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Students prepare for annual art show See...A12
WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 40 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Emerson seeks Kitsap auditor seat
County plans for Clinton trail
By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record Kelly Emerson hasn’t left politics behind. Emerson surprised many by resigning her position as Island County commissioner earlier this month. She is a Republican and represented District 3. Then last week, she filed in Kitsap County to run for the county auditor position. She is now a Bremerton resident, according to her filing document. In an interview Monday, Emerson said she found that being a commissioner was a bad fit for her. “Frankly, it was just a slow process for being able to have any reward,” she said. “It took so long to make even the most minor change. I’m a person who wants quicker results.” Still, Emerson said she didn’t want the “citizens of Island County’s investment” in her to go to waste, so she decided to seek a different office. She said she’s learned a lot in three years about how county government works. Emerson said she chose to run for auditor because she’s interested in the diverse office, especially the financial division. She wants to ensure transparency and grant compliance. Plus, the current auditor isn’t running again, though there is another candidate in the race. Dolores Gilmore of Port Orchard is running as SEE EMERSON, A24
Justin Burnett / The Record
A pedestrian walks up Highway 525 in Clinton on Monday. Island County is looking at building a paved path from the ferry dock to Ken’s Korner.
Next segment of island-long pedestrian path to begin at ferry By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record Clinton may be the next beneficiary of a longrange county plan to build a paved trail that stretches the length of Whidbey Island. Island County Public Works Director Bill Oakes confirmed plans to fund a $50,000 fea-
sibility study later this year that will examine a proposed path from the Clinton Ferry Terminal to Ken’s Korner. “The idea is to have a trail from the ferry to Langley Road,” Oaks said. “We certainly won’t be able to build it all at once, but that’s the idea.”
Island County has for years worked on a plan to construct a paved trail that snakes along Highway 525 and Highway 20, connecting the ferry terminal in Clinton to Deception Pass Bridge. The project is funding depenSEE TRAIL, A24
Robin Black tapped for city seat Mayor casts decisive vote in appointment By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy cast the tie-breaking vote Monday night in the nomination of Robin Black as the newest city council member. The Langley City Council was
split 2-2 after a 15-minute executive session and a 30-minute interview in public. Councilman Bruce Allen was absent, leading to the tie between candidates Robin Black and Sharon Emerson to fill Margot Jerome’s soon-to-be vacated position number two. Councilwoman Rene Neff and Councilman Thomas Gill voted for Emerson, who is not related to the Island County commissioner Kelly Emerson who recently resigned. Jerome and Councilman Jim Sundberg voted for Black.
The votes cast and evenly split, the chambers fell silent enough to hear the tick-tick-ticking of the analog clock. After asking for any new nominations or any changing votes and receiving neither, McCarthy cast the deciding vote for Black, a 45-year-old small business owner, mother and decadelong Langley resident. Once the decision was made, the candidates left the meeting, SEE BLACK, A14
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Robin Black participates in interviews for a city council seat Monday. She was chosen to fill the seat occupied by Margot Jerome, who has resigned.