November 5, 2013 election, candidates

Its that time again, an election – which means its time for Marianne’s election crib sheet. We have almost no contested positions this time, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have important questions.

I have not listed all the many positions on the ballot county-wide. Sorry, my focus is south Whidbey. But if you want information about those other positions and the people running for them, here’s a website with the names and contact information:

https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/elections/Candidates/WhoFiled?countyCode=IS

Whidbey Island Public Hospital District General Obligation Bonds

The Board of Commissioners of Whidbey Island Public Hospital District adopted Resolution No 337 concerning a proposition to improve the District’s health care facilities. This proposition would authorize the District to expand and improve Whidbey General Hospital, including constructing a new inpatient wing for critical care, obstetrics and medical/surgical patients, and make other improvements; issue up to $50,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within twenty-six (26) years to pay for such improvements; and levy annual excess property taxes to pay and retire the bonds, all as priced in Resolution 337.

Should this proposition be approved or rejected?

Approved

Rejected

This is one of those situations where I know I’m being had, but can’t put my finger on how its being done. Yes, the hospital is old. Yes, the new standard is for single patient rooms. Yes, there are new infections out there which require isolation. So why am I still skeptical?

One thing I want to know is how much sustainability is being designed into this new wing. Will it be solar oriented? Will it be thoroughly insulated? Will it integrate recycling into the structure? This is the stage where these questions need to be considered, and I have not heard anything about that.

All of my reservations aside, I will be voting to APPROVE the hospital levy.

https://www.whidbeygen.org/about-wgh/about-the-2013-hospital-bond

And now, finally, we get to actual human candidates – and find that for most positions there is no competition. People are running unopposed. I’m not even going to bother commenting on single-candidate races.  And in the only few contested races, well . . .

Public Hospital District

Commissioner, position 2

Non-partisan office, 2 year unexpired term

Georgia Gardner

Commissioner, position 3

Nonpartisan office, 6 year term

Ron Wallin

South Whidbey School District

Director, position 2

Non-partisan office, 4 year term

Fred O’Neal

Director, position 5

Nonpartisan office, 4 year term

Rocco J Gianni

            Mr Gianni is a long time and much loved teacher at south Whidbey. He cares fiercely about kids, and it shows. He is also a bit of a flake. I think he could do well on the school board if others on the board remind him of deadlines and issues. I think his decisions will always be based on what is best for the kids rather than what is most convenient or easiest for administration.

Betty Bond

            Ms Bond appears to be a highly qualified administrator. I have not spoken with her, and what has been written does not reveal how she feels about kids. Her short time on the island is a disadvantage. We have seen other relative newcomers make extremely unpopular decisions based on a lack of local history. Trying to shut down the middle school would fall into that category.

            I truly have not made up my mind between these two. I will try to attend some of the candidate nights to see what more I can glean. I’ll update the Politiblog if/when I have more information.

Port of South Whidbey

Commissioner, position 3

Non-partisan office, 6 year term

Curt Gordon

            Curt used to be a good guy. He did good things on the Conservation Futures Technical Advisory Group. I watched him try to minimize the damage being proposed on Glendale Road after the great washout of 1997. And then he became a Port commissioner. He traded in his white hat for a very black one. Now he’s in it for the bucks. He’s pushing the cell tower application on the Possession Point ridge – where it will trash a part of the Dorothy Cleveland Trail and endanger communities at both Possession Point and Sandy Hook. I cannot and will not vote for Curt Gordon.

Ed Jenkins

            Sadly, Curt’s only opposition is Ed Jenkins, a loose cannon who is more dangerous to his friends than to his enemies. He has serious anger management issues. He claims to have done everything and been everywhere, but when it comes to producing actual results, not so much. I cannot and will not vote for Ed Jenkins.

            That leaves an empty space. I recommend a write-in for “none of the above.”

South Whidbey Fire/EMS

Commissioner, position 2

Non-partisan office 6 year term

Kenon J Simmons

South Whidbey  Parks & Recreation

Commissioner, position 2

Non-partisan office, 4 year short and full term

Mark F Helpenstell

Commissioner, position 3

Non –partisan office, 4 year term

I don’t know either of the two candidates, other than comments I’ve seen on line from Captn Blynd and the stories in the Record. There are two issues which are very important to me at Parks & Rec. 1. I really want a community swimming pool. 2. I want the open spaces managed by Parks & Rec to remain genuine open spaces, not groomed sports fields.

Both candidates say they will work toward the goal of a community pool. Good. Bob Hezel says he wants more developed recreation, including at “Trustland Trails”, the 200 acres between Craw Road and Pioneer Park. That land was acquired from Dept of Natural Resources by Whidbey Camano Land Trust and transferred to South Whidbey Parks & Rec. There was an agreement to keep the land in its natural condition, with perhaps a few trails. That was somehow not included in the transfer documents, so the promise remains verbal only. Obviously Mr Hezel doesn’t know about that promise. I did find uTube videos about Mr Hezel downhill mountain biking on Whidbey island.

My impression is that Mr Hezel does not appreciate leaving wild places alone. As of 10-19  I have posted a query on Captn Blynd’s Facebook page. I couldn’t find any contact info for Bob Hezel.

Captn Blynd    https://www.facebook.com/captn.blynd

Bob Hezel, Jr

I think I’ll be voting for Captn Blynd.

Commissioner, position 5

Non-partisan office, 4 year term

Matthew E Simms

For central Whidbey residents, there are two important positions on the Port of Coupeville

Port of Coupeville

Commissioner, District 2

Jim Patton – according to the Whidbey Examiner, he is running to continue Benye Weber’s work and policies on the Port District. Good reason to vote against him.

Bill Larsen – 48, retired Navy, substance abuse counselor, looking to ‘get involved with the community.’ “interested in maintaining a balance of promoting the Greenbank Farm while preserving and maintaining the landscape.” Applied for Port District manager.

From what little I’ve been able to find, I would vote for Bill Larsen if I had the option.

Commissioner, District 3

Richard G Bowen – retired real estate developer, thinks there are more constructive ag ways to use the open spaces at Greenbank farm. “there’s got to be some use for that open space.” Member of WCLT. Sat on Bainbridge city council in 1980s. 

Hot news in the Whidbey Examiner of 10-24-13 to the effect that Mr Bowen was lead partner in a shady development deal in Montana (325 houses on 260 acres) which lost its permits because of unreported environmental impacts, leaving a lot of very unhappy investors. Mr Bowen has claimed that his experience as an environmental developer would help the Port in dealing with Greenbank Farm.

Mike Diamanti – appointed incumbent. Has served on various port committees.

I have heard complaints about Mike Diamanti, but I have not heard that he wants to develop the Greenbank farm. When someone says he’s looking for a ‘use’ for open space, especially someone who is a retired developer, I vote against him. If I were voting in the Coupeville district, I would vote for Mike Diamanti.