Friday, November 1, 2013 • Bainbridge Island Review
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council CONTINUED FROM A1
As someone who has committed his life to communications as opposed to city utilities, he describes himself as hands-off when it comes to city management. “Hands-off” is not to say his experience hasn’t given him the necessary tools to take on a city council position. “When I was chair of National Public Radio, we hired the president — which is to say the city manager,” Roth explained. “We set performance goals and strategic measurements and measurable objectives … then you go through the process of prioritization and out of that you get to budget, because you never have money,” he continued. Roth explained that, as a former board member with NPR and the general manager of KUOW, he knows the budget is the ultimate planning document, and it is the council’s biggest duty. “It’s the one with all the power, because you can work and get things done,” Roth said. Buetow, on the other hand, brings a slightly differ-
Wayne Roth
Arlene Buetow
Wayne Roth
Age: 70 Occupation: president and general manager of KUOW Public Radio. Website: rothforbain bridge.org Fun fact: I have a lifelong interest in photography. ent approach to the council’s budgeting duties. “(The Utility Advisory Committee) really informed me that part of the problem with utilities — and I’m a specialist in utility finance — part of the problem with utilities was governance,” Buetow said. She explained that as a member of the UAC she has gotten to know how governance influences the utilities’ budget. However, if elected as a council member, she said she will eagerly take on the task of planning the city’s
Arlene Buetow Age: 56 Occupation: Retired. Website: www. Arlene4Bainbridge. blogspot.com Fun fact: Decided to move to Bainbridge after one of many bicycling adventures. overall biannual budget by not blindly accepting everything put before the dais. “I think that the big picture of what needs to be done to reform and make these things more efficient and effective has to apply to the whole governance,” she said. “I think it’s the responsibility of the council to direct, to provide leadership and to make sure that the tax dollars are well-spent,” she said. “And that requires a willingness, and I have the knowledge to investigate things that are put before you.”
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This past August, Buetow’s investigations and concern over the city’s utilities manifested itself in private email conversations between her and four city council members. The conversations resulted in a public records lawsuit against the city involving three of the council members who did not turn over the emails when a public records request came later. Critics question whether this form of communication will carry over onto the dais if she is elected to the council. “I will follow the rules as they are explained to me,” Buetow said. “I have never been a city official. I’m not a city employee. I don’t know what the rules are as they apply to them,” she said. Buetow further explained that her communication with the council members was not advice given on behalf of the UAC. “I’m a citizen. I’m a ratepayer. I’m a highly involved individual in this community whether I’m on the Utility Advisory Committee or not,” she said. “I’ve always communicated with anyone who cared about what was going on in city hall, friends, associates.
I continued on in the same pattern that I had communicated with (particular council members) over time.” “No one ever told me I wasn’t supposed to do that,” Buetow added. Buetow also said that adverse opinions from council members Bob Scales and Kirsten Hytopoulos kept her from engaging them in her communications. “When I was reappointed to the Utility Advisory Committee, Bob Scales and Kirsten Hytopoulos spoke publicly from the dais that they had no respect for me, they never wanted to hear anything from me, they didn’t want to listen to me, they wouldn’t listen to me and they didn’t think I should be reappointed to that committee,” Buetow said. Aside from her communications with city council members and staff, Buetow has also been criticized for not logging consistent minutes for UAC meetings and questioning whether the committee falls under the Open Public Meetings Act. Roth said that in contrast to Buetow’s methods for conducting business, he has always worked in an environment marked by open meetings and records.
“My question to (Arlene) ... Why do you need legal guidance to do anything for the city and not keep it open?” Roth asked. “Why should not all of the city’s business be in the open?” “I not only support (the Open Public Records and Meetings Acts), I just feel it’s so essential as part of trusting government,” he added. Despite the criticisms, Buetow said this election year is a new opportunity for cooperation and collaboration. Buetow said open communication will be vital for a constructive organization. “I’m willing to accept the fact that you make a decision and move on, as we all should be,” Buetow said. “But the one thing that makes that really difficult is when you can’t have open communication, when you don’t feel like you’re part of the decision, when you don’t feel like you’ve been heard or that people are willing to listen to all sides of the argument. So I’m hoping in a collaborative, constructive, open, communicative council that everyone will have equal voice. And everyone’s voice will be respected,” she said.
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“ Bainbridge Islanders want leaders who look for solutions, and don’t point fingers. They want representatives who are focused, positive, who have far more ideas than grievances, and who will partner with everyone. My pledge is to be such a leader on City Council.” —Val Tollefson
Endorsed by: Kitsap Sun Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee 23rd Legislative District Democrats Cascade Bicycle Club Sierra Club Gunnar Vizsla Adler Kathleen Alcala Jeanette Alexander Trey Walker & Mary Anderson Bill & Claudia Anderson Susan Marie Andersson Rita Arnstein Emma & Stetson Aubrey Gary & Laurie Axling Steve Baird Ashley L. Baker Jon & Martha Bayley Jan Mulder & Greg Bedinger Tom & Karen Beierle Cathy Bellefeuille Mike & Kathy Bice Heidi & Chris Blair Eric Matthews & Ruth Blaney Ron Boettcher T. William & Beatrice Booth Phil & Ellie Boren Bob Bosserman Jane Bowman Jill Bos Jane Bowman David & Susan Bray Ginny & Tom Brewer Katya Bridwell
Martha Brouwer Charles Browne Jan Buday Terri & John Burkhart Deborah Payne Buitenveld Cynthia Sears & Frank Buxton Rosemary Carraher Bill Carruthers Radolph & Paula Chuka Peter Kauffman & Barbara Clark John & Amy Colley Joan Collins Linda Cox Judy Burnett Cozine Steve Crampton Ken Crawford Rob Crichton Robert William Cromwell Jr. Sheila Curwen Ben Danielson Dave Danielson Bonny Danielson Joth Davis Steve & Harriet Davis Mark & Rebecca Dawson Joyce Depue Lynn De Vree Keira Dooley Carte Dotson Maria & Peter Drury Serena Dubach Helen Dunbar Chuck & Jane Ekberg Anne Ellington John Ellis Kathy Meulen Ellison Cheryle Elmquist Suzanne Enright Kim & Ela Esterberg
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Tom Goodlin & Cestjon McFarland Kathleen McKnight Chris McMasters Stephen Hubbard & Linda Meier Marijane Milton David & Fran Moen Karen Rabinowitz Molinari Dhyana Moyer Clarence Moriwaki Molly Murdock Pam Harrison & Bill Nakao Steve & Anna Neff Mark Lovejoy & Ann New Tom Backer & Jane-Leslie Newberry Dian OBrien Wendy & Peter O’Connor Kristi Nelson O’Connor Laura & Tim O’Mara Laura O’Neill Linda Owens Brenda Padgham Betsy Peabody Ellie Weden Perka Ali Sunderland Perry Barry & Channie Peters Frank Robert Peterson Betty Petras Mike & Molly Pitts Doug & Cassie Picha Jim & LynnPippard Michael L Pontieri Janet Poppers-Hanraha Jill Anne Quick Kirk & Helen Quistorff Bernie Baker & Linda Ray Asha Rehnberg Rosalie Frazier & Ken Rekow
Rosalind Renovard Juli Reynvaan Mike & Faye Richardson Leon & Barbara Robert Phil Rockefeller Rebecca Rockefeller Armando Rojas Julie Rosenblatt Joyce & Alan Rudolph Sharon Ruzumna Ted Rynearson Joel Sackett Randal Samstag Gloria Sayler Charles & Linda Schmidt Mark & Susanne Schneider Bob Seaby Juliet Sears Lynn Oliver & Sam Sharar Janice & Blair Shaw Dave & Alice Shorett Dave & Pauline Simon Lynn & John Sinclair Kassia Sing Julie Skotheim Jim Smith Chris & Cameron Snow Charles & Rebecca Sodikoff Verna Sorensen Regina & Dale Spoor Bonnie Stafford J.D. Stahl Jan Stanton Maxine Steele Evie & George Stege Kim Leatham & Robert Steiner Marilyn & Kjell Stoknes Annette Stollman Frank & Mary Stowell
Art Schneider & Kim Street Paul & Lorraine Svornich Kevin Swan Kate McDill & Deb Sweet Lynda Harwood Swenson Connie Tang Alison Craig & Elliott Taylor Fritz Levy & Nancy Taylor Erin Thomasson Carol Thornburgh Rachelle Thornburgh Dave & Kathleen Thorne Kristin Tollefson Barbara Tolliver Barbara Trafton Steve & JoAnn Trick Timothy Tripp Gary Tusberg Tom & Wendy Tyner Ryan Vancil Karen Conoley & Art Verharen Elaine & Paul VonRosenstiel Connie W. Waddington Viki Walaskay Eric Petersen & Pamela Waller Linda Smith Walsh & Rick Walsh Stuart Walton Janie Walton Patricia Webber
“ Many candidates run for public office with an ax to grind. Val runs because of his commitment to our community and to public service. We need him on Bainbridge City Council.” —Johanna Vander Stoep
Bruce & Judy Weiland John Wilkerson Pamela Williams Steve & Marci Williams Trese & Frank Williamson Delight Willing Don & Judy Willott Barbara Wilson Grant & Barbara Winther Timothy Witten Betsey Wittick Nan Wooldridge Elise Wright Nicola Yarbrough Dallas Young Martha Young