Kitsap County legislators remain united against the NASCAR plan.
Two weeks into the 2007 state legislative session, there’s still no sign of a bill supporting the construction of a NASCAR raceway in Kitsap County, nor is there a legislative sponsor for a bill.
International Speedway spokesman Lenny Santiago said Monday that legislation would be submitted “in the next couple of weeks” and that a sponsor would be announced at that time.
In the meantime, anti-racetrack activists have their ear to the ground, attempting to mobilize email campaigns as soon as they hear of a sponsor.
“A lot of times, politicians will suggest supporting something as a trial balloon just to see the reaction,” said track foe Ray McGovern of Port Orchard. “If someone does this and they get enough letters from us, then we can take the air out of that balloon.”
Last week, McGovern sent out a message identifying Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish) as a possible sponsor, and encouraged those on his 500-person mailing list to make their opinions known. A few hours later he retracted the message, saying that Dunshee was not the sponsor.
“A source in Dunshee’s office denies that he is sponsoring the bill,” McGovern said. “It’s like the news business. You should have two sources for every rumor.”
McGovern said he is talking to his legislative sources on a regular basis and reacting to any suggestion of a sponsor. On Monday, he sent out a letter repeating the assertion that Dunshee was a sponsor, along with Sen. James Hargrove (D-Hoquiam).
Neither Dunshee nor Hargrove responded to queries about their involvement on Monday. Both reported receiving several public inquiries about their sponsorship.
Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-Bainbridge Island) also approached Dunshee about his possible sponsorship. He asked how Dunshee would feel if Rockefeller sponsored a bill for a project in Snohomish that was opposed by local legislators.
Snohomish County was the first choice for the racetrack, but residents there rallied against the project when it was learned the county would be required to foot the entire bill.
The retooled proposal, which split the $345 million construction cost with the county, was then proposed for Kitsap.
Of all local legislators, only Sen. Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) has not indicated opposition to the racetrack bill.
The International Speedway Corp., which wants to develop the track near Bremerton Airport, announced its intention to build the track in 2005.
It declined to sponsor a bill for the 2006 state Legislature, saying it needed time to write the legislation, find a sponsor and generate public support.
Rockefeller said many of his constituents contacted him after a recent ISC mailing to underscore their opposition to the track – a response different than the ISC mailing intended.
“I received only 10 emails for the track, but about 35 against,” Rockefeller said.
