HERALD NORTH K ITSAP
Friday, November 11, 2011 | Vol. 110, No. 45 | WWW.NORTHKITSAPHERALD.COM | 50¢
Rob Gelder ... holds onto lead in race for Kitsap County Commission, District 1
Scott Henden ... replaces Val Torrens on North Kitsap School Board
Jim Rutledge ... replaces Arnie Bockus on Poulsbo Port Commission
kitsapweek
KITSAP WEEK: ■ Beat the winter blues. Beatthe ■ It’s 11/11/11. Here’s what it winter blues means. N o v e m b e r 11 - 1 7, 2 0 11
By RICHARD WALKER rwalker@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder’s lead in his bid for another year on the job held Wednesday after another 6,000 ballots were counted by the Kitsap County Auditor Elections Department. Another estimated 19,000 ballots were still to be counted Thursday. But after Wednesday’s vote, Democrat Gelder’s lead over Republican Chris Tibbs grew from 1,487 to 1,587 votes, although his lead percentage shrank from 3.7 percent to 3.5
Two new members of North Kitsap School Board percent. The Wednesday ballot count gave Gelder 26,658 votes, Tibbs 25,071. The next update was expected Thursday by 5 p.m., according to the Kitsap County Auditor’s website. Gelder, appointed to the commission in March after Steve Bauer resigned, and Tibbs, sales manager for a coffee company, are vying for the right to serve the remainder of Bauer’s term, which expires at the end of 2012. Commissioners earn $109,907 per year; they approve laws, set See GELDER, Page A2
By KIPP ROBERTSON krobertson@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — From campaign to election, Scott Henden’s priorities have remained the same: the budget and superintendent search. Henden defeated Val Torrens Tuesday for North Kitsap School Board District 4. Updated election results Wednesday showed Henden with 5,865 votes to 5,029 for Torrens, the school board president. Henden is one of two new school board members. Bill Webb ran unopposed for Ed Strickland’s District 5 position. Webb is busi-
week’s
highlights
EDGAR CRUZ PERFORMS
Performs Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Bremerton Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St., Bremerton. Individual tickets $30, season subscription is $50. Info: www.kitsapconcerts.org. Cruz will perform classical, jazz, Latin, pop guitar pieces. Cruz performs more than 200 concerts a year and has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and South America.
COOKING UP BIG TASTE IN A SKILLET Following up their successful “Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook” (2004), Sharon Kramis and Julie Kramis Hearne bring a whole world of spices, herbs and preparations to their new cookbook, “Cast Iron Skillet Big Flavors.” Meet the Seattle-based motherdaughter team and learn how they do it. Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Poulsbo Library, 700 NE Lincoln Road. Free.
Shorter days and cloudy skies can leave you feeling down-in-the-dumps Story, page 2
— In this edition
A section of the Bainbridge Island Review | Bremerton Patriot | Central Kitsap Reporter | North Kitsap Herald | Port Orchard Independent
Walt Elliott ... new member of Kingston Port Commission
ness development manager for Parametrix, an engineering firm. The election will be certified on Nov. 29. School board members are sworn in Dec. 1. Henden said he will first put together a profile of what he wants to see in the next superintendent. He understands he is one of five members, but would like to see a superintendent who respects more “traditional values.” The win was a sweet one for Henden, who previously ran unsuccessfully for county commission and fire commission. “First thing’s first,” Henden said. “I’m grateful for those who have worked for me and voted for me … It says people are ready to think about getting away from the status quo.” Henden was not endorsed by any office holders or media outlet See SCHOOL BOARD, Page A3
More coverage inside: City Council races, page A13 / Port commission races, pages A14-15
REAL ESTATE
NOW
LIFE AND CULTURE
Voters shake things up Gelder holds onto lead in race for County Commission
Flip Over For
KITSAP
Classifieds
Council closes budget gap From $474K to $83K; next meeting Nov. 16 By MEGAN STEPHENSON mstephenson@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — The 2012 preliminary budget gap was cut from $474,117 to $87,603 Wednesday, after the City Council approved recommendations from Mayor Becky Erickson and the council’s finance committee. “We’re within sight now. We can do this,” Councilman Jeff Bauman said after the nearly four-hour session. After getting nowhere during the council’s budget retreat last week, the council once again reviewed potential changes to the preliminary budget at its regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday. As Erickson put it, Poulsbo was facing the “trifecta” of financial woes: declining revenue, increasing costs and the addition of the new City Hall’s mortgage. The finance department is
Poulsbo Village Burger King robbed; suspect ties up employees, flees on foot By RICHARD WALKER rwalker@northkitsapherald.com
POULSBO — The Burger King on 7th Avenue in Poulsbo Village was robbed shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday. The suspect bound the
employees with zip ties and left the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. Deputy Police Chief Wendy Davis said the suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, 5 feet
7 to 5 feet 8 inches tall, medium build, wearing a hoodie, a black coat, skater-style tennis shoes, blue or black pants, light brown leather gloves, and a scarf over See ROBBERY, Page A3
The Voice of North Kitsap since 1901. E-mail cdano@northkitsapherald.com for convenient home delivery
See BUDGET, Page A12
A security camera in the Burger King in Poulsbo Village captured this image of the suspect in Thursday’s armed robbery.
Poulsbo Police Department