During the January 7th meeting of the Commissioners, there was some lively interaction. Commissioner Endresen said that citizens coming to the meetings to question and comment made a mockery of the system. Commissioner Botkin told the citizens that they had “no right” to speak in the meeting, it was a privilege that he extended to us, and so they had better watch what they say or he would clear the room.

I am a Democrat, a small business owner, and a retired Navy wife. I believe in having a voice in my community but I believe that it is my responsibility to educate myself about the issues and to understand what is going on before I criticize. To read the letters of those claiming that the Freeholders and the Kitsap Alliance are groups with seemingly unlimited financial backing just trying to take advantage of the rest of you poor citizens could not be further from the truth. These groups are made up of busy, intelligent people who want Kitsap County to be a great place to live. They spend more time than money, of which there is very little, trying to make sure that we all have representation, checks and balances in our government, a budget that doesn’t grow without restraint and the ability to question and recall bad decisions. Voting to accept the Charter isn’t voting to accept one political ideal over another. Voting to accept the charter is a vote to create a dynamic government that responds to the needs of its citizens, instead of a couple of commissioners who believe that we don’t have the right to participate.

Jan Oleksiak
Gilberton, WA.