Organizers were buoyed by the overwhelming support shown at a rally held at the Fairgrounds Oct. 21. They believe the response left little doubt that property owners feel the county commissioners are not considering their interest.

Poulsbo attorney Jean Sherrard, a longtime waterfront property owner, is president of the new association. Other officers are Karl Duff, Vice President and Ron Ross, Treasurer. Directors are Ed Mitchell, Jean Bullett and Richard A. Brown. Vivian Henderson, who has served for the past several years as the Governmental Affairs coordinator for the Kitsap County Association of Realtors, resigned that position to become executive director of the new group.

Sherrard said he has watched his ability to use and enjoy his property erode drastically over the past few years while his property taxes have increased substantially.

“I have always been a good steward of the land and care deeply about salmon, the shoreline, water quality, our environment and all our natural resources. Other property owners I know feel the same way. The government on all levels is running rough shod over its citizens’ constitutional rights and I’m getting tired of it. I wanted to find out if I was off base or if others felt the same way. I have been amazed at the interest from property owners in organizing.”

He added, “We are very supportive of taking measures to protect the salmon. We would like to actively work with local groups who are committed to salmon recovery. Our members believe in voluntary incentive based recovery efforts. We don’t need the federal government coming in here wielding a big hammer, taking the use of people’s property away and making threats.”

All property owners are invited to join. Sherrard noted that County Government is working on stormwater issues right now with the National Marine Fisheries Service and burdensome regulations are being created in the name of “watershed planning” that will greatly affect all property owners.

For more information, or to join, call (360) 779-9267.