Poulsbo Councilwoman says opponent ‘out of touch’ with

constituents.

With more than a decade of experience on the Poulsbo City Council, Connie Lord has decided to take on state Sen. Phil Rockefeller in the upcoming November general election.

Lord, who also served as former 23rd District state Rep. Bev Woods campaign manager in the 2005 election, acknowledged that Rockefeller has done much for the district, but added, “he seems to have lost touch with the majority of the district.”

Although the district has strong liberal views in some areas, the majority of the district is moderate in its views and those views aren’t being represented in Olympia, she said.

The decision to take on such a formidable, well-liked state legislator wasn’t one that was made overnight, she said.

“It’s something I really started considering beginning in January, and I had to make sure that I was ready to do the job,” she said.

Although she discussed her ultimate decision with trusted confidants, the final call was hers, she said.

“I’m going down there to represent the taxpayer,” she said, noting that property values have increased by 20 to 30 percent each year creating an undue tax burden on the working class, which can’t afford to continue paying the additional tax bill.

Something must be done to address that issue, but so far state legislators have done little to make a positive impact on the problem, she said.

The ferries system, which finally became the hot-button issue during the last state legislative session, should have never gotten to its current inadequate condition, she said.

“The ferries bills were long overdue, but it’s something they (the 23rd district delegation including Sen. Rockefeller) are responsible for what’s happened over the years,” Lord said.

If proactive measures had been taken, then the residents of the 23rd District, which has four ferry terminals, wouldn’t be facing the challenges of coping with an inadequate transportation system, she said.

Another issue Lord hopes to address if elected is the impact of unfunded state mandates on cities, which are facing financial crises of their own, she said.

An example of this is the next phase of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, which sets standards for water quality, she said.

The cost of meeting those standards could be quite costly for many cities, which will ultimately be passed onto the taxpayer, she said.

While some elements of the state’s Growth Management Act have worked well, there are some annexation issues that need to be addressed, she said. That is particularly important for a city like Poulsbo, which annexed most of its Urban Growth Area.

At the end of the day the residents of the 23rd District need a legislator who will truly represent their interests and understands how what happens in Olympia doesn’t stay in Olympia: it impacts Kitsap County and other parts of the state as well, she said.

During her campaign, Lord said she hopes to hear from as many constituents as possible and to that end. Lord can reached by e-mail at connielord44@yahoo.com, by phone at (360) 649-8305 or by mail at P.O. Box 71, Poulsbo, WA 98370.