PORT TOWNSEND — County Commissioner Pat Rodgers has a different idea about a town forum on increasing submarine activity at Naval Magazine Indian Island.
Don’t hold one, the Brinnon Republican urged Navy officials this week.
Less than a week after Commissioner Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend, again wrote the Navy to request a Port Townsend public forum about Naval Magazine Indian Island, Rodgers sent his own letter, offering a different perspective on the matter.
“I believe Commissioner Johnson’s . . . request for a forum is inappropriate and is in response to a relatively small but vocal anti-military minority,” Rodgers wrote.
“I can assure you that the response from my constituents is contrary to what is portrayed by this ill conceived request for a forum.”
The letter, like Johnson’s, was addressed to Rear Adm. William D. French, district commander of Navy Region Northwest.
Although the ordnance station has been in operation since the 1940s, public concern has risen both citywide and countywide since the Navy announced plans last year to dock up to two nuclear-powered submarines annually at the loading pier, which can be seen from the city across Port Townsend Bay.
The submarines would be loaded and unloaded with conventional weapons, such as guided Tomahawk missiles and torpedoes.
No nuclear weapons are involved, Capt. Jonathan Kurtz, commanding officer of the base, has said.
Rodgers said the reason he wrote the letter to French was because he thought it was important for the Navy to understand that the whole community is not in support of a forum.
“I’m disappointed we’re pandering to this minority of people,” Rodgers said.
“I’m not going to participate in this foolishness.”
