Botkin/Lent commish campaign heats up

Republican candidate Patty Lent eked out a lead over incumbent Tim Botkin in Tuesday’s primary for Kitsap County Commissioner District No. 3.

Lent, who garnered 51.69 percent of the votes during the Sept. 17 election, said she was encouraged by the results.

“My goal was to get 51 percent,” she said Thursday.

“It was a marvelous surprise. Central Kitsap gave me the boost I needed,” Lent said adding she is cautiously optimistic about the Nov. 5 general election where all voters in the county will choose a commissioner.

Botkin, who gathered 48.19 percent of the votes, said the outcome was expected.

“It’s not a surprise,” he said Thursday.

Botkin said he has a lot to do on the campaign trail this next month, but is confident about November.

“This is when it really starts,” he said.

Lent is concentrating her efforts on the north end of the county and Bainbridge Island. She has even come up with a new slogan, “Relentless.”

Botkin, who said he is taking down his yard signs, encouraged people to get involved in upcoming forums and get to know the candidates. He plans to re-tool the signs and put them up shortly before the general election.

Lent, of Bremerton, is a business owner and has served president for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Zumwalt Guild, as an officer for the Bremerton Central Lions, the area Navy League and Boys and Girls Club.

Botkin has served as commissioner for Central Kitsap for the past four years. During this time he has been part of the Bremerton revitalization effort, including the Smart Growth coalition.

Before becoming a county commissioner he was a private attorney in Central Kitsap and also the county’s hearing examiner.

Election results will be updated and posted after 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 on the county’s Web site at www.kitsapgov.com.

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