Bainbridge school supporters have Winslow, Crystal Springs and Fort Ward to thank for Prop. 1 success

Published 2:09 pm Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Voters in downtown Winslow and the south end precincts of Crystal Springs and Fort Ward proved decisive in the apparent passage of the Bainbridge Island School District’s $81.2 million bond measure, according to an analysis of unofficial precinct returns from Tuesday’s Special Election by the Bainbridge Review.

Proposition 1, which would fund the replacement of Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary and Bainbridge High’s 100 Building, was on its way to approval with a 62.2 percent “yes” vote in the first vote tally on Election Night. Prop. 1 needs a supermajority of 60 percent to pass.

According to unofficial returns, Prop. 1 picked up its biggest support in the downtown precinct of Winslow, where 72.8 percent of voters backed the measure.

The gap in the number of votes between supporters and opponents was also greatest in Winslow, where school backers found a 256-vote advantage over

those who cast “no” ballots.

Support for Prop. 1 was next greatest in the precinct of Crystal Springs, where the measure received 68.8 percent of the vote and supporters picked up 174 more votes than the other side.

Fort Ward voters also came out in force for Prop. 1, with 67.9 percent of the vote and a 155-vote advantage over opponents of the measure.

Prop. 1 received a majority vote in each of Bainbridge’s 22 precincts, but the vote tally fell short of the required supermajority in nine precincts, most of them in central or north Bainbridge (Wing Point, Finch, Meadowmeer, New Brooklyn, Liberty, Skiff Point, Seabold, Manzanita and Torvanger.)

Support for Prop. 1 was softest in Meadowmeer (51.9 percent), followed by Wing Point (53 percent).

Beyond Winslow, Crystal Springs and Fort Ward, the measure enjoyed its biggest support in the precincts of Island Center (66 percent), Ferncliff (65.7) and Blakely (64.8).

Overall, Proposition was passing with an edge of 1,907 votes after the first vote count.

The tally stands at 4,856 for the measure (62.2 percent “yes) and 2,949 opposed (37.8 percent).