Pro-charter committee might try it again

The committee that advocated for a new Kitsap County charter will remain active, its president said Wednesday, the day after the charter was rejected by voters.

Members of the committee might even initiate another home rule movement.

Committee for Better Representation Chairman Gene David Hart wasn’t willing to commit to such a move, but said he’d see what other committee members thought.

Hart said the charter election indicates that 45 percent of the people “are saying, we need a drastic change in government.”

A statement distributed by the Committee for Better Representation Wednesday said the group would meet in the near future to discuss its options.

County Democratic Central Committee Chairman John Morgan said his party would consider supporting a charter effort, if the committee compromised on some issues.

Democrats most strenuously objected to nonpartisan status for the county executive and council, odd-year elections, a referendum provision viewed by some as too easily attainable and a plan to elect all council members by district.

Morgan said compromises offered by Democrats, including Democratic freeholders, were ignored while the charter was being crafted.

“No charter will ever pass until Republicans, Democrats and independents work together to come up with a form of government that represents all of us,” he said. “That was not done this time.”

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