could be integrated with owner attached domiciles.

It could be financed with longterm leases or flat out sales.

Living in a hangar with your airplane or with your cottage industry is not much different from living on your boat in the marina.

Thompson: As much business as could be attracted would be welcome. The port, at this time, would ease ground only for business development.

Dave Thompson Residence: Port Townsend Phone: 360-643-2050 E-mail: No e-mail address Age: 66 Education: Some college Occupation: Shipwright Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? Sitting commissioner for District 2

Residence: Port Hadlock Phone: 360-390-8401 E-mail: marlingspike@ gmail.com Age: 66 Education: Did not respond.

Occupation: Retired harbormaster Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? I have never held elective public office.

What are your top ideas for fostering economic growth during your four-year term?

Schuessler: ■ Emphasize customer service and cost.

■ Treat customers right. Word of mouth reverberates in the boating community.

■ Target groups with special incentives — commercial, yacht clubs, manufacturers, power/sail — during specific periods.

■ Partner with local merchants, hotels, restaurants on coupon packages.

■ Try a boat bucks program.

■ Advertise in trade publica-

Robert G. Schuessler

tions, highlight local marine trades and personalities.

■ Push for marina expansion to get boats off the waiting list and into slips, and improve water access.

■ Continuing to upgrade our facilities as opportunity occurs.

Thompson: ■ Continuing to improve customer relations.

■ Continuing to provide incentives to use our facilities as necessary.

Schuessler: Paying the bills and servicing the debt while maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure

What is the most pressing issue facing the port district, and how will you address it?

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Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

For the election ending November 3, 2009

Peninsula Daily News

PORT OF PORT TOWNSEND

Port commissioner, Position 3

How will you make time to attend all meetings and be an effective full-time port commissioner?

Erickson: I have made arrangements with my employer for missed time at work when attending to port business.

I am used to the increased Beck: I am retired from my hours due to my four-year tenure career as a Navy civil worker, and with the Port Townsend Marine I am self employed as a business Trades Association and its duties. owner and farmer.

I work in the port and am I will be available for necesavailable during regular working sary port business 24/7, just as I hours. I am available by phone have been for my entire tenure as and e-mail both at work and at a port commissioner. home.

As a policy maker, I have What is the proper use of always made time to fully prepare closed-door executive sessions for every port meeting. and how would you balance

About the job Port of Port Townsend Commissioner, Position 3 Term: Four years Election boundaries: Countywide.

Registered voters: 21,876 as of Sept. 24 Meetings: Second and fourth Wednesdays Duties: ■ Pass an annual budget that for 2009 is $6,276,560.

■ Can increase the tax levy by up to 1 percent without a vote of the people. The levy rate is 16 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

■ Can increase property taxes up to an additional 45 cents per $1,000 of valuation for up to six years without a popular vote, after which the levy increase must be approved by popular vote or eliminated.

■ Hires an executive who is responsible for hiring a work force that in 2009 is 26 full-time staff.

■ Responsible for managing Point Hudson Boat Haven and shipyard, Jefferson County International Airport, Herb Beck Marina in Quilcene, where the port managed 40 acres of uplands; and about a half-dozen boat ramps throughout the county.

■ Manages 600 acres, not including tidelands.

Compensation: ■ $104 per meeting and for every day commissioners conduct port business and up to $200 in monthly stipends up to $12,384 annually for meetings and stipends combined.

■ The IRS gas mileage rate, currently 55 cents per mile.

■ Medical and dental insurance.

that with the need to conduct the public’s business in full view of the governed?

Beck: State law RCW 42.30.110 allows executive sessions for only three purposes: Real estate transactions, personnel matters, and litigation.

The executive session is only for the discussion of these matters and not for decisions.

Every decision must be made in a public meeting through a formal motion, discussion and public input, and majority vote of the commission.

During my tenure, the port has followed the letter and intent of the Open Public Meetings Act. Erickson: Closed-door executive sessions can only be used as defined in the Open Public Meetings Act. These can be to avoid undue changes in value of transactions subject to public knowledge such as contract negotiations and real estate transactions.

The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.

How much should the port expand Jefferson County International Airport to accommodate non-aviationrelated light industry and manufacturing, and how would you finance it?

Beck: I have worked to expand the port’s ability to use the 24 acres of currently residential zoned land on the south side of the airport for light industrial uses.

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Herb Beck Residence: Quilcene Phone: 360-765-3728; fax, 360-765-4658 E-mail: herbbeck@ embarqmail.com Age: 71 Education: Quilcene School, associate of science degree, Olympic College Occupation: I was the lead electronic technician, foreign sales, until I retired from Keyport Naval Center.

I own and manage Little Quil Farm, Quilcene, where I specialize in raising organic beef.

Campaign Web site: www.herbbeckforportcomm. com Have you ever held elective public office if so, what? Port of Port Townsend commissioner

Leif W. Erickson Residence: Port Ludlow Phone: 360-437-2066 E-mail: tlec@cablespeed. com Age: 58 Education: Graduated from Bellevue High School Occupation: Production manager, Townsend Bay Marine (also professional boat builder) Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? I have never held public office.

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

For the election ending November 3, 2009

Port of Port Townsend commissioner, Position 3 Continued from preceding page

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port’s issue of declining revenue?

of the 24 acres at the airport while protecting the environment On Sept. 8, Peninsula Daily is critical.

News covered my efforts to Maintaining the strong finanBeck: The port is like virtually achieve rezoning necessary for cial position the port has develall public and private entities in Erickson: light industry and up to 100 jobs. this poor economy and needs to be oped over the past dozen years is ■ Support of the marine We have an exceptional history trades in the Boat Haven, Point How would you rate the on the lookout for increased reve- the key to all future port activiof successful public-private ties. present port board of commis- nues.

Hudson and Quilcene marinas. financing of development, which Creating opportunities for eco■ Continued incentives for the sioners? Explain. should be continued in future air- marine trades for haul-out and Erickson: To see the rebuildErickson: The present board nomic development through priport development. ing of AB Docks, adoption of the of commissioners is attempting to vate businesses will be the best storage charge reductions to I will continue future airport 2009-2014 Strategic Plan, workovercome years of shortsighted way to increase revenues. encourage marine trades busidevelopment. ing on reducing the budget shortdecision-making that have left the Point Hudson rental space ness. falls and furthering the relationport with a decaying infrastrucdevelopment, airport hangar ■ Maintenance and improveErickson: Expanding Jeffership between the port and the ture and an economy based on a buildout and industrial development of existing boat ramps, son County International Airport single user group. ment are prime examples of reve- community. moorage facilities and improved should be put on hold until the Changing the old guard that nue enhancements. parking and access to the waterPort of Port Townsend has its Why should the voters has served the community for I will continue to oppose propfront. financial situation in order. choose you over your oppoyears will break the deadlock to erty tax increases.

The port, the city of Port nent? forward thinking and lead to posiWhat is the most pressing Townsend and Jefferson County tive change.

Erickson: issue facing the port district, need to work together in the Beck: I have an established We have an opportunity in this ■ Declining revenue should and how will you address it? development of light industry in record of successful port operaelection for maintaining and equal declining expenditures. this part of Jefferson County. tions and job-creation opportuni■ Cessation of unfunded projBeck: The Boat Haven renova- improving our quality of life in It is who should pay the costs ects, freeze on consultant hirings, ties through private employers. tion currently in progress must be Jefferson County. of the infrastructure and where I fully understand the state and reduction in travel expenses completed as rapidly as possible would it would be the best utilaws regarding public ports and Beck: I would rate commission are some immediate expenditure lized that needs to be determined. because of the failing infrastructhe commissioners’ policy-making as excellent. reductions. ture and the positive effect the role as opposed to micromanaging There is excellent understand■ Reduction of staff expendiWhat are your top ideas for project will have on recreational staff. ing among the commissioners of tures and freeze on wage boating and the marine trades. fostering economic growth Finally, I do not have a conflict their role as policy makers and increases.

Also, it is necessary to mainyour four-year term? of interest that would exist if I ■ Promotion of marine trades tain this project’s current momen- not micromanagers. was a principal of a major Boat The commission meetings and use of haul-out and storage tum.

Beck: Haven tenant business. allow for a considerate discussion facilities.

■ Attracting light industry to of differing points of view and Erickson: The port budget the airport.

Erickson: positive decisions and clear direcIf elected what would be shortage is the most pressing ■ Creating sandblasting and ■ For change in long estabtion for port staff. your primary goal for next issue facing the Port of Port painting facilities to attract new lished port polices, maintaining I rate the commitment to the year?

Townsend. business to the Boat Haven the quality of life in Jefferson port owners — Jefferson County This needs to be addressed ■ Improving port infrastrucBeck: My prime goal for 2010 County and ability to make diffifirst by careful attention to spend- taxpayers — as excellent, along ture such as an RV park at the cult budget decisions in the face of with the ability to balance the is to continue infrastructure ing.

Quilcene marina declining revenue. fine line between special interests buildout.

Budgets need not only to be ■ Boat ramp improvements ■ Ability to bring different and the public good.

As I mentioned, the Boat “frozen” but reduced overall.

■ Cold storage for agriculture interests together to move ahead Haven restoration is important, Renovation of AB Docks needs products. and succeed at a common goal.

How would you address the and the rezone and development to be carefully thought out and ■ Creating and maintaining an environment where tenant businesses can flourish will always be important.

monitored to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

New projects need to be thought through from the beginning, with cost as constraint.

Port of Port Townsend commissioner, Position 2 Continued from Page 3

How would you address the problem of the port’s declining revenue?

Thompson: Trailered boats have increased in number and need expanded facilities.

Schuessler: I’m looking for opportunities, ■ Do what is necessary to and staff is looking for opportuni- keep the boat yard full. ties.

Equipment, labor and debt service costs are relatively conHow would you rate the stant, whether the yard is empty present port board of comor full. missioners? Explain.

■ Solicit new business. A full Schuessler: Did not respond. yard attracts diverse economic Thompson: I think it would interest that benefits the Port, be hard to improve the present communities and the county. commission.

■ Work to bring outlying

improve access to the water in Jefferson County so that more people in the community can get interested in and stay interested in marine activities.

Infrastructure needs to be improved so that the people have Thompson: Continue incentives to use our facilities and con- safe access to the water.

I also want to emphasize how tinue to improve customer serimportant the port is to the vice so users will be eager to county and that the port should return. be expanded to accommodate more boats, marine activities and If elected, what would be marine-related services, which your primary goal for next also bring revenue into the comyear? munity.

Schuessler: I want to small businesses into the fold to promote the expertise and services they have to offer to boat owners that complements the in yard trades.

Thompson: Replacement of AB Dock with adequate financing, a bulletproof construction contract performed in a timely fashion.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

Schuessler: Did not respond.

Thompson: Because I take care of business, push for better service and am familiar with the port’s operations.

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For the election ending November 3, 2009

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

EAST JEFFERSON COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT

Hospital commissioner, Position 4

How will you make time to attend all the meetings and be an effective, full-time hospital commissioner?

lic’s business in full view of the governed?

Dressler: Closed-door executive sessions are necessary for Dressler: I have retired from HIPPA/ patient confidentiality, litigation and some personnel my nursing career, and my very issues. small artisan chocolate/candy As one member of a five-perbusiness allows me great flexibilson board, I will press for conity with my working hours. ducting the hospital’s business in I therefore have an enormous the public arena and try to amount of time to commit to the attract citizens’ attendance by position of hospital commissioner. encouraging the board to hold meetings in population hubs Hill: I have had this job for 20 throughout the county, as well as years, and it is my top priority.

Port Townsend, and at times when more residents may be able What is the proper use of to attend. closed-door executive sessions, and how would you balance Hill: Washington state law is that need to conduct the pub- very clear about what constitutes

About the job East Jefferson County Hospital District No. 2 COMMISSIONER, Position 4 Term: Six years Election boundaries: Jefferson County except Quilleute and Queets.

Registered voters: 21,665 Duties: ■ Passes a general fund budget that in 2009 in $59 million ■ Set a levy amount that cannot increase by more than 1 percent without a vote of the people, not including new construction.

■ The rate in 2009 is 8 cents per $1,000 of valuation, or $16 for the owner of a $200,000 home.

■ Negotiates bargaining agreements with employees.

■ Hires a chief executive officer responsible for a staff that in 2009 in 510 employees.

■ Oversees four provider-based hospital clinics and one hospital affiliated medical practitioner.

Compensation: ■ $104 per day for meetings and hospital-district-related business ■ Medical, dental, vision, life insurance.

■ IRS mileage rate of 55 cents a mile for district-related business.

executive (closed-door)-session material.

The Jefferson Healthcare commission board strictly adheres to these: RCW 42.30.110, national security, real estate, contracts, personnel issues and litigation.

Do you favor or oppose a government-run health insurance plan to help cover uninsured Hospital District residents?

Dressler: Jefferson Healthcare’s bad debt/charity care costs have been averaging approximately $500,000 a month this year.

These shortfalls have to be covered by the remaining hospital customers — those with insurance and those who pay privately.

If Congress passes legislation providing insurance coverage for the uninsured, the JHC Bad debt/charity burden would be eliminated, and the district’s finances would be much healthier.

In this situation, I would favor government-run health insurance to cover the district’s uninsured.

Hill: Yes, but on a state level rather than on the federal level.

Jefferson Healthcare already does care for the underinsured and the uninsured through its sliding fee scale, which discounts services for those residents whose incomes are below 300 percent of the poverty level.

How aggressively should the hospital pursue providing cardiac care?

Dressler: The hospital does already provide cardiac care, and has the facility to swiftly transfer patients to a medical facility with higher levels of expertise depending on the patient’s needs.

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Marie Dressler Residence: Port Townsend Phone: 360-385-6180 E mail address: vote4mari.dressler.rn@ hotmail.com Age: 63 Education: Parkstone Grammar School for Girls, Poole, Dorset, England; Bournemouth College of Art and Technology, Bourne­ mouth, Dorset; Salisbury and East Dorset School of Nursing, Poole, Dorset; Southampton University Hospitals School of Nursing and Midwifery, Southampton, Hampshire, England; ongoing education throughout career, including a certification in Inpatient Obstetric Care since 1983.

Occupation: Retired registered nurse Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elected public office? No. As a registered nurse working long shifts and with a family to look after, I have never been able to commit the time and energy to be an effective elected official until now.

Kathy J. Hill Residence: Port Townsend Phone: 360-385-4356 E-mail: khilltours@ olympus.net Age: 64 Education: Community college, business classes Occupation: Hospital commissioner with Jefferson Healthcare for 20 years; Weight Watcher Leader and weight coach with Weight Watchers of North America for 13 years Campaign Web site: http://kathy-hill.fmd-inc. org Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? Yes, hospital commissioner

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

Hospital commissioner, Position 4 Continued from preceding page

JHC, in conjunction with Kitsap Cardiology, provides some specialist physician hours and procedures for East Jefferson County residents.

As a primary care facility, Jefferson Healthcare is not a suitable venue for invasive cardiac procedures.

Hill: Aggressively. However, statistics show we do not have the population base to support a cardiologist.

I support the decision to collaborate with Kitsap Cardiology, which brings cardiologists to Port Townsend on a regular basis.

I’m especially pleased with the success of our new protocol, which improves care for cardiac patients through use of thrombolytic (clot-busting) drugs that may be administered by an EMT while the patient is en route to Harrison Medical Center.

What’s your strategy for drawing primary care physicians to Jefferson County?

Dressler: Primary care providers (doctors, physicians’ assistants and nurse practitioners) are essential to the health, wellness and wellbeing of our county’s residents.

Fortunately, our geographic location, climate and environment make East Jefferson County attractive to these professionals.

Medical Home Primary Care model has been shown to improve health outcomes in addition to increasing patient and provider satisfaction without a large cost increase.

My strategy would be to pursue evaluation and adoption of this model for JHC.

Hill: To attract top-notch physicians, we must provide a working environment that promotes collaboration among peers and that continually develops and employs new technology and programs.

For example, our hospitalist program and implementation of electronic medical records makes us competitive with urban settings in attracting new physicians.

And our partnership with Swedish Medical Center for our Telestroke program helps keep us on the cutting edge of rural health care.

If elected what would be your primary goal for next year?

Specify one area of the budget where you would cut costs and explain why you chose it.

If elected, what would be your primary goal for next year?

Hill: To further the goal of providing access to high-quality health care while staying within our financial limitations.

Dressler: Over the past 27 years, the hospital has engaged in numerous costly programs.

These have involved significant employee hours as well as fees for the outside consultants.

Some of these programs were never fully implemented or were discontinued after a short period, with negligible improvement for the patients or hospital employees.

I would cut costs by not supporting these types of programs with expensive consultants, because they rarely benefit the patients.

Hill: I know Jefferson Healthcare has a very lean budget, which covers all areas of health care.

I would concentrate on being more efficient with our resources.

I also fully support policies that require the administration to adhere to strict budgetary guidelines set by the board.

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Dressler: As a health-care professional deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of my patients throughout my career, my focus would be to ensure that patients have access to a primary medical provider and that they are able to maintain continuity with that same provider.

I would also like to see wellness programs expanded to provide more venues throughout the county, ensuring access for all.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

Dressler: These are challenging times for health care.

We must contain costs and improve availability and quality of health care and wellness programs.

My several decades of working as a practitioner in various health-care settings, together with my small business experience, gives me a unique perspective to bring to the commission.

I am passionate about providing the best possible health care while balancing the need for responsible financial management.

These are the reasons voters should choose me.

Hill: I have 20 years experience as a Jefferson Healthcare commissioner.

During that time, I have been active on the local, state and national levels as a conference participant and speaker representing Jefferson Healthcare.

For the past nine years, I have advocated for rural health care to our congressional representatives in Washington, D.C.

For the election ending November 3, 2009

7

BRINNON FIRE DISTRICT

Fire commissioner, Position 2 What is the most pressing issue facing the fire district, and how will you address it?

Eastman: Making sure that with recently passed EMS levy, the voters get what they were promised, and that the money is not squandered on unneeded equipment or excessive salary increases.

McEdwards: Currently, the most pressing issue is to continue acquiring apparatus through grants and other resources.

Would you expect the fire district to ask for a levy increase during your term?

Explain.

Eastman: I cannot see the justification for why we would ask the voters to pass another tax increase so soon.

A large portion of the community is not happy with the present commissioners’ financial approach to serving the community.

This dissatisfaction must be addressed and mitigated before future additional expenditures are made.

McEdwards: No. This has already been addressed with a 68 percent approval of the last emergency medical services levy.

How well is the district delivering emergency ser-

Candidates Mike Eastman Kenneth McEdwards

profiled on next page vices, and what if anything, would you do to change how it’s done?

Eastman: Why do we have to wait three more years for the paramedic we voted for?

If so, then we must take other action.

Mutual-aid agreements between districts for paramedic service mean we each have our own paramedic to share the workload, or we compensate the other districts so they can afford to bring on personnel to meet EMS requirements outside their own districts.

Mutual aid or compensation — we must do one or the other.

McEdwards: Our district has one of the better response times in the county.

I will continue to look for ways to be more efficient in the delivery of services.

If elected, what would be your primary goal for the next year?

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For the election ending November 3, 2009

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

Brinnon fire commissioner, Position 2 their comprehensive emergency plans.

Eastman: I will use my experience and ■ Work to improve the working willingness to bring a more fiscal relationships with our volunteer responsible approach to the way firefighters and EMS responders.

District 4 currently does business.

■ Increase our volunteer staff This is something that my and do everything possible to opponent has not demonstrated. retain experienced volunteers.

Continued from preceding page

McEdwards: Voters should vote for me because I have 15 years experience as a firefighter and EMT volunteer.

I have served the past eight Why should voters choose years as fire commissioner. you over your opponent?

I efficiently manage a large budget in my current occupation Eastman: I have, over the and have helped manage Brincourse of a 40-year career, established records in successfully man- non’s fire district budget in weak economic times. aging major projects and budget Since I have been a fire complanning. missioner, the fire district has I have worked with numerous always operated in the black. fire departments in developing McEdwards: My goal is to continue to provide quality emergency services to our community.

About the job Fire Protection District No. 4 (Brinnon) commissioner, Position 2 Term: Six years Election boundaries: Brinnon Precinct 204 Registered voters: 946 as of Sept; 24 Duties: ■ Pass a budget that in 2009 was $261,200 and is funded with a levy rate of 69 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

■ Hire a district secretary and a fire chief. The chief supervises two full-time firefighters and 23 volunteer firefighters and firefighter-EMTs. ■ Sets a levy amount that established a levy rate in 2009 is 69 cents per $1,000, or $138 for the owner of a $200,000 home.

■ Set a levy amount that cannot increase by more than 1 percent without a vote of the people, not including new construction.

■ Sets policy for district firefighting and emergency medical services that cover 131 square miles.

Compensation: ■ $104 per day for meetings and other fire commission business up to $9,984 per year.

■ IRS rate of 55 cents per mile for fire-commission-related trips.

Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month.

Mike Eastman Residence: Brinnon Phone: 360-796-0039 E-mail: miketeastman@ gmail.com Age: 61 Education: College degree, electronic communications, City University in Renton, business administration program; extensive training in emergency management; U.S. Army signal officer; firefighter; emergency medical technician Occupation: Retired from Boeing Fire Department Campaign Web Site: None Have you held elective public office? No

Kenneth L. McEdwards Residence: Brinnon Phone: 360-796-3154 E-mail: kenmcedwards@gmail.com Age: 47 Education: High school diploma, year vocational certification Occupation: Camp director at Camp Parsons, Boy Scouts of America Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? Yes. Fire district commissioner, District 4, Position 2.

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Peninsula Daily News

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

For the election ending November 3, 2009

GARDINER CEMETERY DISTRICT

Cemetery commissioner, Position 3

What is the most pressing issue facing the cemetery district, and how will you address it?

McCauley: I am not aware of any pressing issues at this time.

Quinnell: Surveying errors resulted in some interments made decades ago that cross outside the cemetery’s boundaries.

I would work to negotiate a fair agreement with the neighboring property owner for exclusive deeded use or purchase of the affected region to protect those sites.

If elected, what would be your primary goal for next year?

McCauley: I will endeavor to manage the Gardiner cemetery efficiently and effectively, meeting the needs of the Gardiner community.

Quinnell: To resolve the boundary issue.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

McCauley: I cannot articulate any reason why voters

should pick me over Mr. Quinnell.

Quinnell: I am a creative problem solver with strong analytical thinking and consensusbuilding skills.

I am also committed to the community and the comfort and contentment of its residents, as well as the respectful honoring of their final resting place.

These talents and attitudes can help support the cemetery district’s operations as well as address any difficulties that arise.

About the job Gardiner Cemetery District commissioner, Position 3 Term: Two-year unexpired term Election boundaries: Gardiner precincts 101, 102 and part of 103 Registered voters: 316 Duties: ■ Commissioners approve a general fund budget that was $8,823 in 2009 and was funded with $3,900 in property taxes under a levy rate of 5 cents per $1,000 of valuation. Voters approved formation of the district in 2008.

■ Set a levy amount that cannot increase by more than 1 percent without a vote of the peo-

ple, not including new construction.

Revenue from property tax cannot increase by more than 1 percent plus new construction without vote of the people Contract for a landscaper to maintain Gardiner Cemetery, a 1.4-acre cemetery established in 1906.

■ Sets burial fees.

Compensation: ■ They are eligible for up to $90 a day for attending district-related meetings or for conducting district business up to $8,640 annually.

■ IRS mileage rate of 55 cent a mile for district-related business.

Meetings: First Wednesday of every month

Bob McCauley

Richard Quinnell

Residence: Gardiner

Residence: Gardiner

Phone: 360-797-2106

Phone: 360-797-0095

E-mail: deccoeur@ embarqmail.com Age: 67 Education: Bachelor’s degrees in math and electrical engineering, master’s degree in management science.

Occupation: Retired U.S. Air Force officer, telecommunications engineer Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? No

E-mail: RichQuinnell@ att.net Age: 56 Education: Master of Science in applied physics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Occupation: Freelance technology journalist Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? No

North Olympic Peninsula breaking news, local video, shopping values and much more on the Peninsula’s No. 1 Web site — 24/7! www.peninsuladailynews.com

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10

For the election ending November 3, 2009

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

SEQUIM SCHOOL DISTRICT (GARDINER)

Director, Position 2

How would you rate the present School Board?

Explain.

Kirshbaum: Under difficult circumstances, they’re good. But it’s more than the board.

Kudos to the students who attempt to do their best; to the graduating students who apply for and receive their scholarships; to parents, teachers, support staff and the many volunteer groups and individuals who support the district, and to all the unnamed who make the district succeed in

its educational objectives.

a truly balanced representation.

O’Neil: The current board is healthy and diverse.

If you combine Sarah’s organizational leadership, Walt’s 30 years as a board director in Detroit schools, John and Bev’s decades of teaching experience, and my background in financial management and community involvement, I believe that the board has the drill-down depth that the district needs.

The current board has the perspective of parents, retirees, teachers and business people —

What is the most pressing issue in the school district, and how would you address it?

About the job Sequim School District 323 DIRECTOR, Position 2 Term: Four years Election boundaries: Gardiner-area Precincts 101 and 102 Registered voters: 258 Meetings: Second and fourth Monday of the month.

Duties: ■ Pass an annual budget that for 2009 is $24.7 million.

■ Can offer two-, three- and four-year levies for vote of the people.

■ The 2009 general fund levy rate is 72.9 cents per $1,000 of valuation, or $146 for the owner of a $200,000 home.

■ The rate is 260th lowest of 274 school districts in Washington, according to school district Business Manager Brian Lewis.

■ Hires the schools superintendent.

■ Approves policies for running the school district including student behavior and academic eligibility policies for a student body that in 2009 is 2,890 students housed in five school buildings.

■ Approves bargaining agreements and salaries for staff that in 2009 totals 199 teachers and 135 classified staff (management, bus drivers, teachers aides, secretaries, clerical workers).

Compensation: School Board members receive no compensation. If they travel on district business, they drive district vehicles.

Kirshbaum: Externally, the state may eventually revise its funding formula, but this is beyond control of the local district.

Internally, I believe we need improved two-way communication with the general community.

Not everyone attends board meetings or reads the newspapers.

Excellent presentations are often made at these meetings (such as assessments, standards, etc.) of which the general community should be aware.

Why not include pertinent information in one or more of the quarterlies mailed out?

O’Neil: The most pressing issue is pushing our people and our buildings beyond their limits.

Both our elementary schools are near capacity, we’ve got 36 students crammed into language arts classes at the middle school and an AP calculus class with 6-year-old books making it impossible to successfully take the advanced placement exam.

The solution is adequate resources, as promised in the Washington state Constitution.

We need to secure stable, ample funding at the state level.

Specify one area of the budget where you would cut costs, and explain why you chose it.

Kirshbaum: Without reaching into the “heart of the district” and impacting critical personnel, how can we realistically cut deeper?

We need to assess what can be restored for student advantages or how we can better utilize resources we have.

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Jon Kirshbaum Residence: Sequim Phone: 360-681-2968 E-mail: jon_kirshbaum@ usa.net Age: 66 Education: ■ Bachelor’s degree in comprehensive marketing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill, 1965.

■ Master’s degree in business administration, specializing in finance, NIU, 1971.

■ Chief school business official endorsement as Illinois K-12 administrator.

■ Postgraduate (doctoral) courses in educational administration, School of Business Management and Adult Education, NIU. Occupation: Retired information technology project manager, financial systems analyst. Executive editor of a travel magazine and freelance travel writer/photographer.

Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office?

Yes, precinct committee officer.

Virginia O’Neil Phone: 360-683-5975 E-mail: brownhen@ olypen.com Age: 48 Education: Graduating with honors from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1983. Completed a year’s study abroad in England and master course work in English and creative writing at New York University.

Occupation: My first job is raising our three daughters.

In addition, for the last 11 years I have been the president and general partner of a family limited partnership and real estate holding company.

Campaign Web site: None Have you ever held elective public office? I have been a School Board director since March 2007.

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Peninsula Daily News

For the election ending November 3, 2009

Sequim School District director, Position 2 Continued from preceding page

Could we use more effective purchasing of materials and services and look to other means to partner with other groups, districts or individuals in areas where we would not have to spend even more dollars?

O’Neil: I would follow a priority-based budget process that has the least impact on student learning.

Out of 296 districts, Sequim is in the lowest quartile, ranked 264 for funding, so in a year during which we’ve already cut more than $1 million out of one of the leanest school budgets in the state, I wouldn’t want to cut a thing.

That’s like the surgeon asking the patient: Which body part could you live without?

How important is having a school resource officer at the middle school and high school?

Kirshbaum: Is it vital? Probably not, but it’s more than just a public relations gain for Sequim police and School District 323.

Students get to know “a real person” behind the badge.

This can increase the students’ appreciation for law enforcement.

It complements periodic visits often scheduled for student awareness.

The officer’s presence affords

a “first line of defense” should risks to students occur.

Also, he or she has instant ability to obtain support if needed.

O’Neil: The value of seeing a uniformed police officer in our halls interacting every day with our students is immeasurable.

The officers who worked in our schools were exemplary.

Sadly, the grant money that paid for that SRO program dried up.

Levy funding could restore this program in 2010.

How difficult will it be to pass a maintenance and operations levy next year, and how would you meet this challenge?

Kirshbaum: It could be very difficult unless voters are made aware of what is necessary — how much is needed, for what specifically will the money be used, what would be the results if the levy were defeated and what are the alternative plans should the levy not pass.

I support full disclosure regarding the levy.

The voting public must be informed in sufficient detail.

Otherwise, due to the economy, they may not approve such a levy.

O’Neil: This community clearly values education, because

in the last three campaigns, it supported our students.

Citizens for Sequim Schools is already in the planning stages for next year’s campaign, and under the leadership of that board, I am confident that when the voters listen to the district’s needs, they will renew their support for us once again.

Simply said we need more time to work with struggling students.

So adding after-school tutoring, summer school programs, all-day kindergarten and providing transportation to increase attendance would all equate to higher test scores.

If elected, what would be Specify how you would your primary goal for next meet the challenge of students year? consistently not scoring high enough on standardized tests.

Kirshbaum: Personally, I would need to learn new “rules of Kirshbaum: My first thought: the road” — district specifics and Are the standards fair and realis- any state code differences. tic?

I would seek to “fit in” as a Recently, Washington Schools board director with the district Superintendent Randy Dorn said team and the general community that ultimately, all state schools (to validate it had made the corcould be on “in improvement” rect choice in electing me). lists.

I would learn about the school It is better left to teachers and site I was “adopting” and any support staff to try to motivate board committee(s) I serve on. and remediate individual students.

O’Neil: At the risk of soundI would support continued ing like a broken record, we need appeal of any unfair standards or to secure stable funding. sanctions that are imposed and Our current lack of dollars any motivational or remedial prevents us from helping all kids approaches that may be underget what they need. taken to assist the individual With adequate resources, we student. can begin to address multiple O’Neil: There is no one magic issues — our ageing infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, an formula for raising student test outdated curriculum and insuffiscores.

However, a proven strategy to cient technology.

Our staff, our parents and our increase student performance is army of volunteers makes a to provide an extended school decent education happen every day.

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Peninsula Daily News

11

day for 2,760 kids, but they need help.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

Kirshbaum: ■ I shall bring diversity (new views and experience) to the board along with 23 years of experience within a large K-12 environment: ■ Knowledge of board-wide government funded finance, budgeting and accounting practices.

■ Core team member and IT specialist on a complex, systemwide process re-engineering project (two years).

■ Communications (a defined core process) team member during the build and test phases.

■ Successfully interacted with vendors, board and community members, central office and school staffs.

O’Neil: Frankly, I know Sequim schools.

My husband and I have raised our family and lived and worked here for 14 years. We are committed to this community.

I have spent 12 years volunteering in our classrooms and in countless committees from gifted to special education.

I have a common-sense approach to improving our schools because I am there everyday.

If re-elected, I promise to continue to bring leadership, integrity and experience to this district.

12

For the election ending November 3, 2009

GARDINER

Clallam Fire District 3 levy

By Diane Urbani

de la

Peninsula Daily News

Paz

SEQUIM — With some 29,000 people and a burgeoning call volume, Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3 needs strengthened funding for emergency medical response, said Chief Steve Vogel.

Voters have the option of bolstering that funding through a property-tax levy proposition on the Nov. 3 ballot in both Clallam and Jefferson counties.

If approved, the levy would increase from the current 27 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation to 50 cents per $1,000. On a $300,000 home, that’s $150 per year in property taxes.

Property owners in District 3 — from Gardiner to just east of Deer Park Road outside Port Angeles — would see their property taxes rise.

The added funds will pay for paramedic services, Vogel said, adding that when someone in District 3 calls 9-1-1 in a medical emergency, his paramedics are the first responders.

“Our call volume since 2000 has gone up 40 percent,” the chief noted.

In 2008, District 3 firefighterparamedics took 5,500 calls; this year the district is nearing 6,000.

Vogel credits the climbs to steady population growth and the flow of people above age 60 to Sequim and environs. In addition, the Jefferson County community of Gardiner was added to Clallam County Fire District 3 in September.

The district’s newest fire station, at U.S. Highway 101 and Sophus Road in Blyn, was finished in September with $1 million in funding from the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe and about $402,000 from District 3.

It protects the Blyn-GardinerDiamond Point area, Vogel said, with first responders able to arrive in five minutes — not 20, as when the nearest fire station was the one in Sequim.

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009 S TAT E O F WA S H I N G T O N

Proposition No. 1 Reauthorizing Regular Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy Shall the Board of Commissioners of Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3 be re-authorized to impose regular property tax levies of $.50 or less per thousand dollars and assessed valuation for each of ten consecutive years beginning in 2010 for the provision of emergency medical care and emergency services?

 Yes

 No

The staffs at the three stations, however, are slim: one paramedic per shift in Blyn, one at the 70 Carlsborg Road station and two to three paramedics per shift at the main station at 323 N. Fifth Ave. in Sequim.

The emergency medical services budget is $2.6 million per year for District 3, Vogel said.

Since the current levy reaps only about $1,250,000 per year, he has dipped into its fire-protection budget to make up the difference.

If the levy increase passes, “we could use the fire money for fire protection, the way it’s supposed to be,” Vogel said.

The levy would go into effect in January and continue for 10 years.

Vogel figures the levy increase has opponents — but said he has yet to hear from them.

Some years ago he met a local man who was opposed to all tax hikes.

“Then he saw my budget,” Vogel said.

When posting fliers about this November’s ballot measure, “I haven’t heard any negative comments,” he added.

Peninsula Daily News

Referendum 71, domestic partners

By Rachel La Corte The Associated Press

Nearly a year after California voters overturned same-sex marriage, voters in Washington will weigh in this fall on whether to reverse gay rights initiatives ranging from anti-discrimination measures to marriage benefits.

The so-called “everything but marriage” law that expands the state’s current domestic partnership law will be on the ballot as Referendum 71.

“In off-year elections, ballot measures gain much more attention, regardless of the topic,” said University of Washington political science professor Matt Barreto. But California’s battle over Proposition 8 is “certainly an important backdrop.”

Under a California Supreme Court decision, California had allowed same-sex marriages for five months before 52 percent of voters reversed the ruling in the contentious $83 million Prop. 8 battle last November.

The state’s Supreme Court upheld the vote earlier this year.

Gay rights supporters see one silver lining in the loss in California.

“It has sparked a greater public conversation about gay people,” said Dan Hawes, a field director with the Washington, D.C.-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “While we have lost in previous ballot measures, because the margin of loss continues to shrink, it does indicate that there is growing acceptance.”

In addition to the loss in California, gay-rights supporters suffered setbacks elsewhere last fall,

Passed by the Legislature and Ordered Referred by Petition Referendum Measure No. 71 The Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.

Should this bill be:

 Approved

with amendments banning gay marriage being approved in Arizona and Florida.

Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents.

“When the people have voted, they have voted to defend marriage,” said Carrie Gordon Earll, senior director of public policy for Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family.

Thirty states have voterapproved gay marriage bans in their constitutions. Several other states, including Washington, have bans that were passed by state lawmakers.

The 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, bars federal recognition of gay unions and denies gay couples access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits.

Since then, six states have enacted laws or issued court rulings that permit same-sex marriage, including Massachusetts,

 Rejected

Maine, Vermont, Connecticut and Iowa. New Hampshire’s law takes effect Jan. 1.

Maine’s gay marriage law was scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 12, but it was put on hold once opponents got enough signatures to force a public vote.

“There’s going to be victories and there’s going to be reversals,” said Washington state Sen. Ed Murray, one of the Legislature’s six gay lawmakers, who successfully spearheaded a gay rights law and thre e domestic partnership laws.

“There is an impression that somehow because we elected a Democratic president and Democratic Congress, this is all solved.

It isn’t,” said Murray, D-Seattle.

Lawmakers in Olympia have taken an incremental approach to increasing gay rights without actually taking on the state’s marriage ban, which was upheld by the state Supreme Court in 2006.

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For the election ending November 3, 2009 Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009 S TAT E O F WA S H I N G T O N

Peninsula Daily News

Referendum 71, domestic partners

13

Continued from preceding page

A federal judge in Tacoma granted the sponsors’ request The following year, lawmaklast month. But the state is ers passed the state’s first appealing, citing the state’s domestic partnership law granting a handful of rights, like hos- open-government laws.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of pital visitation, to gay and lesAppeals will hold a hearing on bian couples. the case in Pasadena, Calif., In 2008, that law was later this month. expanded to add more rights, The constitutional argument and this year the latest law is similar to that made by the added such partnerships to all National Organization for Marremaining areas of state law riage and other groups that where currently only married sponsored California’s Prop. 8. couples are mentioned.

The statutes range from Those groups had sought to labor and employment rights to block their campaign finance pensions and other public records from public view, saying employee benefits. previous reports led to the Nearly 12,000 people in harassment of donors.

Washington state are registered A federal judge in that case as domestic partners, and while ruled earlier this year the the underlying law that was names had to be disclosed. A passed in 2007 allows some lawsuit on the case is moving older heterosexual couples to forward. register as domestic partners, “No one should have to suffer most of the couples are gay. vandalism and death threats Conservative Christians raljust because they support govlied to get Referendum 71 on ernment protection of tradithe November ballot, arguing tional marriage,” attorney that the state’s latest move is James Bopp Jr., representing the last step before full civil Protect Marriage, said in a marriage for gay and lesbian recent news release. couples in the state.

Bopp was also involved in the Opponents of the state’s law effort to shield California are also fighting in court to try donors. to continue shielding the names If R-71 is rejected, only the of people who signed petitions to most recent law would be rolled force a public vote. back; the two prior domestic Attorneys for Protect Marriage Washington say that refer- partnership laws would not be affected. endum signers’ names and Washington state, along with addresses should be exempt from California, Oregon, New Jersey the state’s public records discloand the District of Columbia, sure law because release of the have laws that either recognize information would put them at risk of harassment, amounting to civil unions or domestic partneran unconstitutional infringement ships that afford same-sex couof free speech rights. ples similar rights to marriage.

Get the lowdown on who’s playing where.

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Peninsula Daily News

Initiative 1033, government revenue

By Paul Gottlieb

Peninsula Daily News

Voters statewide will decide if city, county and state government general funds should be capped and extra revenues returned to citizens in the form of property tax reductions when they vote on Initiative 1033.

The brainchild of voters initiative activist Tim Eyman, I-1033 would: ■ Limit annual revenue increases to the previous year’s revenue, adjusting it for population growth and inflation.

■ Use any revenue collected above the adjusted limit to reduce property owners’ property tax levies the year after revenue topped the limit.

■ Require voter approval for governments to spend revenue that exceeds the threshold.

The measure was included in ballots mailed to Clallam and Jefferson counties on Oct. 14.

Ballots must be postmarked Nov. 3 or dropped off by Nov. 3 at county drop-boxes and courthouses.

Government leaders in Clallam and Jefferson counties said in interviews and public presentations over the two days before ballots were mailed that the measure would severely hamper their ability to pay for unplanned but necessary expenses as well as hinder the delivery of basic, everyday services.

They cite expenditures such as disaster relief and less controllable expenses such as labor contracts that they say could become subject to voter approval if voters approve I-1033.

In addition, elections prompted by I-2033 could cost

Proposed by Initiative Petition Initiative Measure No. 1033 Initiative Measure No. 1033 concerns state, county and city revenue. This measure would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies.

Should this measure be enacted into law?

 Yes

upward of $70,000 in Clallam County, for example, depending on the number of taxing districts with elections and measures on the ballot to split the cost, county Auditor Patty Rosand has said.

The government officials said the overall revenue limit also unfairly includes funds not generated solely by county taxpayers, such as state and federal grants, and they have questioned whether voters really want to vote on individual government programs, staffing levels and labor contracts.

But Eyman said if the expenditure is worth it, those government officials should prove it to voters.

“If they need more than the automatic increase provided in 1033, they’ve got to convince voters the increase is necessary,” he said in a telephone interview from his Mukilteo home.

“We think that strikes a very reasonable balance.”

Eyman recalled the dire warnings of government leaders in 2001, when they fretted over the impact of Initiative 747, which limits the growth of property tax levies to no more than 1 percent

 No

without a vote of the people.

Voters resoundingly approved the tax limit, 58 percent to 42 percent, and since then have approved 70 percent of the 470 levies put before them in taxing districts across Washington, Eyman said.

“It made it to where a tax increase is the last resort,” he said.

Eyman said the success of Initiative 601, in effect from 1993 to 2005, proves that governments can work with a revenue formula based on population growth and inflation, though 601 applied to state expenditures, not to revenue, and it did not apply to city and county governments, as does I-1033.

Restrained government spending ended after the death of I-601 in 2005, Eyman said.

“From 2005 to 2008, we were on a fiscal roller coaster,” he said.

Had I-601 limits been in place, the state would not be facing a $9 billion deficit, Eyman added.

“Counties and cities are subject to the same desires,” he said.

“They have trouble controlling themselves.”

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14

For the election ending November 3, 2009

Initiative 1033, government revenue

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

pared in case 1033 passes, that we will have to do much more But North Olympic Peninin the way of cuts than we are sula government officials say doing right now.” self-control isn’t the problem.

Doherty said he drew some They say they are just gethope from poll numbers that ting by. seemed to be pointing in the Jefferson County Assessor right direction for initiative Jack Westerman told county opponents who poured $1.5 into commissioners on Oct. 12 that the anti-I-1033 campaign in the I-1033 would “repeatedly and first two weeks of October. permanently shrink” the counAn Oct. 5 KING 5/Surveyty’s revenue base — no matter USA poll had 45 percent of the state of the economy, in respondents in favor, 32 percent good times and bad. opposed and 22 undecided.

Jefferson County already That compares with a Sept. faces a $2 million shortfall for 22 Rasmussen poll in which 2010 based on budget requests I-1033 was favored by 61 perfrom department heads who cent and rejected by 31 percent, have already been told the larwith 8 percent undecided. der is bare.

But Eyman attributed the In Clallam County, commistighter KING 5/SurveyUSA sioners Chairman Mike Doherty numbers to the vagueness of said Oct. 13 that commissioners the poll question. are asking for “serious cuts” The poll question said the from department heads who are initiative “would limit spending for state, county, and local govpreparing their 2010 budgets. ernments,” while the actual lan“We can’t afford to spend guage voters will read on their down our reserves,” Doherty ballots says the initiative said, adding the board may “would limit growth of certain impose a 12-day unpaid furstate, county and city revenue.” lough on all employees in 2010 The KING 5/SurveyUSA poll and close the courthouse one also did not include the I-1033 day a month to make ends provision that says property meet, as recommended by taxes will be lowered with county Administrator Jim excess revenue, Eyman said.

Jones.

In addition, the poll question Those are only what Doherty did not include the provision called “first-tier” cuts. that says if voters approve the The board will impose even more onerous “second tier” cuts measure, governments can use revenues above the threshold if I-1033 passes, Doherty said, with voter approval, and that adding nothing has been proannual city, county and state posed just yet. budgets would be adjusted for “To every one of the departments, we are saying be preinflation and population growth.

Continued from preceding page

Peninsula Daily News

Cash-strapped state looking at tax hikes

The Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire said she would consider tax increases as officials run out of ways to fix the state’s recessionhammered budget.

Gregoire was a staunch opponent of tax hikes during the last legislative session.

But she said late in September that she’s worried about further cuts to state programs.

“At some point, the people, I assume, don’t want us to take any more cuts,’’ she said.

“I mean, I’m already hearing about, ‘Why did you cut education?’ Well, there weren’t any options. We’re without options.’’

The state’s most recent twoyear budget patched a revenue deficit of about $9 billion over 2½ years, with about $4 billion in spending cuts and about $5 billion in federal spending and other one-time fixes.

But further weakening of the state’s economy has taken a toll on state government revenue, and officials now think Washington could face an additional $1 billion deficit when the Legislature meets again in January.

The No. 2 legislator on the Senate’s budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, Rodney Tom, D-Medina, said he thinks lawmakers may look into narrow revenue sources, such as higher

Gov. Chris Gregoire “We’re without options” “sin’’ taxes levied on liquor or cigarettes.

Raising any of Washington’s three major broad-based taxes — on property, sales or business receipts — seems unlikely, he said, adding that lawmakers will focus on spending cuts and other efficiencies before reaching for new revenue.

“I could definitely say that’s not going to be the first thing we look at,’’ Tom said.

“There’s still a lot of anxiety out there in the economy, and consumer spending is still not

rocking and rolling.’’

Senate Republican budget chief Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, countered that majority Democrats shouldn’t start counting on new revenue just yet.

While the recession may have hit bottom, the state’s economic recovery is expected to be long and slow.

Zarelli said that means Washington must focus on making government more efficient, and ensure that its growth doesn’t outpace the economic recovery.

“We’ve got to understand that as difficult as it is for us, it’s even more difficult for the average man or woman on the street,’’ Zarelli said.

The great unknown in any debate over higher taxes is a pair of voter initiatives that restrict state revenues.

Initiative 960, already on the books, requires a difficult twothirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes. Lawmakers could suspend that law with a simple majority vote next year.

But if I-1033 is approved by voters in November, it would place a new cap on the growth of the state’s main checking account, with any excess revenue dedicated to property tax relief.

“If I-1033 passes, I think we just all go home and bury our heads in the sand,’’ Tom said.

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Peninsula Daily News

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

For the election ending November 3, 2009

15

Will recession affect I-1033 outcome?

By Curt Woodward The Associated Press

OLYMPIA — Hoping to strike a nerve with recession-weary voters, perpetual anti-tax activist Tim Eyman returns to the ballot with a plan to put government on a strict diet, cut property taxes and give voters the final say on tax hikes.

Initiative 1033 may be the most sweeping project yet from Eyman and Co.’s direct-democracy factory, which over the years has brought Washington cheaper car tabs, 1 percent annual property tax increases, and government performance audits.

But a broad coalition of establishment figures is betting that Eyman has reached too far.

Piloting a multimillion-dollar campaign, with support from big public-sector unions and notable names in business, the opposition is aiming for the voters’ self-interest along with their heartstrings.

Reheating a strategy from campaigns past, opponents are listing a truckload of government services that could get whacked under I-1033, with the most sympathetic getting top billing.

The first TV advertisement focuses on K-12 education, making teacher Jenny Rose the public face of the campaign — framed by a blackboard and American flag, Rose warns that I-1033 will cut state financing for schools, driving class sizes up.

The Election Day verdict could reveal whether voters think state and local governments have suffered enough during the recession, or are cruising along relatively unscathed.

But the outcome also could hinge on how much voters trust their government, and whether they want to assert more control over the system, said Western Washington University political scientist Todd Donovan, an expert on ballot measures.

“If you take Eyman out of it, and you take the groups that are against it out of the equation, people like to have more say,” Donovan said.

“If they approve it, is that an anti-government message? Or is that just good old-fashioned Washington populism?”

The Associated Press

Tim Eyman holds his daughter, Riley, 1, as he updates a tally board held by Mike Fagan, after Eyman turned in petition signatures for Initiative 1033 at an elections office at the Capitol in Olympia in July. The measure is on the ballot now distributed for the Nov. 3 election.

Initiative 1033 borrows pieces from earlier smaller-government measures, enacted both here and in other states.

At its heart is a cap on revenue: The main checking accounts of city, county and state governments would only grow fast enough to keep pace with the rate of inflation and yearly population growth.

Any tax money that comes in above the cap would automatically flow into a separate account, which would replace property tax revenue in the following year, cutting a taxpayer’s expected bill.

Governments could collect revenue above the limit only by getting voter approval for new taxes.

Some sources of income would be exempt from the cap, including federal money on the state level and the state’s constitutionally

protected Rainy Day Fund.

An official estimate prepared by the state Office of Financial Management says I-1033 could drain nearly $6 billion from the state general fund over six years.

Cities would lose about $2 billion during that stretch, and counties would lose close to $700 million.

Eyman said I-1033 will supply some tough love that governments need to keep their spending at reasonable, sustainable levels.

Quoting from one of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s state of the state speeches, Eyman says Washington government takes far too many rides on the “fiscal roller coaster” — spending like mad when times are good, such as during the recent housing bubble, and then cutting back severely

when the money runs out.

With I-1033, he said, governments will still be allowed revenue increases. They’ll just be more modest and predictable.

But the opposition campaign, keying on a steady stream of headlines about state and local budget cuts, says this is the worst possible time to put the clamps on government’s ability to grow.

State and local budgets have downsized and patchworked their way through the worst recession in 70 years, No on I-1033 spokesman Scott Whiteaker said.

By setting 2009 as the baseline, opponents say Eyman is lining the state up for a “permanent recession.”

“The worst that it’s been is the best that it could get,” Whiteaker said.

The strict cap, they say, also

doesn’t take into account that costs of public services can increase much faster than inflation and population growth.

And its generic formula ignores the different economic realities of different areas of the state, opponents say.

“It doesn’t matter if you live in Seattle or Dayton or Walla Walla,” Whiteaker said.

“It doesn’t matter what your city’s needs are. You’re going to be under this one-size-fits-all standard.”

For many of those concerns, Eyman said he’s built I-1033 with a “safety valve” — if politicians don’t have enough money under the revenue cap, they can always go to the voters for permission to raise more taxes.

That will likely make taxes a last resort, Eyman said, forcing elected leaders to look for savings first.

“The only time we’re going to have to vote is when they fail.

And you’d like to believe that they’re not going to want to fail, that they’re going to work very hard,” Eyman said.

Whiteaker countered that such a system will simply become too unwieldy for governments, and could lead to ballot overload for voters.

Rather than stick with our established form of representative democracy, where voters hire people to make decisions on their behalf, the electorate could wind up signing off every time a city needs to fix the streets, Whiteaker said.

And in emergencies, such a system wouldn’t give the government enough flexibility to respond, he argued.

“You can’t really have an initiative to respond to a flood. You can’t have an initiative to respond to an outbreak of swine flu,” Whiteaker said.

________ For more information: Yes on I-1033: http://www.permanent-offense.org.

No on I-1033: http://noon1033.org.

16

For the election ending November 3, 2009

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

WASHINGTON SECRETARY OF STATE

Puzzles and games JUST FOR KIDS!

Ballot find Count the ballot boxes.

How many do you find?

Total number of boxes: 10

KIDS: Vote in the secretary of state’s 2009 Student Mock Election!

It’s easy. Vote online anytime the week of Oct. 26-30. Go to www.vote.wa.gov and click on “Just 4 YOU.” See how other Washington students voted when results are posted online on Friday, Oct. 30!

Peninsula Daily News