Intentional Misinformation or Sloppy Reporting?

I was dismayed to read the Sun's April 24 editorial concerning SKIA, because of its obvious bias against Port Orchard. To call the approach Port Orchard has presented for the development of SKIA "convoluted," is not only misinformed, it does a disservice to the paper's readers who most likely aren't familiar with the proposal, by representing what appears to be misinformation, as factual.

What Port Orchard has presented is a balanced proposal based on what is clearly spelled out in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Port, the County, and the cities of Bremerton and Port Orchard. This is a legal contract which Port Orchard believes the parties have an obligation to fulfill.

As far as any "threatened lawsuit" is concerned, there have been NO threats issued by the City of Port Orchard. Our City Attorney did send a letter to the parties signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding reminding them of their obligations under the agreement — and nothing more. Perhaps the Sun should have checked with Port Orchard before implying to its readers in that editorial it was the potential plaintiff. It is our sincere belief that cooperation is preferable to litigation. Meanwhile, the City has been informally approached to partner with a group interested in using litigation to stop the annexation of SKIA by Bremerton. We have declined to participate because of our obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding.

In the future, perhaps before casting the City of Port Orchard in any kind of negative light editorially, it would be better if the Sun's editorial writer(s) simply picked up the phone and made sure they had all the facts first.

Governor's Race Heating Up

The governor’s race is beginning to heat up in a big way. Governor Christine Gregoire has been on a whirlwind tour of the state — riding around in a fully equipped luxury motorcoach. Although the coach is rented from a Seattle company, it's licensed in Oregon (avoiding the sales tax?), which seems to me to be a major faux pas on the part of her campaign managers. The tour included a stop in Bremerton, where she met with local elected, business, and community leaders (including yours truly) to listen to our concerns, tell us what a great job she’s done as governor, and remind us of all her accomplishments, before holding a fundraiser in another part of the building.

Meanwhile, challenger Dino Rossi has caught up to her in fundraising, surpassing 27,000 individual donors — of which, over 40 percent are new to the Rossi campaign. If I were Gregoire, that would be making me nervous. Rossi has also unveiled a transportation plan with 71 percent of the proposed spending going towards nine major unfunded congestion relief projects. Democrats are having difficulty refuting his plan because the cost projections for eight of those projects were taken directly from DOT and RTID numbers.

In spite of Gregoire’s bravado, saying, "In November, we will win, election night, within the first 10 minutes, by a large majority," a couple of independent polls show Rossi neck and neck with Gregoire — who has never polled over 50 percent the entire time she’s been in office.

In my view, it’s still way too close to call, but Rossi has a legitimate shot at unseating Gregoire, who he arguably beat four years ago.

Local R's Finally Recruit a Candidate

The local Republican Party has finally found a candidate to run for the South Kitsap commissioner’s seat — Tim Matthes.

Matthes is actually a pretty sharp guy who is well-informed, thoughtful and pragmatic. However, as a member of the militant Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners (KAPO) you can look for most local news reports concerning him to begin with something like, “County Commission Candidate and KAPO member Tim Matthes said…” Hopefully, the local media can restrain itself where this is concerned, but honestly, I don’t have much hope about that.

As happened with NASCAR, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see an environmental reporter covering at least a part of Matthes’ campaign — instead of a political one. That’s too bad, because it will unfairly color the debate on many of the real issues facing the county.

KAPO, for the uninformed, is a politically active property rights group with about a thousand local members. Led by Vivian Henderson, who is a fixture at most public meetings, it has a reputation as a take-no-prisoners organization that’s been a continual thorn in the side of the county commissioners where land use issues are concerned. The mere mention of its name has a tendency to infuriate local environmental activists.

If Matthes can overcome KAPO to actually get his message out, it may resonate surprisingly well.

Have The terrorists Won?

Just as I don't watch Fox News, I am also an infrequent reader of Sound Politics, as I find the ultra-conservative mindset of a lot of the posters there to be way too narrow for my level of patience — but that in itself is fodder for a completely different post.

However, while checking it for the first time in a couple of weeks, I came across a link to a story there that was originally posted on SLOG, the blog for The Stranger (which I also don't read). It made me shake my head and wonder if the terrorists haven't already won.

As someone who flies somewhere between 50 and 75 thousand miles a year, I'm no stranger to the daily stupidity that passes for safeguarding our freedom perpetrated upon us by the TSA. We might be safe from our own shoes, as well as from the evil possibilities of the imagined threats posed by fingernail clippers and toothpaste, but you have to wonder if these morons just haven't let their authority get in the way of basic common sense.

It seems that recently, a woman was forced by TSA security to remove two rings in her pierced nipples in order to pass security. The woman was given a pair of pliers in order to remove the rings, which had reportedly been there for many years. Several years ago, actress (?) Nicole Richie, had her breasts inspected by security at a different airport because of her nipple rings.

Given that some people have metal medical implants for hips, shoulders, head wounds, etc., should they be given pliers and a field surgical kit and ordered to remove the pins holding their joints together?

My question is, what part of the U.S. Constitution doesn't the TSA accept or understand? The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of expression — and such freedom of expression would certainly include nipple rings — or the Fourth Amendment, with its protections from unreasonable searches and seizures?

If there was some "reasonable" concern about this woman and her rings being a bona fide threat to other passengers, it could have been resolved in seconds. Private booth, female guard. "Please lift your shirt... Okay. Thank you ma'am, sorry for the inconvenience. Have a nice flight." End of story.

Is it just me, or does that make too much sense?

In my opinion, the TSA is the biggest make-work boondoggle since the WPA, and hasn't really had any significant impact on making our skies safer. At any rate, find the Stranger story here and another version here.

The Facts About SKIA and Annexation

The Port of Bremerton recently announced its intention to consider an annexation petition by the City of Bremerton on its April 22 agenda. That action is surprising, given the existing Inter-local agreements, established County-Wide Planning Policies, and Urban Growth Area (UGA) association templates already in place. These require a joint process for annexation by any jurisdiction.

Therefore, I was surprised at the Kitsap Sun’s editorial stance regarding the City of Port Orchard’s position on the annexation of the Port and the South Kitsap Industrial Area (SKIA) by Bremerton.

Some facts for consideration: The Gorst/SKIA Sewer Feasibility Study found having Port Orchard provide sewer service rather than Bremerton, saved taxpayers nearly $2 million. The City of Port Orchard has demonstrated its commitment to the development of SKIA by already providing capital funding, and constructing infrastructure to achieve that goal. As part of our joint obligation, Port Orchard and the Westsound Utility District (formerly Karcher Creek Sewer District) have completed a $21 million expansion of their Joint Wastewater Treatment Facility. The upgrades were sized specifically to satisfy the increased sewer capacity required to service the entire SKIA UGA.

Meanwhile, Bremerton’s own Comprehensive Plan concludes its industrial land capacity needs have already been met within its existing city limits — for the next 20-year planning horizon. So why do they need — or want — SKIA?

The existing inter-local agreement Memorandum of Understanding for Joint Planning between Kitsap County, Bremerton and Port Orchard, which was signed in 1998, mandates a joint process for Planning, Annexation, Growth Assumptions, Infrastructure, Future Agreements of Responsibility, and Governance. The City of Port Orchard and the Westsound Utility District have operated in good faith within that agreement.

So why is there is a sudden urgency to justify violating those good faith efforts, which are the most cost effective way for the jurisdictions to provide efficient economic development of SKIA? Could the private landowners see a previously unrealized opportunity still lurking in the shadows?

Whether that's true or not, Kitsap County articulated the path for joint cooperation with its 2004 County-Wide Planning Policies, which were ratified by the County, Bremerton, and Port Orchard, to benefit the citizens and all of the jurisdictions. The Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan Policy also identifies the need to resolve urban growth association — including SKIA — by the end of 2008, and to commence Urban Growth Area Management Agreement (UGAMA) negotiations. That effort has not yet concluded, and Kitsap County recently issued a Request for Proposals to conduct the necessary financial analysis.

Port Orchard is the poorest city in Kitsap County, but still committed the financial resources necessary for participation in the economic development of SKIA — which is more than Bremerton or the private landowners, the people actually driving this process — have done. Considering Bremerton’s unexpected annexation efforts, and Port Orchard’s request that the terms of the Inter-local agreement all parties committed to, be honored, isn’t it ironic that Port Orchard is suddenly being depicted as the obstructionist?

My job as Mayor includes working to create economic opportunity for the residents of my City. I'm sorry, but I don’t consider attempting to safeguard Port Orchard’s investment in SKIA by insisting these agreements be honored, to be obstructionist. I consider that my job, and I make NO apologies for doing it.

Lantz Pulls The Plug. Abel Announces Run For Her Seat

As the state legislative session ground to a close, longtime 26th District Representative Pat Lantz (D-Gig Harbor) announced that she will not seek a seventh term.

In a press release issued by Lantz, she stated, "I believe it is time to turn my full attention to my family — my husband, my three children, and five wonderful grandchildren."

Within hours, former Port Orchard Mayor Kim Abel announced that she would seek the seat Lantz is vacating. Lantz endorsed Abel, and said as a part of Abel’s press release, “Kim Abel understands the needs of our district, cares deeply about our families and communities and I am delighted to offer her my support.”

There had been some speculation when Abel declined to run for a second term as Mayor, that she would file for the county commission seat being vacated by Jan Angel. Instead, she will now face off against Angel, who announced her intention to challenge Lantz some months ago.

Lantz said she actually made the decision not to seek another term back in September, but didn’t want to announce her decision and be viewed as a lame duck during the legislative session.

That wasn’t really news to Angel, who said, “I had heard when I threw my hat in the ring that she (Lantz) was not running for another term.” Angel added, “The last eight years have given me a real good foundation. I understand the needs and issues of the 26th District.”

Without going into a lot of detail, I'll just say that as the guy who inherited what Kim Abel left behind in Port Orchard, I believe that Jan Angel is the most qualified of the two candidates — which is why I've endorsed her.

Thoughts On SEED

Are the Port Of Bremerton Commissioners running for political cover, finally realizing that the Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED) project has lost favor with the majority of our overtaxed citizens, and that a serious revolt is brewing?

The Port's Executive Director, Ken Attebery recently "fired" SEED's consultant, former county commissioner Tim Botkin. Fired is actually the wrong word. What happened, was the Port terminated Botkin's contract to manage the project — a contract that reportedly paid him in the neighborhood of $12,000 a month. That contract was due to expire at the end of March.

So, what did we get for our money? As near as I can figure, we got a partially working Web site, some outdated printed materials, and some pie-in-the-sky promise of high-paying jobs in an emerging industry in some fuzzy, undefined, future time frame. But after two and half years and several million taxpayer dollars, Botkin failed to deliver on any of his promises. Not one single company has signed on the dotted line to locate at SEED.

For that kind of money, taxpayers had a right to expect a high level of performance from Botkin. He couldn't even put together a coherent grant application. Instead of spending a couple of thousand dollars on a professional grant writer, in one instance, he kept the money in his own pocket and did it himself. He scored 345 points out of a possible 1,000 — nearly at the very bottom of the list.

I have to believe it was Botkin's arrogance — once again — that was his undoing, just as it was when he was defeated as commissioner after only one term. As an incumbent, that election was his to lose, and in spite of a solid Democratic majority in this county, a Republican political neophyte didn't just beat him — she spanked him. On the day after that election, I asked a key Democratic Party insider why he thought that had happened. His unhesitating answer: "Tim's f***ing arrogance did him in."

What is probably the straw that broke the camel's back in this instance was an email Botkin sent to political supporters urging them to bring as much pressure to bear on the Port and other elected officials to keep the project fully funded (read: keep him fully employed). Feeding at the government trough a large part of his working life, Botkin obviously doesn't "get" that so blatantly politicizing something that is strictly a case of knowing that business demands results, is exactly why Botkin failed to bring SEED to fruition.

To illustrate that point, he attempted to misdirect criticism away from the poor job he did, by issuing self-serving statements, like, "...SEED was growing so fast and the Port doesn't have the system to support that." In another, he said, "My retrospective is I asked the Port for more than they can do." The bottom line is Botkin didn't produce results. End of story. If he'd have been working in the private sector, he more than likely would have been canned long before now.

Another illustration of Botkin politicizing SEED, was when he went to Olympia to testify against NASCAR and strong-arm legislators against supporting the legislation to make it possible. As the consultant for SEED, he had absolutely no business doing that. In fact, had NASCAR come here, it was ready to partner with SEED — reportedly to the tune of a couple million dollars for openers.

What Botkin received in political payback was Sen. Phil Rockefeller diverting over a million tax dollars earmarked for a project in Bremerton, to SEED. What is most interesting here is that SEED isn't even in Rockefeller's district — but Rockefeller opposed NASCAR. This happened after after it came to light NASCAR and Bremerton were discussing the possibility of it annexing the proposed site — taking the decision-making out of the county's hands and away from vitriolic opponent Commissioner Chris Endresen — Botkin's political partner before his defeat.

Again, it was Botkin politicizing SEED instead of understanding it is a business proposition.

So where does SEED go from here? Port Chair Kincer deserves to be commended for insisting on independent third-party reviews of SEED's business plan and funding mechanisms. She has also suggested the project partner with a research institution, and explore working with private industrial developers. This is Business 101 — which is what Botkin should have been doing from the very beginning.

A LOT of money has been invested in SEED — the taxpayers have in essence been the unwilling venture capitalists for this project. I also believe it is a sound concept that should go forward. However, if anything is abundantly clear, it is that Tim Botkin should have never been the person in charge. While he a passionate environmentalist, his blatant, "I know what's best for you," arrogance, has also made him a lightening rod for controversy. And like his political opposition to NASCAR, because of his inexperience in the business world, he has mismanaged what could be a golden opportunity, almost into oblivion — all at the taxpayer's expense.

An Idea For SKIA

The South Kitsap Industrial Area (SKIA) was initially created to become the main location of new jobs in Kitsap County, with a projected build-out of about 9,000 jobs over a 20-year period. However, it was doomed from the very start by the planning rules environmentalists were able to politically ram through — amounting to what is in essence a "Poison Pill" that made development prohibitively expensive. They got to have it both ways — being able to publicly posture that they support economic development, while assuring it could never happen.

What was so absolutely hypocritical about all this, is not only their actions at the time, but that when NASCAR was proposed for that area, these same environmentalists whined that we would be giving up the land designated for our future job growth. Meanwhile, nothing has happened there in the six or so years SKIA has been in existence because they successfully chased away NASCAR, and the planning rules that prevent any kind of development remain in place.

With all that aside, the main questions that keep cropping up concern who will eventually annex SKIA — also meaning who will provide the necessary infrastructure, and how will it be paid for?

So here's a proposal... Why not create some kind of quasi-jurisdictional management structure for the area? If the cities of Bremerton and Port Orchard — both of which have expressed interest in annexation — but neither of which have the money to provide the needed infrastructure; Kitsap County, which is in the same financial boat; and the Port, which lies dead center geographically; all joined together as a whole, there could be a coordinated way to develop that area for job growth. Because of the proximity of the sewer line from Mason County, perhaps they would be interested in partnering as well.

A lot of time has been spent trying to determine who should/could be able to annex SKIA. Although the Port owns a lot of the land, some of the private property owners that own the remainder are hoping to cut a deal for the infrastructure by trying to play the two cities against each other. That would stop, and the project could start moving forward with some new thinking and an actual coordinated economic development plan. All the jurisdictions involved could pool their resources toward creating development rules that protect the environment, but actually pencil for development, instead of the current rules which basically pay lip service to job creation but assure development remains prohibitively expensive.

Drawing up an equitable interlocutory agreement between all entities so each one has responsibilities, but also share in the benefits, should not be all that difficult. The community as a whole should benefit first and foremost from job the creation, and the governments involved would be able to generate additional revenues not available now.

Just a thought... I'd be very interested in your feedback.

Random Political Musings

For children of the 60s, like me, this presidential election represents a turning point in American history. It seemingly represents a lot of the change we all believed in and worked for.

Senator Barack Obama, a highly charismatic African-American man — one who isn’t Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton — is being embraced by people of all persuasions. He is, as the Reverend Martin Luther King predicted in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, being judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.

And no matter how you feel about Senator Hillary Clinton, she is the first qualified, creditable, woman presidential candidate that has a truly honest chance of being elected president.

And one of them — or perhaps both on the same ticket — will challenge the old, white guy, Senator John McCain. No matter what your politics are, or who you support, you have to be proud — this is historical.

Speaking of Senator Hillary Clinton, do you realize that if she is elected to two terms as president, at the end of her second term, America will have been governed by only two families, for a period of 28 years?
Locally, the 2008 County Commission races are shaping up kind of slowly. On the Democratic side, the South Kitsap seat being vacated by Jan Angel looks like a lock for Monty Mahan unless some stellar, heretofore unknown, candidate emerges out of nowhere — which doesn’t seem too likely.

Rumored to be interested is former Port Orchard Mayor Kim Abel. She seems to be shying away from any kind of commitment about running, but may just be holding her cards close to her vest.

Former Commissioner Charlotte Garrido on the other hand, announced her intention to run at a recent Kitsap Trees and Shoreline Association meeting. Garrido has never been known for her strong — or timely — decision-making. That, and her allegiance to extreme environmentalism were her undoing as a commissioner the first time.

It appears the Republicans have no one in the wings willing to step up. Kris Danielson was rumored to be thinking about it, but her husband Bruce, who recently announced he intended to seek a judgeship, publicly stated he would be the only Danielson on the ballot come November.

Also rumored to be thinking about it according to Republican Party insiders, is Ron Boehme, who lost a run for the legislature in 2006. However, Boehme hasn’t made any public statement, or given any indication he is in fact, considering running.

I do know for a fact that Planning Commission Chairman Fred Depee was approached by the Republicans — and turned them down flat.

On the north end, no one from either party seems poised to challenge Steve Bauer. As you may remember, Bauer was appointed to the seat vacated by Chris Endresen when she left to take a position with Senator Maria Cantwell, but he has to stand for election this year as well.

In working with Bauer, I have found him to be pretty low key, even-handed and extremely pragmatic. A wizard with numbers and budgeting, he appears to be driven by facts and reality a whole lot more than any overriding ideology. Hopefully, no Democrat will challenge him, because, at least in my view, he’s the right guy in the right place, at the right time.

There doesn’t appear to be any local Republicans willing to step and run for office. In fact, you have to wonder if the Kitsap Republicans are going to be able to mount any kind of credible challenge for any open seats. It appears the party has moved so far out of the mainstream that one has to wonder if they haven’t minimalized themselves into oblivion.

The one bright spot for the local GOP seems to be Jan Angel’s bid to unseat longtime 26th District Representative Pat Lantz. A recent guest editorial in the Peninsula Gateway came out strongly in support of Angel, saying it was time for Lantz to step down gracefully. Don’t look for that to happen though.

Angel, who is knowledgeable, personable, and a tireless campaigner, should be able to win. She will be well-funded, as the medical community — still smarting over Lantz’s refusal to let tort reform out of her committee for two years — line up to write checks. The business community will support Angel heavily as well.

In spite of the fact the Pierce County Republicans have already done so, Kitsap Republicans have refused to come out and openly endorse Angel. That's a very telling indicator of the level of the party’s absolute dysfunctionality.

The other 26th District House race features incumbent Larry Seaquist against longtime Gig Harbor businesswoman and Republican activist, Marlyn Jensen. Jensen is a classy woman whose years of active service to the GOP has earned her a lot of friends in high places. Her showplace home has been the site of numerous Republican fundraisers.

Seaquist on the other hand has had a less than notable first term in the House, and has raised the ire of NASCAR fans with his tasteless comments about them — which made national headlines. His swearing at a female constituent — saying, "Get the F**K out of my office," in front of a witness, when she tried to bring him some information about the ISC proposal, didn't win him any friends either. This one could go either way.

In the 23rd, it appears Democrats Christine Rolfes and Sherry Appleton will most likely get a free pass, since the Republicans can’t seem to recruit anyone to challenge them.

In the 35th, Democrat Fred Finn is the clear frontrunner for the retiring Bill Eickmeyer’s seat. A couple of Mason County Republicans — including Randy Neatherlin, who narrowly lost that seat two years ago — have stepped up. Several months ago, I had a conversation with Neatherlin and came away feeling he definitely wasn’t going to run. Considering the formidable resources the Democrats will put into electing Finn to hold that seat, I was surprised Neatherlin changed his mind.

Bremerton City Councilman Brad Gehring has announced he’ll challenge incumbent Kathy Haigh. Marco Brown, who ran for that seat last time, is also rumored to be interested again.

And finally, rumor has it Congressman Norm Dicks may draw a Democratic challenger from the extreme left — a fellow named Paul Richmond. Goggling that name comes up with a liberal activist Port Townsend attorney — although the challenger is reportedly a bank teller. Go figure. More on this as — and/or if — it develops.

Ferry Frustrations

It was refreshing to read Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman's "My Turn" article in the Kitsap Sun, lambasting the ferry system and the legislature for allowing the problem to reach the massive proportions it has.

I believe Mayor Bozeman has done the right thing by taking the bull by the horns and focusing public attention to what has been a festering problem for as long as most people who have lived here any length of time can remember.

The tail has wagged the dog for far too long. It's way past time the Ferry System became responsive to the people it "serves" rather than have the people paying the freight be subject to the whims of the massive mismanagement that has plagued the system for more than a generation.

If the governor and the legislature want to prove to voters they actually understand the term "leadership," they'll stand up to the bloated, unelected bureaucracy and overpaid featherbedders, taking action to run the system like a business — not the taxpayer funded gravy train it's been for our entire lifetime.