The Kitsap County Commission has a new member.

Linda Streissguth has officially been sworn in as the representative for the Central Kitsap area.

Streissguth was one of three nominees selected by the Kitsap Democratic Party and ultimately chosen by commissioners Rob Gelder and Charlotte Garrido to serve.

As a community engagement manager for Puget Sound Energy, Streissguth has the skills to communicate, not only with the other commissioners and county staff, but also with those she represents.

The decision  to choose her wasn’t without some controversy. Streissguth wasn’t the Democrat who received the most votes during the nomination process.

She wasn’t even the runner-up. But regardless of that, she has excellent knowledge of business and government operations.

She understands the relationship between private and public partnerships.

She’s experienced in budgeting and watching taxpayers’ dollars.

And she is well-schooled in the issues that face Kitsap County.

Streissguth has worked with community groups in the past and realizes the crucial need for public input before decisions are made by government officials.

She has a track record of listening to others and taking their concerns into consideration before making decisions.

As Gelder and Garrido stated, Streissguth is someone who can compromise in order to get things done.

She’s willing to work within the system and be a contributor, especially for Central Kitsap. In accepting the job, she said she’s already studying what’s next for the Central Kitsap Community Center in Silverdale.

We owe former commissioner John Brown a “thank you” for his dedication to Central Kitsap and his service on the Kitsap County Commission.

We wish him well in his new position with the Puget Sound Regional Council.

Now is the time to acknowledge Streissguth as our new county commissioner and to support her.

Now is the time to let her know what’s important to Central Kitsap so that she can fulfill her job as our representative, working with the other commissioners to achieve great things for Kitsap County.