PORT TOWNSEND — The candidate forum season opened Tuesday night with a lively debate about city finances, the library measure and the special qualities of Port Townsend, among other topics.
“We have an absolute treasure of a community,” said Steve Oakford, one of three candidates for City Council Position 5.
“I want to be the voice of moderation so we can bring people together.”
About 150 people attended the forum at the Port Townsend Community Center sponsored by the Jefferson County Democratic Party and moderated by its treasurer, Ron Hayes.
The forum focused on the Aug. 5 primary ballot, which includes two City Council races with three candidates, a Port of Port Townsend commissioner contest and a request to authorize up to $3 million in general obligation bonds for the Port Townsend Library expansion.
Candidates present were:
— Port of Port Townsend Commissioner District 2 — Peter Quinn, entrepreneur and CEO of Quimper Mercantile Co.; Bill Putney, engineer and pilot; and Brad Clinefelter, maritime trades worker.
The incumbent, Dave Thompson, lost his district when its boundaries were redrawn in 2011. District 2 represents Port Hadlock, Cape George and Marrowstone Island.
— City Council Position 5 — Pamela Adams, chiropractor; Harold “Jim” Sherwood, a Port Townsend veterinarian; and Oakford, a KPTZ-91.9 FM radio volunteer.
Incumbent Mark Welch, a former mayor, decided against running again.
— City Council Position 1 — Incumbent Michelle Sandoval, also a former mayor; and Vern Garrison, a Port Townsend contractor who served on the council in the early 2000s.
Not present was a third candidate, Bob Jautz, who retired after careers in the financial industry and as a surveyor.
The library bond, which would need a supermajority to pass, would fund the renovation and expansion of the Carnegie Library portion of the library at 1220 Lawrence St.
The measure to approve or reject the proposal was argued by Terri Nomura in favor and Rick Jahnke against.
“We all support the libraries, but we don’t support this measure,” Jahnke said.
“We are coming out of the worst recession, but this community invested in the library by passing a levy lid lift for the library.
“We’ve continued to invest in our library through the recession, and that was unique,” he said.
“Instead of the current projects, we can provide satellite libraries because they provide new spaces for the people.”
Nomura, who called the satellite idea “loony,” said the discussion about the library’s renovation has gone on for 16 years and needs to be decided now.
“The library can be an asset or detriment to your long-term property value,” she said.
“People and businesses decide to move here or not based on what we as a community have to offer, and the library is part of that picture.
“The cost increase is not that much: $28 per year for a $200,000 house, or $2.33 a month, which is less than a latte.
“You need to consider what will happen if this isn’t passed: that we will move backward and have less space.”
Garrison challenged Sandoval about what he called the financial irresponsibility of the city during the time she has been on the council.
“The incumbent has on several occasions said that the council deserves accolades and congratulations for their taxing and spending on projects that are in the wake of worldwide fiscal danger,” Garrison said.
“I think the council will be remembered in infamy,” he said.
“The tax events have proceeded without an open and transparent process while the public has been denied adequate public forums in this effort to capture more tax dollars.
“The fiscal mismanagement of the existing regime is despicable, and we aren’t going to survive if we don’t rein it in.”
Responded Sandoval: “Despicable me, I’ll take it.
“Over the past few years, we have doubled our money in stimulus funds that I lobbied hard for.
“We got new businesses because we built the roundabouts and now we have a maritime industry because we invested in maritime trades.
“Businesses can’t be here unless we build all of the infrastructure that we need,” she said.
Adams said she would examine new revenue streams, such as selling city property and putting in parking meters downtown.
“We could get our parking meter money to get our buses running on Sunday again,” she said.
“My personal goal is for the public to become more involved and have greater input before the council.”
Sherwood said he wants to bring industry to town.
“Everyone around us is graying. We are all gray, and I can’t think of a more boring community to live in, if it’s all elderly,” he said.
“So one of my thrusts is to bring industry and private service groups here, and we don’t have a lot of real jobs here right now.”
All three port seat candidates stressed the importance of the port to the area’s economic development.
Putney stressed his aviation experience as a way to increase the scope of the Jefferson County International Airport.
“I think the port has done so many things so well, but there are some tough times ahead,” Putney added. “There are a lot of facilities coming up that will need to be replaced.”
He told the group that since he is retired, “I don’t have anything else on my agenda. This job will be my No. 1 focus if you elect me.
Quinn said he has worked for the past five years in economic development.
“Of all the governments we have, the port is most directly involved in economic development.
“We have new infrastructure coming in with the broadband in the county, and it will give us more connectivity than we’ve ever had,” Quinn added. “We will be better able to compete for economic development than we have before.”
Clinefelter said his lifetime of experience in maritime trades prepares him for the port commissioner’s job.
The League of Women Voters has announced two upcoming candidate forums, both beginning at 7 p.m.: one for port commissioner candidates July 16 at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road in Chimacum; and the other for City Council and the library bond July 18 at the Masonic Hall, 1338 Jefferson St. in Port Townsend.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
