State reps look to 2008
Bainbridge Island’s representatives in Olympia promised a continued commitment to “kitchen table issues,” although a few meaty subjects won’t make the menu.
Reps. Christine Rolfes and Sherry Appleton said education, health care and ferry fares will top their priority lists during the 2008 legislative session. But efforts to remove the Eagle Harbor ferry maintenance yard or funnel public funding toward private sports facilities will likely receive little play next year.
“There’s not a lot of traction on removing (the maintainance yard),” said Rolfes, a Bainbridge Democrat, during a Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week.
Although backed by some local activists at the luncheon, the idea of moving the ferry system’s primary repair and maintenance facility will likely suffer from widespread disinterest or opposition in Olympia, said Appleton, a Poulsbo Democrat
“There is no will in the legislature to get into this,” she said.
Rolfes joined Appleton this year as the 23rd Legislative District’s representatives in the state House.
The pair teamed on various initiatives for improving the health of Puget Sound and directing island population density according to underground water supplies.
Rolfes and Appleton were also unified in their response to a question about whether the Seattle Sonics basketball team would garner state support for a publicly-funded arena.
“It’s not going anywhere – just like NASCAR,” said Rolfes, referring to the International Speedway Corp.’s failed effort to build a publicly funded racetrack in Kitsap County.
Still, Rolfes said the pressure is on from many state residents to back the Sonics’ proposal on grounds of “hometown loyalty” and the need for “urban redevelopment” in King County.
“We’ve both been spammed by Sonics fans,” she said. “I received 13,000 emails from Sonics fans wanting me to revisit the issue.”
Instead, Rolfes said she’ll focus on “kitchen table issues – the things regular people care about.”
Rolfes pledged to work on ferry fare reductions and to improve health care coverage for children.
Appleton said she’ll continue to tackle payday lenders, which are allowed under state law to charge up to 1,400 percent interest on loans.
“To me, that’s robbery,” Appleton said.
She will also pick up where she left off during the 2007 session on redirecting more of the state gas tax toward offsetting ferry fares.
The luncheon’s audience applauded Rolfes and Appleton for their efforts to improve the ferry system and reduce costs for riders.
“Before this year and for over 25 years we did not have the Legislature supporting us with the ferry system at all,” said Debbie Vancil, a Bainbridge city councilwoman.
-Tristan Baurick
