Last week: With gas prices rising, do you find yourself driving less? Results: Yes: 45%, No: 55%
OPINION Port Orchard
Page A6
Question of the week
This week’s online question:
Do you think the city will hire a woman as police chief in the next 20 years? Last week: Have you planned your summer vacation? Results: Yes: 45%, No: 55%
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Friday, May 23, 2014 • Port Orchard Independent
IN OUR OPINION
Contribute to dialogue regarding candidates
I
t’s election season, and what an election season it will be: 55 candidates filed to run for 28 offices countywide. Only sheriff candidate Gary Simpson, treasurer candidate Meredith Green, public utility commission candidate Jim Civilla, and some judge candidates are running unopposed. The primary election is Aug. 5, the general election is Nov. 4. We welcome letters to the editor about candidates and the issues. To ensure there is a place on our Opinion pages for as many voices as possible, here’s a reminder of our policy on election-related letters to the editor. 1. The word limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. If your letter exceeds the word limit, we may edit it or return it to you so you can edit it. 2. Letter writers are limited to one letter a month. This helps ensure that there is room for as many voices as possible. 3. Letters must include name, address and telephone number for verification purposes. 4. Letters we will not publish: Letters from candidates, their families and campaign managers; form letters; and letters that are submitted anonymously. (Candidates, take note: On our news pages, we will cover your campaigns and let readers know about upcoming candidate forums and campaign appearances.) The purpose of our Opinion pages is to foster conversation and reflective thought. We ask writers to be respectful, refrain from personal attacks, and stay focused on issues. Many times, a letter will prompt a response from another reader. That’s great, but we sometimes have to remind writers that when they start a conversation by submitting a letter, they shouldn’t expect an opportunity to pen a response to everyone who disagrees with them. If we allowed response-to-response letters, our Opinion pages would be dominated by fewer voices repeating the same points and issues they had raised in previous editions, and there would be no room for other writers to share their viewpoints. We realize it can be tough for some people to not get the last word SEE OPINION, A7
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Leaders forged future of forest, fish
B
illy Frank, Jr. and Stu Bledsoe came from My Turn very different backgrounds, yet their friendship and determination laid the groundwork for what today is known as Washington’s historic Forests and Fish agreement. Those accords paved the way to revitalized wild salmon habitats, cleaner water and better forest management. Frank, who died early this Don Brunell month, was raised along the Nisqually River. An avid fisherman, he was arrested more than 50 times defending tribal fishing rights. Frank’s activism earned the respect of tribal leaders and others. He served as the chair of the Northwest Indian Commission for 30 years. His father was a vice admiral in the U.S. Navy. A graduate of UCLA, Bledsoe was a World War II fighter pilot who settled on his Ellensburg cattle ranch. He rose through the ranks of the state legislature and was appointed Secretary of Agriculture by Gov. Dan Evans in 1976.
Thanking foster parents for their service
In 1978, Bledsoe became Executive Director of the Washington Forest Protection Association, the state’s private forestland organization. Bledsoe was raised with financial means. Billy was not. Stu spoke for forest landowners. Franks spoke for the tribes. A landmark decision by Tacoma federal judge George Boldt brought them together. In 1974, Boldt ruled that tribal fishermen had the right to half the salmon harvest. Bledsoe soon realized that the most crucial part of Boldt’s ruling was the mandate that the state protect fish habitat. Since salmon spend a critical part of their young lives in streams and rivers flowing through Washington’s 23 million acres of forestlands, traditional logging and forest management practices would have to change dramatically. Roads would be constructed differently; clearcuts would be smaller and land along streams, near wetlands and on steep slopes would be put off limits. It would be an expensive proposition. Bledsoe had to convince forest landowners to make the changes. Frank had to persuade tribal leaders to trust SEE BRUNELL, A7
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Foster parents dedicated to providing specialized therapeutic foster care homes as part of the Intensive Children’s Services therapeutic foster care program were recently honored with a luncheon on May 9 at West Sound Technical Institute’s Three Seasons Restaurant. These extraordinary and talented community members have been improving the
lives of foster youth with behavioral and emotional needs through Kitsap Mental Health Services’ Intensive Children’s Services foster care program. As foster parents, they have given years of service to help local foster youth stabilize their behaviors and their lives through their commitment to providing caring foster homes. Our foster parents have been doing wonderful work with local foster youth and their dedication to
the children in their care deserves more recognition than is possible in any one afternoon together. We know that many children in our schools and in our communities have had their lives redirected and restored through the dedication and care of our foster parents. Thank you for all that you do! Lindsey Phillips | Intensive Children’s Services Foster Care Licensor and Recruiter, KMHS
Write to us: The Independent welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be typewritten and not exceed 300 words. Send letters to P.O. Box 27, Port Orchard, WA 98366, or fax to (360) 876-4458, or email to editor@portorchardindependent.com. 2497 Bethel Road, Suite 102, Port Orchard 98366 or Administrative Office: 3888 NW Randall Way, Suite 100 Silverdale, WA 98383 Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Independent or its staff