Patriot Bremerton
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2013 | Vol. 16, No. 29 www.bremertonpatriot.com | 50¢
WINE-SOAKED Kitsap Wine Fest draws crowds to Harborside to sip and savor Page 15
Young Japanese visitors hit the shooting range By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Kevan Moore/ staff photo
Mina Sasaki, 16, visiting Bremerton for a few weeks this summer from Kure, Japan, fires a .38 revolver at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club Monday evening. Looking on is gun range officer Marcus Carter.
Three Japanese youngsters taking part in the City of Bremerton/Bremerton Central Lions Club student exchange program are heading back home with a bang. Sixteen-year-olds Kanako Matsutani, Mina Sasaki and Gehshi Toyota visited the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club Monday evening to learn how to safely handle and fire a variety of weapons. The youngsters from Kure, Japan arrived in Bremerton July 26 and were set to head home Aug. 22. This marks the 44th year of the exchange
program with Bremerton’s Sister City. Bob Battin, who chairs the exchange program, describes himself as a gun enthusiast and advocate and brought most of the weapons for the kids to learn how to safely handle and shoot. “We’ve done it almost every single year,” he said of the gun range visit. “We contact each of the host parents to make sure it’s okay; if they have a problem with kids coming out to the gun range, that’s okay, too.” Battin said the fact that firearm ownership is illegal in Japan makes the youngSee Shooting Range, A17
Council candidates struggle to say Perfecting budget is no easy task for something nice about each other By KEVAN MOORE kmoore@soundpublishing.com
Former Bremerton City Council colleagues Faye Flemister and Roy Runyon, who are both vying for the seat to represent an expanded District 6 in this November’s Faye Flemister election, seemed hardpressed to say something nice about each other during an Eggs and Issues debate this week. The traditional “say-something-niceabout-your-opponent Roy Runyon question,” which comes just before closing remarks, seemed to temporarily flummox both candidates. “Ummm,” Flemister, who holds the seat and responded first, said, before a roar of laughter. “I just gotta do one, right? More laughter. “Mr. Runyon is persistent,” she said.
Runyon, who served on the council in the District 4 seat for five years up until January when he moved to the same newly expanded district that Flemister has represented for one term, also had trouble with the question. “The thing about Faye is she is a business owner,” he said. “She understands what it takes to run a business and I think that’s great. Talk about needing persistence and determination, you know, toughing things out. So, I really appreciate that about her. It really builds strength that comes from within deep inside.” Runyon, though, didn’t leave it there. “But we need more than that …” he said before being drowned out by the audience with a mixture of moans and laughter. While the tail end of the debate was the most obvious example of the chilly relationship between the candidates, it was far from Tuesday’s only example. They seemed incapable, in fact, of even being able to look at one another. At one point, the candidates were asked about what city council members have endorsed each of them and how their colleagues would describe them.
“Anybody who really knows me, knows how I operate,” Runyon said. “I do my homework, I ask tough questions and I hold people accountable. People are intimidated by that. My fellow council members are intimidated by that. But that’s okay, I’m not there for them, I’m there for the citizens. I don’t go along to get along.” Runyon said he thinks his approach earns him respect, but underscored his point that people who aren’t adequately prepared to debate him end up getting intimidated. He said that the council needs leadership, “even if you sometimes have to drag them by the nose; they need to wake up.” Flemister, though, wasn’t having it. “I’m not intimidated by anybody,” she said. “I stand my own ground. I’m a big girl and can handle the tough questions. I’m endorsed by all of the city council and I do believe I have earned their respect as well as the administration’s respect.” When asked about legislation that each of them sponsored during their time on the council, the candidates continued to take See CANDIDATEs, A17
school districts By Seraine Page spage@soundpublishing.com
The budget is looking a bit better this year for local school districts, but it still isn’t what either district would call ideal. The Bremerton School District met last Thursday to adopt their final budget. Although last year was worse financially for the Bremerton School District, this year isn’t fantastic by any stretch of the imagination. “Last year was worse. We’re a little better because we got some money from the state,” said Wayne Lindberg, director of finance and operations. “It’s still not what I’d consider a great
budget, but it is what it is.” Revenue for the 20132014 is expected to be right around $58.3 million with carryover and reserves. Expenditures will be hitting right around $56.4 million. The balance will be about $1.9 million, above the standard board policy of maintaining a 3 percent reserve Lindberg said. “We’re eating into our reserves a little bit,” he said. Compared to last year, the district had a difference of $131,125, which was the lowest it has been since 2010. Impacts on the new budget include sequestration reductions, pension See Budget, A17