An Open Letter to the Community:

At the same time we are dealing with a crisis of health and its impacts on our economy, mental health and well-being, we are also experiencing a crisis of faith in our government, systems and equality as members of our democratic society.

We, as your elected officials, want to convey to you our steadfast position of respect. A respect for peaceful social discourse. A respect for the uniqueness that enriches our community and lived experience. A respect for the history that has shaped the world around us and the need to address the imperfections that continue to exist.

Kitsap County has over 30 years of commitment to the human rights of all our citizens. The Council for Human Rights began after a cross burning. They have focused on review and protection of our rights in fair employment, housing, and education, for example. They have evolved to create and hold dialogues that continue to foster a culture of empathy, understanding and inclusion.

We stand together with you and our law enforcement agencies in denouncing the death of George Floyd. We stand with our law enforcement leadership and the systems they put in place to provide our community a professional law enforcement built on trust for fair treatment in times of need. Faith and respect for the rule and order of law is born out of a respect and open relationship with the community they are sworn to protect.

Our hope is to use this time to recommit ourselves to the work that will make our community one that is of the people and by the people. Together we keep Kitsap a community in which we can have pride.

— Kitsap Elected Officials: Leslie Daugs, Councilmember, City of Bremerton; Becky Erickson, Mayor, City of Poulsbo; Charlotte Garrido, Commissioner, Kitsap County; Robert Gelder, Commissioner, Kitsap County; Michael Goodnow, Councilmember, City of Bremerton; Andrew Phillips, Councilmember, City of Poulsbo; Rob Putaansuu, Mayor, City of Port Orchard; Leslie Schneider, Mayor, City of Bainbridge Island; Ed Stern, Councilmember, City of Poulsbo; Greg Wheeler, Mayor, City of Bremerton; Edward Wolfe, Commissioner, Kitsap County; Eric Younger, Council President, City of Bremerton