Editor’s note: Oct. 17 was the last edition of the Review to include letters to the editor that endorsed candidates ahead of the Nov. 4 general election. Any more letters that endorse candidates will appear online only.
Support school levy
To the editor:
One of the things that makes our island great is the high quality of our public schools. I believe this can be attributed to the following factors: experienced, excellent teachers; high-performance students; broad, challenging coursework; a learning environment that blends academic performance with the social and emotional health of students; and the financial support of our community. In early November, the final factor will be tested once again by a school levy on our ballots, and I am asking you to vote “yes.”
Currently, the state of Washington only funds 74% of the operating costs for the Bainbridge Island School District. Recent news is that the state is wrestling with budget deficits, and it is unlikely that it will be able to do more in the near future. Federal and other funding sources only contribute 3%, leaving 23% to local funding. If passed, it is estimated that the proposed levy will provide the money the district needs to balance its budget from 2026 through 2028. At the same time, the overall school property tax bill for island taxpayers will go down due to expiring bond taxes.
Is this investment worth the money? Unlike many areas of the country, the investments we have made in our students are rewarded by them outperforming statewide peers in the areas of English language arts, math, and science. They are doing their part, and now it is time for us to do ours.
Tom McCloskey
Bainbridge Island
Vote for Deets
To the editor:
As a long-time resident of Bainbridge Island and as a community volunteer in a number of local activities, I write in support of Joe Deets’ re-election to the City Council. As a retired attorney who represented private individuals, companies, and governmental organizations (including Kitsap County), I am in awe of the challenges translating community needs into effective legislative actions.
Although I rarely endorse specific candidates, I write to urge voters to re-elect Joe Deets. I do so for multiple reasons. First, Joe proactively listens and invites input from constituents. His weekly “office hours” are a unique opportunity for residents to provide information and advocate regarding important community issues. Second, his priorities coincide with two of the most important challenges facing our community — affordable housing and climate change!
As a long-time advocate for affordable housing, I commend Joe for listening to and supporting the efforts to build the project created by Bethany Lutheran Church and Finch Green LLC. But Joe does more! He not only listens and advocates, but he assists in translating important issues into legislative action. In our current challenging times, these combined attributes are more important than ever.
We need Joe’s listening ears as well as his legislative expertise to meaningfully advance actions critical for our beloved community. Please join me in voting for Joe Deets!!
David Swartling
Bainbridge Island
Vote for Nelson
To the editor:
Upzoning before we know our resource limitations on Bainbridge Island is putting the cart before the horse. Mike Nelson understands that state law requires growth to be sustainable, not just possible. The sole source of water on Bainbridge Island is groundwater. Mike will push for completion of the scientific studies to determine how much growth this finite resource could accommodate.
As a former assistant attorney general, Mike Nelson knows how to do the research that will protect the island now and for future generations. He will fight for a plan that doesn’t rely on overbuilding or taxing us off the island.
I deeply believe that we will have an advocate in Mike Nelson, and lucky to have him. Please vote for Mike Nelson for City Council.
Marilyn McLauchlan
Bainbridge Island
Re-elect Deets
To the editor:
I have had the privilege of serving alongside Joe Deets on the City Council for nearly the entirety of his two terms. Since 2018, I’ve watched him take on assignments in intergovernmental bodies or partnering with city organizations. Joe shows up prepared, informed, and ready to advocate for the community’s interests.
Joe’s voting record reflects a deep commitment to affordable housing, social justice, and policies that promote mobility for all residents.
Joe played a vital role in shaping Bainbridge Island’s Climate Action Plan and continues working to mitigate climate change and build community resilience. He’s also introduced innovative ideas, such as how our city can rethink waste processing.
While listening to many community voices during his office hours, Joe is resolutely standing firm on his commitment to affordable housing. He listened to the community about the site at 625 Winslow Way, pushing the developer for options that better address design concerns, and researched the air quality at the ferry terminal. Using data provided from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, he reported that the air quality there is consistently good, even with the ferry traffic.
Most recently, in the face of massive cuts in aid to food banks by the Trump Administration, including our own Helpline House, he swiftly proposed giving $30,000 in emergency aid to them to ensure that islanders don’t go hungry.
Joe Deets leads with integrity, energy, and a clear sense of responsibility to the people of Bainbridge Island. I support his continued service to our city.
Leslie Schneider
Bainbridge Island
New councilmembers needed
To the editor:
We’re at a crossroads and it’s time to choose a path – (1) unleash untrammeled development via turbocharged upzoning with consequent adverse impact on our finite space/resources/infrastructure and quality of life, or (2) navigate sensible, constrained, organic growth within our imposed limitations to “Keep Bainbridge Bainbridge.”
I choose path (2), and, in part because of who supports each candidate, I believe Mike Nelson’s a better choice than Sarah Blossom for that path. Sarah is a good person, but I believe she’s too pro-development, and so did the electorate that denied her a 3rd term in 2019. Her top-5 donors are developers/designers/architects, including one listing his occupation as “Retired,” but who maintains 17 active LLCs, including Winslow Hotel, LLC – I have to wonder if that despised project will again rise up off the table with Sarah’s help, if she’s elected. Mike’s donors appear to be just regular people.
I have the same concerns about Mr. Moriwaki. One of his biggest donors helped bring Moriwaki to council in 2021 ($1,000 from total of $20k) and listed his occupation as “Builder, Real Estate Development,” while another donor ($1,000) was the State Association of Realtors Political Affairs Council. I’m going to pull for Mr. Raffa.
As between Mr. Deets and Ms. Lant, I cannot ignore the outsized 2021 support Deets received from multiple employees/agents of Clark Construction, which has received lots of work here, lately, along with multiple other builders/contractors/developers/realtors, and the like. Lant, it is.
I’m tired of the takers.
Chris Neal
Bainbridge Island
Support Deets
To the editor:
My friend Joe Deets has served two terms on the City Council. Courage and a strong work ethic show in his eagerness to serve another term. I am proud to support him.
For more than four years, the city has been engaged in ambitious long-range planning. We’re not done yet, and few citizens understand where we are headed. We must provide for more diverse and affordable housing, and for gradual population growth. These changes are welcomed by some, unsettling to others. Do we need new faces and a shake-up in the council’s working relationships? I think now is a time for persistence and continuity, not disruption.
Joe Deets is a team player, and he works happily with all sorts of people for the common good. If you have a problem, he’ll listen and help you if he can. In eight years, he’s seen enough of dysfunction, and he knows how to make the most out of what’s possible and practical. Among other activities, he has been deeply involved with the staff and volunteers of Bainbridge Prepares and with the Climate Change Advisory Committee. He has also contributed to county-wide governance and forged connections with other communities in Kitsap County.
These are uncertain times. At many levels, trust in government has been shaken. I trust Joe Deets as a practical man and a man with principles, driven by a generous love for this community.
Jon Quitslund
Bainbridge Island
