County Commissioner Greg Brotherton was tossed a hot potato in 2020 when a COVID-related chain of events resulted in an unregulated homeless encampment at the fairgrounds.

What was supposed to be an emergency stop-gap to get unhoused people out of dense indoor space became semi-permanent after the state’s Attorney General ruled that the eviction moratorium applied to those at the campground, designating them tenants. Since no one had planned for this, the encampment lacked structure and regulation, resulting in an extremely stressful situation for neighbors, the fair association, service providers, law enforcement and the unhoused population itself.

Greg met the challenge head on, bringing people together to meet and discuss the situation. These “stakeholder” meetings became a regular weekly Zoom occurrence. As soon as it was safe, the meetings were held in person at the fairgrounds and drew a growing number of participants, including some of those staying at the campground.

As a neighbor to the fairgrounds, I witnessed the situation at the campground and the impact to the neighborhood — the strife and the stress — on a daily basis and became a regular participant in the stakeholder meetings. While some were intent on finger-pointing, denying a problem existed, or passively assuming the role of victim, Greg actively sought solutions to this complex and highly charged issue.

Greg proved an excellent leader and problem-solver. He led with competence, compassion, humor and good cheer, addressing the immediate concerns and attempting to ameliorate the situation until the moratorium was lifted, all the while working diligently to secure a place for people to go when it was, which he succeeded in doing.

I had many interactions with Greg and found him to be very approachable, responsive, earnest and forthright. Please join me in supporting Greg Brotherton in his bid for re-election to county council.

Linda Noble
PORT TOWNSEND