County GOP boots incumbent commish Lent

Published 9:00 am Saturday, September 23, 2006

Central Kitsap Republicans turned out moderate incumbent County Commissioner Patty Lent in favor of challenger Jack Hamilton in Tuesday’s primary election.

Hamilton will face Democrat Josh Brown in a countywide general election on Nov. 7. Brown emerged from a field of three hopefuls.

In a “closed primary” in which voters had to choose one party or another, county Democrats elected Sheriff Steve Boyer to a third term over challenger Deputy Jim Rye, while Republicans gave assessor Jim Avery a third term over challenger Kris Danielson.

Unofficial returns showed Kitsap turnout at 30.19 percent. Some 23,448 voters chose the Democratic slate, and 12,387 voted as Republicans.

Neither 23rd District House primary was contested, so Republican incumbent Bev Woods and Democrat Sherry Appleton both advanced to the general against respective challengers Christine Rolfes and Earl Johnson.

Hamilton accepted victory in the county commission primary, but said he would have an uphill fight in the Democratic strongholds of North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island, as the general election will be decided countywide, not just among Central Kitsap voters.

“I realize there isn’t enough time to convert everyone in the county to my way of thinking,” Hamilton said. “But I appreciate the voters’ confidence in me. I won’t change my strategy, which is an effort to straighten out the courthouse and bring common sense to government.”

While Brown said he hopes to concentrate on other issues, the race could also become a referendum on the proposed NASCAR track, which Brown opposes and Hamilton generally supports.

“People are looking for a change,” Brown said. “They want a new voice, someone who will lead and make the county a better place to live. They are fed up with politics as usual.

“Jack identifies himself as an ideologue,” Brown said. “But the voters don’t want an ideologue. They want someone who isn’t closed-minded and tells them how to think. They want their leaders to listen and bring the county together.”

In a highly contentious sheriff’s contest, Rye received the endorsement of the Deputies’ Guild, setting up a labor-versus-management challenge.

“We ran a clean campaign and took the high road,” Boyer said. “The democratic process can be filled with disagreement but can also have a sense of honor. It gives us a great opportunity to discuss the issues.

“I still want to build the greatest sheriff’s department in the country.

The only other contested county office was for assessor, with incumbent Avery defeating Danielson.

Both Democrats and Republicans put a positive spin on the lopsided party voting, particularly with the looming face-off for the commissioners’ seat.

Kitsap Republican Chairman Matt Cleverly said many Republicans voted as Democrats to support Boyer or 35th District State Sen. Tim Sheldon, a maverick Democrat who often sides with the state GOP.

Democrat Jim Sommerhauser attributed the lopsided ratio to the trickle down effect from displeasure with President George W. Bush.

“It’s a result of the current national situation,” he said. “A lot of Republicans are soft on their support, while the Democrats are motivated. And with the choice in the county commissioner race there are a lot of reasons to vote for the Democrat.”

In Bainbridge’s lone contested race, for GOP precinct party officer, incumbent Thomas Hemphill outpolled James M. Olsen 54-9 among Fort Ward Republicans.