PORT TOWNSEND — Three Democrats running in a field of five for the District 1 Jefferson County commissioner seat told fellow party members they feel the county can increase economic development without negative effects on the environment.
“There will be a trade-off with any development, whether it’s planting a garden building [or] a shed or a home or a business,” Tim Thomas, a general contractor, told about 150 county Democrats on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t have to be bad,” Thomas said. “In all cases, it can be done in an environmentally friendly way.”
Three of the five candidates for the seat created by the retirement of three-term Commissioner Phil Johnson appeared at the meeting of the Jefferson County Democratic Party at the Port Townsend Community Center to discuss their qualifications and platform.
The party did not make an endorsement in this race, although it did in other races.
County Party Chairman Bruce Cowan said Wednesday the board members recommend endorsements “if there is one candidate who clearly has stronger qualifications, commitment to our party platform and ability to organize a campaign.
“We haven’t had a chance to get to know these candidates that well yet.
“We decided to let the members see the candidates for themselves and make up their minds. There’s time to endorse after the primary.”
In addition to Thomas, 45, Jefferson County Planning Commission chair Cynthia Koan, 53, and North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation & Development Council manager Kate Dean, 41, filed as Democrats and were invited to speak to party membership.
Also running for the seat are Port Townsend landscaper Holly Postmus, 55, who is not affiliated with any party, and contractor Jeff Gallant, 59, who filed as a Republican.
During the forum, Gallant was outside the community center handing out leaflets and talking to potential voters.
The five candidates will be on the Aug. 2 primary ballot. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 8 general election regardless of party affiliation.
Primary election ballots will be mailed July 13.
Thomas said that to attract family-wage jobs, the county needs to support infrastructure that creates a favorable business environment.
He specifically mentioned providing sewer service to the Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area.
Thomas ran as a Republican in 2012 for the District 2 commissioner seat and was defeated by David Sullivan, who is unopposed for a fourth term this year.
The Jefferson County Republicans worked against his candidacy, he has said, and he now is closer to the Democratic Party values.
Koan said she doesn’t believe that a trade-off between development and ecology is necessary.
“The county has a limited role in economic development,” she said.
“We can attract family-wage jobs and still protect what we have.”
New jobs should be created from the inside, as “no outside entity is going to come in here with a big project that automatically creates a lot of jobs.”
Dean said the county could become a research center.
“We need to decide where we want increased density and what services we want to provide in that density,” Dean said.
“The county needs to be more innovative and could offer to provide a pilot project about rainwater recycling or environmental services.”
Dean said Jefferson County “already has its own brand” in areas such as the small-farm movement and renewable energy that makes it a good place to conduct this research.
“Collaboration is the key to success,” Dean said.
“We need to have several strategic partners, as one jurisdiction cannot do it alone.”
Koan said her greatest asset is that she listens to divergent positions.
She suggested that the county’s comprehensive plan, due for completion in 2018, doesn’t need to be assembled all at once.
“I would like to provide a rolling update to the comp plan and make it a living document,” she said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
