Candidates for the Bainbridge Island City Council have submitted candidate statements for Kitsap County’s voters’s pamplet.

Roger Townsend is seeking the South Ward, Position 3 seat on the Bainbridge Island City Council. His opponent is Dee McComb.

Here is his statement as it will appear in the county voter’s guide.

Roger Townsend

Biography: I have lived on Bainbridge Island since 2005 and my children attend local schools. I co-founded a successful law firm where my practice focuses on bringing a calm rational voice to contentious disputes. As the Assistant Director of the Federal Bar Association’s Civil Rights Clinic and Director of “Constitution Day” for Fifth Graders, I have an active pro bono practice. I also co-founded a watchdog group working to ensure that the electric utility makes transparent decisions in the best interests of Bainbridge Island residents and businesses. Education: J.D., Northwestern University; B.A. Economics, Wesleyan University.

Statement: Bainbridge is an amazing place to live, work and raise a family. Vibrant communities like ours rely on smart investments for the future and a commitment by elected representatives to be stewards of the public’s trust. I am running for City Council to ensure that the city spends our tax dollars effectively and for the purposes collected. Greater transparency is essential. Islanders have a right to know what they are paying for, and why, and that the costs of maintaining our public resources are fairly shared by all.

I believe the City Council can work together amicably for the common good. I will work with state and local officials to repair our roads and improve bicycle and pedestrian access ensuring safer routes to schools and for commuters. I will work to improve cell phone infrastructure and speed up the permit review process for all residents and local businesses. I will work to ensure that development is done sustainably to protect our environment and preserve open spaces. And I believe we can continue to improve our current city-manager form of government by providing collaborative oversight from the council while opening additional pathways for citizen involvement.