Greg Brotherton

Marcia Kelbon

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Marcia Kelbon, a Republican, is challenging Greg Brotherton, the incumbent county commissioner for District 3 and a Democrat, for the District 3 position on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.

Greg Brotherton

What do you think is the public’s biggest misconception of the role of county commissioner and what would you do to change it if elected?

“I think the public sees a headline or hears a story, and sees County Commissioner decisions in a very binary fashion. We often think about issues as black or white, while a commissioner’s work is understanding shades of gray with final action written in black ink. Whether we’re considering forestry and forests, new ordinances and code, the budget and collective bargaining or one of the many other issues we deal with, distilling complicated issues into agreement and action is the work we do.

Every decision impacts staff — and is impacted by staffing. Jefferson County is an agent of the state, and deals with multiple interlocking governmental and private organizations. Commissioners represent the people in this mix.

Policies we set today need to be planned for long term success by considering impacts in the short, medium and long term to multiple groups of stakeholders. Defining those groups and developing how we engage with different perspectives is a big part of the equity, diversity, and inclusion work the county is doing to meet different stakeholders where they are.

As to how to change this perception of a black and white world? I strive to listen first and make nuance understandable and add it to the conversations I have with community members and staff. Sometimes, I say the quiet part out loud — not just to cut to the core of an issue, but also because I believe in governmental transparency and find that candor can lay bare the nuance with which we work.”

How will you balance decisions that best serve your district with decisions that best serve the county as a whole?

“We work on a lot of issues that concern the county as a whole, and I bring a District 3 perspective to those, informed by my experience in Jefferson County rural retail, my Quilcene School Board experience, running the Quilcene Fair, farming and building a house in Quilcene. I work to ensure that District 3 gets its fair share of resources and that we address District 3 issues.

I show up and I stand up for District 3 communities. I support my local fire districts and school districts, have helped the Jefferson County Food Bank develop their new Food Pantry in Quilcene, dialogue with Port Ludlow community monthly at the Village Council meetings, partner with the PUD and support rural broadband at every turn, help Brinnon with their community center, Gardiner with the update to the public boat ramp, and have been a liaison with the Port of Port Townsend about the Herb Beck Marina. 

It is our standard practice that district- specific incidents and issues usually go to the commissioner of that district. I always follow up with residents and try to help them work through their issues. Whether you are talking about commercial shooting ranges, growing cannabis in rural residential zones, road projects, or other issues that impact any of the districts, I listen and I learn about the issues and the perspectives before I make a decision. I strive to represent all of Jefferson County with a District 3 perspective.”

What do you feel will be the most daunting aspect of serving as county commissioner for the next four years?

“Most of the issues we deal with at the county level are not partisan in nature, but there are many people who tend to see everything in polarizing ways. It is hard to work through an issue if everyone isn’t willing to listen. In meeting in person with aggrieved residents, we can usually find some common ground.

First and foremost, we must acknowledge that we are one community and one country. My fear is that local Democrats and Republicans will stop listening to each other and stop looking for ways to agree. If partisans lose their faith in respectful dialogue, they will not be able to work together for the good of our county and our country.

I am proud to be a Democrat and believe that the social safety net the Democratic Party supports is good for all Americans, and a good investment as well. I also believe that good ideas don’t have a party, and have invited and appointed former political opponents to serve on land use task forces and amplify their voices. Throughout my first term there have been some who give me more credit than I deserve and others who have been very disrespectful to me and my family. This job puffs you up and tears you down ten times a day. I am fortunate to have thick skin and the sense not to respond to insults. I can come back after a hard day with a smile and a spring in my step.”

Please name a Washington state politician who you have found inspiring,  and why.

“Well, I can’t pick between the two I work most closely with. Kate Dean and Heidi Eisenhour are such strong and complementary teammates that my job is a pleasure every day. I feel that we each bring a true local district representation to the table and have formed a team on the Board of County Commissioners that is stronger together.

Heidi Eisenhour has shown me so much about how to own responsibility, but listen to all. She is truly a representative of the people and her eagerness to roll up her sleeves and get to work has improved county processes and outcomes. She is a strong and loving chair always ready with a question, a compliment, and tamales.

Kate Dean is the politician I want to be if I ever grow up and look upwards as well as focusing on the ground. Her ability to build networks and bring state and federal support to our small county is amazing. But she is grounded in values I share and a deep commitment to service and positive outcomes for Jefferson County. She lives her ideals and is a true grassroots to grass-tops servant of the people.

Together they form my dream team. From my seat, service to Jefferson County seems imbued into their hearts. They inspire me to aspire to the same heights. It is a privilege to work with them for the good of Jefferson County. I think the traction we have achieved speaks for itself.” 

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you and your family personally, and how has it changed, or not, your perception of public service?

“My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in this pandemic. My family was hit hard, but we didn’t lose anyone. My daughter was in middle school, and her personal experience followed the trend lines for our country. Every student lost ground educationally and faced unprecedented stress. This pandemic will reverberate through their whole personal and professional lives.

Professionally for the family, my wife and I had to close the Discovery Bay Village Store and Disco Bay Detour, which was a big hit to us and many in the community. We were just completing a remodel in March of 2020. It was a hard time.

When COVID-19 started, I was the chair of the Board of County Commissioners, so I was the executive and legislative leader of the county involved in the county’s response to COVID-19. It was a real crucible of leadership. We also had a county to run. Jefferson County maintained service levels throughout the pandemic.

Public Health and the county partnered well with Jefferson Healthcare and others. We’ve amplified the science and focused on communication. Our tiny Department of Emergency Management leveraged enormous skilled volunteer support to hold mass vaccination clinics. Our leadership avoided the acrimony and internal battles of many other municipalities.

In short, while COVID-19 has been disastrous for many, and rough for everyone, it could have been much worse if we had not pulled together as a community. I’m proud to have served though COVID with calm resolve, teamwork, and decisive action.”

In recent months there has been much controversy over the preservation of iconic tree stands versus the economic benefit of logging or land clearing (south county logging; Boat Haven expansion). In mutually exclusive scenarios, what is more important to you, the preservation of trees and forested land, or jobs and economic potential?

“People care deeply about trees and forests, and there are many issues and values to weigh in making a decision. It takes time to listen to all views and to look at all aspects of the decision.

Port Townsend seems to be moving toward closure on the issue of the poplars on Sims Way. They had a public process to make sure that the public was heard and that all aspects of the decision were being considered. 

The county is engaged in a process for weighing the many aspects of harvesting public lands. We are working with the Department of Natural Resources to address the management of naturally regenerated forests from 60-120 years old. We need to look at impacts of these decisions downstream in the environment and the economy. Wood is the most carbon friendly mass market building material and we grow it here.

DNR managed timber sales from these county-owned forests gives a financial benefit to the county, county roads, local school and fire districts, and more.

In a decision as complex as this, I am not “this way” or “that way.” I am weighing all the factors, listening to the biologists, listening to the junior taxing districts, listening to those who care deeply for these forests, and seeking solutions that make the most sense.

That seems to me to be the role of an elected official: to learn all I can about complex challenges, listen to everyone, and make the best decisions I can.”

Marcia Kelbon

What do you think is the public’s biggest misconception of the role of county commissioner and what would you do to change it if elected?

“The degree of control that the County Commissioners have over our property taxes, building regulations, and state highways.

Our Commissioners decide on roughly one-third of our property taxes. The remainder is determined by voter-approved measures and state school taxes. But our Commissioners control the growth of our tax base by restricting housing and businesses, increasing the tax burden on our citizens. And reflexively approve annual maximum 1% ad valorem property tax increases, as done in December of 2021 despite record revenues. That increase was approved on the same day they awarded their positions a pay raise, from $93,847/year to $101,395/year, which is in addition to state-determined annual adjustments.

Many of our building regulations are state-controlled, including zoning under the Growth Management Act. Our County Commissioners could lobby for amendment of the GMA, as they lobby for other causes. And some of our regulations are locally controlled and need to be examined and amended. These are discussed in my answer to another question.

Our commissioners do not control the placement of roundabouts on Highway 101 or decreased State Ferry service, but should be lobbying the state for over-passes and ferry staffing. Our commissioners set the budget for the Public Works Department. Public Works does a great job with the funds received, as evidenced in contrast to the poor condition of Port Townsend’s streets. Public Works could do an even better job if infrastructure, together with public safety, were set as top priorities. 

How will you balance decisions that best serve your district with decisions that best serve the county as a whole?

There is a sentiment in the outlying areas of the county, including District 3, that their interests are often overshadowed by the demands of the more populous areas of the county. There is some truth to that which is why I have been advocating, for example, for a South county Sheriff’s substation.

But there are also large issues that impact us all, and I believe our county’s citizens have more needs in common than may be realized. No region of the county has sufficient housing availability, and people working in the city may commute from rural areas and vice versa. All of our schools are struggling, though perhaps to differing degrees. Drug addiction plagues all of our communities and threatens our youth’s well-being. Jefferson Healthcare’s staffing challenges and a county-wide shortage of childcare impact us all. Public safety is a concern I hear everywhere. Many of the County Commissioners’ decisions are thus appropriately county-wide.

I would like to see some portion of our weekly County Commissioner meetings held at sites throughout the county on a rotating basis, including at community centers in the tri-area, Quilcene, Brinnon, and Gardiner, and, if invited, at a Port Ludlow clubhouse and West End tribal center or Sheriff’s station. This would make sure the commissioners better understand the needs of those communities and give community members additional opportunities to be involved in the process.”

What do you feel will be the most daunting aspect of serving as county commissioner for the next four years?

“Our county’s most pervasive issue is a shortage of housing, and the need to address this will persist near term. Jefferson County must tackle this within the parameters of state regulations. However, as evidenced by the fact that a good portion of our workforce commutes in from Clallam and Kitsap Counties, it is possible for our county to do better.

We have started putting resources into subsidized housing, and there is a place for that, particularly for the disabled and the elderly. But our county government should also facilitate, rather than block, the building of reasonably-priced housing that people of working age can obtain without assistance so as to move forward in life. We need starter homes, multi-family housing, and apartments in our urban growth areas, and smaller, less-costly, rural, buildable lots near historic village centers and crossroads. To enable this, we must amend our Comprehensive Plan while still preserving our rural character and environment.

The Department of Community Development should be tasked to preapprove less-costly building techniques, including container homes, 3D-printed homes, and modular homes. A local ordinance requiring costly septic system updates when a dilapidated house or mobile home is replaced should be revised to permit continued use of the original septic if still in working well. Preapproved engineered septic plans could be made available for given soil types. Permit inspection fees could be reduced for people using trusted builders that demonstrate reliably building to code. House-sharing tax credits should be explored.”

Please name a Washington state politician who you have found inspiring, and why.

“Politics are local, and I will note a pair of locals: Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. These individuals hail from different political parties but both have moderate approaches to addressing significant problems that festered over the last few years.

Mayor Harrell previously served as a member of a city council that oversaw a diminishment of many of Seattle’s services and a reduction of local quality of life. He is now focusing on providing effective public safety, including recruiting additional firefighters and police officers, building affordable housing, addressing the homelessness crisis, and providing opportunity for all.

Ann Davison was faced with rising crime rates following measures taken in Seattle to defund the police and decriminalize hard drugs. She took office with a backlog of cases that had never been filed for prosecution, many significantly over 100 days old. Ms. Davison took the potentially unpopular step of dismissing many of these backlogged misdemeanor cases, recognizing that the passage of time made it unfair to the alleged suspects and difficult to prosecute. Her office began to focus on ‘frequent flyers’: the low percentage of suspects who commit a majority of crimes.

It was witnessing the degradation of Seattle while commuting there prior to retirement three years ago that lead me to first consider running for office. Many of the same policies that led to Seattle’s downfall were starting to be employed in Jefferson County, and were not any more effective here.”

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you and your family personally, and how has it changed, or not, your perception of public service?

“COVID affected my family in ways likely similar to many. We lost my much-loved father-in-law. I canceled trips to see my elderly mother. My granddaughter missed out on developing certain social skills during the first three years of her life. Dear friends and neighbors, who were military veterans, moved away due to employment vaccination requirements with which they did not agree. We lost one of our local restaurants, representing a third of such establishments, due to shutdowns.

What I did not experience is any significant illness – I and my husband were fully vaccinated and boosted. But I also did not lose relationships with local friends and families, despite the fact that some were vaccinated and some were not. I believed and respected that each had the right to make their own health decisions.

The experience for me reinforced what I learned during my career. It was much easier to give legal advice as outside counsel when I did not have to live with the business ramifications. But as in-house corporate counsel, I had to weigh the legal risk against business risks. That is how I believe our local government should function in similar circumstances, weighing not just public health risks but also the risk of harm to people’s livelihoods, their mental health, the development of their children, and the availability of public services.

One positive is that local government meetings are now accessible virtually as well as in person, increasing public involvement.”

In recent months there has been much controversy over the preservation of iconic tree stands versus the economic benefit of logging or land clearing (south county logging; Boat Haven expansion). In mutually exclusive scenarios, what is more important to you, the preservation of trees and forested land, or jobs and economic potential?

“Trees and forestland, and economic considerations, must be balanced. It is far too simplistic to prioritize one over the other.

Like many, I am concerned with climate change. I love our forests; that’s why I live here, and I suspect that is the same for many. A good deal of forestland in our county has been preserved through federal and local programs.

But I am also concerned about funding our schools, which are struggling, particularly post-pandemic. As a Quilcene fire commissioner, I see firsthand how much our fire district relies on DNR timber revenue to fund replacement apparatus. Particularly in these inflationary times, our junior taxing districts are having a hard time asking people to pay levies for essentials.

We need to continue funding our junior taxing districts in a way that is equivalent, now and in the coming decades, to what has been provided historically through timber revenue. I have heard proposals to replace that funding but to date none seem to be equivalent in amount or duration. I also have read that carbon sequestration is greatest with growing, as opposed to mature, forests. I believe we should not touch a stick of what little true old-growth forest we have, but that is not what I have heard discussed as of late.

We also still rely on forestry for local jobs, and until that gap is filled in, it also remains an important part of the equation that needs to be respected.”