Last Monday evening, I happened to see the last few minutes of the BKAT presentation of the Kitsap County Board of Commissioner’s meeting. During this meeting the commissioners adopted the County’s 2003-2004 budget. In addition to passing the budget, there was the formal adoption of a motion made by Commissioner Chris Endresen, to elect Commissioner Jan Angel to Chair the Board of Commissioner’s for 2003, from the outgoing Chair, Commissioner Tim Botkin.

Prior to the final vote on this transformation of responsibility, Botkin attempted to provoke Commissioner Angel into revisiting the situation a year ago, when Commissioners Endresen and Botkin voted to pass over Angel for the Board leadership position. To her credit, Angel gracefully refused to engage in this political diatribe of past events, thus avoiding this parting shot at blatant partisanship demonstrated by Botkin.

When the final vote came to formally approve Angel as the Board Chair for 2003, Botkin further expressed resentment and partisanship, by abstaining. I was hopeful that as a final gesture of cooperation, Botkin would have accepted, not only his defeat, but would have been gracious in his final official act as County Commissioner. Instead, Botkin’s childish display only reaffirmed his publicly perceived arrogance.

Botkin had the chance and the forum, to leave office on a positive note. Unfortunately he selected another route. As a Democrat, I denounce his behavior and encourage Botkin to move on and get over it.

Dain C. Nysoe
Port Orchard