Contradictory things are happening in North Kitsap that cause us to scratch our heads before making a recommendation concerning the Feb. 5 election to change the form of Kitsap County government––also known as the charter.

We encourage you to ponder this information with us as we approach the mail-in ballot election deadline.

Contradictory? Here’s what we mean. When we talk to the folks on the street, most of them don’t know what the charter election is about. They also don’t seem very interested.

However, letters to the editor are pouring into our office. Many of these letters are from concerned individuals who have taken the time to study the charter and want to give their opinion publicly. What does bother us a lot, and it should concern you as well, is that many of the letters are clearly part of an organized partisan letter-writing campaign. We are concerned that what was widely touted as a “nonpartisan” ballot issue has indeed become highly political, and in the case of a few letters–full of downright lies.

Many of the letter writers who are advocating your “yes” vote are well-known Republican conservatives and ultra-conservatives. The folks who are advocating the “no” position tend to be mostly Democrats and more liberal thinkers. We asked ourselves why the political factor had become a factor.

We began to study how the charter would benefit each political party, and more importantly, to ask how would the proposed charter benefit North Kitsap.

Under the proposed charter, Republicans would have an opportunity to gain more representation in county decision-making through two avenues–an increased number of council members (moving from three to five seats) and diminished clout by Bainbridge’s heavily Democratic voting population. Currently, all of Kitsap County votes for commissioner candidates. Bainbridge voters tend to turn out in high numbers to vote––often providing the margin to help elect Democrat commissioner candidates.

Under the proposed charter, Bainbridge would be linked to a contiguous district (that’s us, folks) and could only elect one representative. Bainbridge (linked to us) is still likely to elect a Democrat, but the other areas of the county (which have stronger Republican party ties) could elect Republican council representatives. Theoretically, the charter gives more clout to Republicans, less for Democrats.

“Nonpartisan” lofty ideals for the charter went out the window when the freeholders decided that council members would be elected by district only, not countywide.

It’s clear why the Democrats are against the charter, they stand to lose voting power and clout in the county.

So, what about us in North Kitsap? What could happen to us under the proposed charter? You might be surprised to learn that nobody really can answer that question until after the election.

We do know that some, most, or maybe even “all” of North Kitsap will be lumped into a council district with Bainbridge Island. What we don’t know is whether Poulsbo would end up in the same district with the rest of North Kitsap voters.

Poulsbo could end up being part of a Central Kitsap council district, after the council district maps are drawn. But, you won’t know where Poulsbo falls on the map until after the election, when a “nonpartisan” panel of two Republicans and two Democrats huddle with Karen Flynn to try to set boundaries for council members. (If you’ve never seen political horse trading, it would surely happen at that meeting.)

Oh yes, our neighbors in Port Orchard and South Kitsap? They must be split into more than one district, but they don’t know where that split would fall, either.

It makes little sense to us to vote for a charter that can’t tell us now where our district would be, or if we’re suddenly in two districts, but promises us that the decision will be “reviewed” in two years.

Can somebody explain how the possible splitting of North Kitsap, making us small potatoes in one (or two) of five districts, instead of a strong voice among the current three would benefit anybody?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts as we ponder.