Webmaster Jim Coleman keeps busy posting results at election night party hosted by The Sun at the Admiral Theatre.

   As we go to press on the day after Election 2K, the smoke is beginning to clear in the closest presidential race in our lifetime since Kennedy and Nixon in 1960. Gov. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney came on TV and said the vote count in Florida indicates he has carried the state, which gives him the presidency. A mandatory recount will be conducted to confirm that.
   Meanwhile, voters in West Palm Beach have filed a challenge to overturn the election based on the way the ballot was laid out — in spite of the fact that same ballot has been used there since 1974.
   In our state, at presstime Slade Gorton was desperately clinging to a razor-thin lead over Maria Cantwell in a race where the absentees could make the difference.
   Meanwhile, in Kitsap County, there’s not much question how things turned out. The voters decided to give the Home Rule initiative a chance to work and elected 21 freeholders to bring a new charter to the voters.
   Jan Angel will be the first Republican county commissioner elected in District 2 since Bill Mahan was originally elected in 1968. She defeated Dusty Wiley, who ousted incumbent Charlotte Garrido in the Democratic primary. Wiley had run as a Republican against Garrido four years ago and lost.
   In District 1, incumbent Chris Endresen held off a strong challenge from political newcomer Scott Henden, who was heavily funded by the Affordable Housing Council (AFC) — the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County’s (HBA) political arm.
   Henden, a Kingston electrical contractor, is a longtime HBA member.
   The AFC, and the other business interests that supported Henden were realistic in their expectations about the outcome. The intent was to send Endresen an unmistakable message that the county’s direction on issues — like it’s dealings with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its impact on private property rights, need to be altered. Did Endresen get that message?
   When asked that question on election night, her reply was to smile and answer, “We have a lot of work to do and I’m just looking forward to doing it. But the HBA needs to understand they just can’t buy a seat on the commission.” She was referring to the fact that the AFC donated $9,000 to Henden’s campaign — far and away more than any single contributor donated to her — as well as did an independent expenditure for newspaper ads.
   HBA Executive Vice President Art Castle explained the contributions, $4,000 in the primary and $5,000 in the general election, by saying, ”All we did was help one of our members become competitive. He had an uphill battle against an incumbent with superior name recognition.”
   Endresen went on to say, “I was surprised they so vigorously opposed me because they’ve never come to me and said we think you’re going in the wrong direction, or we’re concerned. They have talked to me about the permit process and we’re working on that.”
   She added, “In the last four years, when issues that affected them have developed, I’ve always directed staff to get in touch with them and get their input. I’ve gone to all their events — at least the ones I’ve been invited to, but they’ve not invited me to things like their auction, or swearing in, or any of those kinds of events. But I look forward to working with them. My door is always open.”
   So, how does Kitsap’s business community view the results? What impact — if any — do local business people think the election will have on Kitsap’s business climate? To find out, we conducted a very unscientific, random poll of local businesses. To make it fair, because of Henden’s affiliation with the HBA, we excluded anyone involved in the real estate and construction industries. Using the phone book as the sole resource, our little poll showed that most people felt it would be business as usual, but most people we talked with hoped that Angel would be able to bring a business perspective to the commission that the others would grasp.
   Jim Kendall, owner of Internet Service Provider Telebyte Northwest in Silverdale commented, “I’m optimistic. I think some new blood in the courthouse is a good thing. I think Jan Angel brings the knowledge of what it takes to run a business, and as a small business person, the knowledge to help keep people employed. She brings a balance to the commission that’s been sorely lacking in the past.”
   “I think it’s probably just going to be business as usual,” sighed Deborah Housen, co-owner of Silverdale Antiques. “I’m always interested in local politics but I’m not sure what’s really going to make it change.”
   “My concern is the environment in this area, and I don’t know how that’s going to pan out. In my field of work, that’s my big concern,” said, Jim Jetter, a furniture designer and one of the owners of J&M Woodworks in Kingston. “With a Republican in there, I think they may favor business, but with the Democrats, you never know. Frankly, I like the Green Party and even though she isn’t part of it, I think Chris Endresen will protect this neck of the woods.”
   Mark Sweeney of Sweeney’s Country Meats felt that election of a Republican to the commission was, “...wonderful news.” He was also unhappy about the re-election of Endresen. “We need small businesses here that aren’t dangerous to the environment — computer-based businesses. But most of all we need a tax base so we can build nice roads, better schools and the like. We can’t do it on the backs of the property owners. All my property taxes have gone up but the value has gone nowhere. I wish I could sell some of it for what they assess it at.”
   “Chris Endresen scares me as far as business goes,” remarked Paul Marshall owner of DSC Industrial Supply in Poulsbo. “She doesn’t understand business, and she doesn’t do anything to help business. We moved here from Seattle five years ago and it was a real eye opener. We could use some industry over here, but Kitsap is very unfriendly to business and I’m afraid with her in there it’s going to stay that way.”
   Insurance broker Jack Adams of Bainbridge Island commented, “Being a moderate conservative, I’m a little concerned. Locally, Betti Shelton is great. She hasn’t voted well for small business, but she’s receptive. If she becomes unreceptive, I’ll work hard to have her defeated next time, but I’ll support her until then. I’m pleased with Jan Angel. I hope she’ll bring some balance to the commission. I like Chris (Endresen) personally, but she’s too liberal.”
   Mike Fenn, owner of Mail Boxes Etc. in Silverdale said after leaving the Navy, he and his wife settled here just two years ago. He commented on the passage of Home Rule. “My wife and I are new enough to the area that we don’t have a good feel for the implications of the local elections. But Home Rule is for us a more comfortable form of government. We’ve lived in other places where it’s used and we favor it.”
   And what do the people directly involved have to say?
   Economic Development Council (EDC) chief Zolton Szigethy, commented, “As far as the EDC goes we do not have an opinion. We’re absolutely non-partisan. We have worked well with the existing three commissioners and we expect to do the same with the newly composed board. All three individuals are quite cognizant of the issues and are extremely easy to work with. I think in the future they will be as well.”
   Newly minted commissioner Jan Angel answered, “I’m excited and humbled by the people’s trust. You just don’t take that lightly. I’m excited about the opportunity to help get our county back on track. One thing we know is that we have obstacles that have to be identified and overcome. The people have spoken very loudly, and I’m looking forward to working with the other two commissioners to do that.”
   Although it isn’t strong, Endresen has some support in the business community to increase the job base, she said, “At the recent EDC board retreat, we discussed the land we have available and now we’re moving to get the infrastructure in place. We really have made progress, it’s just behind the scenes progress. The EDC hasn’t really talked about the successes we’ve had, but we will.”
   The HBA’s Castle seemed pretty nonplused about the whole thing. “I don’t know it will have any effect. In many ways, it was a fairly status quo election. But if nothing else, this election was a good civics lesson for the kids.”