While it seemed to be a moot point, Bainbridge Island resident James Olson insisted on challenging Josh Brown’s residency to the county Canvassing Board claiming he had “clear and convincing evidence” to prove Brown didn’t live at the address he claimed.

The Canvassing Board — Auditor Karen Flynn, Prosecutor Russ Hauge, and Commissioner Chris Endresen — all donated money to Brown’s campaign. Endresen was also quoted as saying she believes Olson’s challenge is “harassment by sore losers.”

Olson’s change of venue request based an a “conflict of interest” was denied, and the hearing set for Feb. 15. At the last minute, Olson withdrew the complaint. He then filed a felony complaint against Brown, who in his trial testimony, admitted under oath to what could be interpreted as a Class C felony.

Brown’s attorney then said he would file perjury charges against Olson, who dismissed the threat as “lawyerly bluster.” Where’s Jerry Springer when you need him?

Will Hauge actually pursue the felony charge against Brown? Probably not — unless pigs fly or he’s absolutely compelled to.

I was sorry to see Rep. Sherry Appleton’s bill on payday lenders die in the legislature. I’ve disagreed with Appleton on a number of past issues, but she was right on the money with this one.

I read something that said presidential candidate Mitt Romney is “Bill Clinton with his pants up.” I don’t know much about Romney, but to quote Larry The Cable Guy, “I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.”

Norm Dicks’ phone lines have been burning up recently with unhappy constituents and longtime supporters demanding he rein Josh Brown in over his comments and actions about NASCAR. Dicks can’t be happy — especially since he supports NASCAR —and endorsed Brown — who has become somewhat of an embarrassment to him.

The Bush administration keeps talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don’t we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys. It’s worked for over 200 years, and we’re not using it anymore anyway.

I knew the Passenger Only Ferry vote was doomed when we received Letters to the Editor against it from ultra-liberal environmentalist Beth Wilson, and ultra-conservative KAPO president Karl Duff. I believe this may be the first time these two have actually agreed on anything.

When I told Kitsap Transit head honcho Dick Hayes about it, he quipped, “Don’t ever underestimate Kitsap Transit’s ability to bring people together.”

Some local Democrats recently held a meeting to promote establishing an environmental learning center at SKIA as an alternative use for the land destined for NASCAR. I shook my head in disbelief when I realized they were actually serious.

Islandwood, the world class environmental learning center on Bainbridge Island, has struggled financially since opening. Just five miles or so down the road from the proposed site, is the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, which has its own financial challenges. Situated a stone’s throw away is the 100 percent taxpayer-funded, SEED project.

With environmental education funding already scarce, the last thing needed is another project competing for the same limited dollars. Maybe they should rethink what amounts to an ideological, but politically driven, really bad idea.

During the campaign for I-933, environmental extremists, hopeful and incumbent legislators, as well as the governor, all admitted the Growth Management Act (GMA) is flawed, and promised to make changes if I-933 was defeated. They all agreed we need growth management that addresses environmental preservation while acknowledging growth is inevitable and encourages economic opportunity for future generations. Yet there isn’t one bill in this session of the legislature addressing it. Why am I not surprised?

Sharp words were recently exchanged at meetings between Washington State Ferries (WSF) officials and commuters in Kingston and on Bainbridge over the prospect of raising ferry fares even higher than the 62 percent they’ve increased in the past few years.

Ray Deardorf of WSF told the Bainbridge group that, “The low hanging fruit has already been picked,” and that additional cost cutting within the system would translate into service cuts. Really?

It might be fun listening to him explain why WSF needs one employee making $50,000+ a year selling you a ticket as you enter the dock, and another $50,000+ person taking it from you on the dock. It’s not as if you can sneak your car onto the dock or anything.

Multiply that by three shifts a day, and the number of places this occurs. Then tell us how all the possible cost savings have already been implemented — and let’s see you do it with a straight face, Ray.

The tent has finally come down on the whole Josh Brown residency circus. Our democracy worked the way it’s supposed to — whether you agreed with the outcome or not.

It’s time to move on.

However, in my view, from this point forward, Brown will always be damaged goods politically. The outcome of the trial won’t really matter because his basic honesty will continually be a question mark from now on. I don’t think Brown and his handlers understand it’s possible to be found innocent in a court of law, but still be found guilty in the higher court of public opinion. Just ask O.J.

Brown should remember that it’s been a long time since anyone from that district served two terms on the commission. Using his office and the courts to attempt political retribution and intimidate citizens who question and/or criticize his actions, will only turn voters against him.

If the trial did nothing else, it exposed us to the person Josh Brown truly is. So in the end, it may have all been worth it.