Patriot Bremerton
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013 | Vol. 16, No. 1 www.bremertonpatriot.com | 50¢
Sec. Mabus says he’s preparing for the worst, hoping for the best By KEVAN MOORE
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Kitsap
Wedding Expo Saturday, February 16, 2013 • 10am - 5pm • Kitsap Sun Pavilion
Goin’ to the chapel Wedding expo set for Feb. 16. Find it inside Kitsap Week.
Strachan chosen to be Bremerton’s next police chief
kmoore@soundpublishing.com
By KEVAN MOORE
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus met with hundreds of sailors at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton Wednesday afternoon where he spoke briefly and performed a reenlistment ceremony. Fire Controlman 2nd Class Elizabeth Rupert said it was a “total honor” to be able to meet the secretary. “He said a lot of things that are relevant to ordinary sailors like ourselves,” she said. “He said we’ll be taken care of and our families will be taken care of.” Speaking to the media after the closed ceremony, Secretary Mabus said he talked about the budget which he said is on everybody’s mind, but also let them know that no active duty sailor, Marine or family will receive pay or benefit changes. “But, it will have some big effects on the Navy,” Mabus added. He said that should sequestration, or across the board cuts, occur in March the Navy will lose about $4 billion. In addition, Congress’ failure to pass a 2013 defense budget, and instead choosing to act under what’s called a continuing resolution, will spell another $4.6 billion loss to the Navy.
kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Bremerton’s city council was expected to approve a contract this week with former King County Sheriff Steve Strachan to make him the city’s new chief of police. Mayor Patty Lent briefed the council Monday, following Strachan’s acceptance of her offer. She told the council it was a choice, she emphasized, that came following unanimous recommendations by a wide range of panelists that interviewed Strachan and four other finalists throughout an entire day last week. Pending council approval, Strachan (pronounced Stran) could start work as early as next week. City Councilman Jim McDonald, who sat on the interview panels, spoke highly of the sessions and the outcome. Kevan Moore/Staff Photo
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a process where so many people were involved and everybody was so sure that this was the right person for the job,” McDonald said. Strachan, too, praised the process, noting that it gave him several opportunities to interact with line officers and command staff. He said that he didn’t apply for many other jobs because “Bremerton is on the upswing” and the department is in “pretty good shape and headed in the right direction.” He also spoke about his excitement to get back in charge of a municipal police force. “I really like being a chief,” he said by phone while out of town this week on a pre-planned trip. “I’m really proud to be in law enforcement and excited about getting to work in Bremerton.” See CHIEF, A8
Hundreds of sailors and Marines turned out to see Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Wednesday. Many also lined up for a photo with the secretary.
Bremerton port CEO Former councilwoman is back on board proposes layoffs, cuts See MABUS, A8
By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Bremerton city council members selected Wendy Priest to serve the remainder of former councilman Roy Runyon’s term in District 4. Priest, who served on the council from 2004 to 2007, was among five finalists interviewed over the course of about an hour Monday at city hall. The council then went into an executive session for about twenty minutes before emerging to vote, in three rounds, to secure a five-member majority to appoint Priest. During her brief interview with the council, Priest highlighted her former experience on the council, saying that it often takes newcomers “six months or longer to get an understanding of how the city works” whereas she has “the experience to jump in” right away. She also noted that she spent many hours studying utility rates
during her time on the council, something that the city council is currently addressing. Priest, an interior designer, stay at home mom and volunteer, talked about continuing efforts to revitalize downtown with a focus on walkability and business retention. She also pledged that she will only serve through the end of her appointment and not campaign for election in November. Runyon announced in early January that he was resigning due to a move out of the district. The other applicants to replace him included Anita Lynn Albright, a Realtor who serves on a variety of nonprofit boards; Jerald McDonald, a retired Harborside Condominium Association president who has been working on increasing Bremerton tourism; Dino Davis, a Realtor, Kiwanian and Union Hill Neighborhood Association member; and See COUNCILWOMAN, A9
By KEVAN MOORE
kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Port of Bremerton CEO Tim Thomson outlined Tuesday night a restructuring and downsizing plan he told commissioners could save the agency an estimated $443,555 a year. It will also cost five jobs. The cost savings, achieved through layoffs, management restructuring and the recent resignation by the director of marine facilities, is close
to the roughly $365,000 the port is losing every year at the mostly empty Bremerton Marina. It also comes quickly on the heels of the rejection by commissioners of two bids to privatize the marina. Under Thomson’s plan, the Bremerton and Port Orchard marinas would have one marina operations manager instead of two and all port maintenance would be consolidated into one See CEO, A8