Terminate ineffective tenure

Posted

Deborah Stinson has had eight years on city council, where as mayor for the last four she sets the agenda. Pressing issues received plenty of citizen requests for action, followed by some hand wringing, but not council’s agenda for policy development.

With increasing traffic from new residents and increased visitors, traffic enforcement is rarely seen. Eighteen months ago, Mark Henthorn was killed while riding his bike through an intersection well-known to be dangerous. It has spurred no response to improve safety for people riding bicycles.

The worker shortage is one result from a lack of affordable housing. The difficult zoning changes needed to address it have not made it onto council’s agenda, unless one counts the city’s own misguided and incomplete Cherry St. apartment building.

Many cities elsewhere are doing hard political work to foster the behavior changes required to meet the climate crisis. Stinson has been the city’s representative on our Climate Action Committee, whose principal mission is reducing local GHG emissions. The PUD and mill have both reduced their GHG emissions. During her eight years tenure, there have been no policy recommendations for reductions where “progressive” Port Townsend is on track to miss its targeted goals. To her credit, Stinson supported developing an adaptation plan.

Most egregiously, Mayor Stinson was the city manager’s hand maid for his agenda to restrict citizen involvement in city affairs. Citizens who’ve come before council rarely found her representing their interests.

Let’s vote to change course and terminate her ineffective tenure during this time of needed action on traffic, housing, climate, and citizen involvement.

If your definition of leadership includes action, vote for someone with 10 years experience on planning commission, including as chair, where developing policy for council’s action is always on the agenda.

Join me in voting for Monica MickHager.

Scott Walker
Port Townsend