Central Kitsap resident Doug Kitchens, who has lived in Washington for 18 years, has announced he will challenge Rep. Phil Rockefeller for the 23rd District Senate Seat being vacated by Sen. Betti Sheldon. Kitchens, a commercial Realtor with Reid Real Estate in Silverdale, will run as a Republican.

He believes opportunities for family wage jobs have been lost due to the complexities of doing business in Washington State — especially for the small business owner — and the lack of what he termed “affordable health care.”

“It all comes down to ‘Economic Vitality’… balancing growth, transportation, and our environment with housing and private property rights,” stated Kitchens.