When Harrison Medical Center wanted to relocate its support services such as human resources and payroll from its cramped Bremerton campus, the organization made an unusual choice. Instead of breaking ground on new construction or leasing existing office space, the hospital system redesigned a building formerly used as a go-cart track and Michael’s craft store.  read more »

One of the top officers who’s worked with Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer announced his candidacy to replace Boyer when the four-term sheriff leaves office at the end of the year.

Patrol Chief Gary Simpson, who’s been with the department for 29 years, announced Feb. 25 that he will run for sheriff this fall.

Boyer, 63, announced earlier this month that he will not run for re-election to a fifth term.

Simpson, 61, has been in charge of the Patrol Division since 2003. He is a graduate of South Kitsap High School who started with the sheriff’s office as a deputy in 1984. read more »

Democrats in the state House are signing on en masse to a bill that would increase the state minimum wage, already the highest such wage standard in the country, to $12 an hour by 2017. Even as the measure makes its debut it has a deathly pallor.

Opposition in the Senate seems likely to write a quick end to the bill, if it gets that far. And there is at least one telling indication that it may not. For an idea that has pushed into the spotlight by a national campaign from labor and activist organizations, and buoyed by a first-of-its-kind vote in the city of SeaTac last year for a $15 minimum wage, the sponsorship list is a bit weak. It carries only 32 sponsors — 18 short of the number required for passage in the House. Nearly all backers come from safe Democratic districts in the urban Puget Sound area. read more »

Derek Young, a former four-term Gig Harbor City Council member, has announced his candidacy for the District 7 seat on the Pierce County Council in 2014. Young, whose 16-year City Council tenure ended Dec. 31, is also a member of the Pierce County Regional Council, Puget Sound Regional Council and Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners.

“In my 16 years on the City Council, I’ve supported policy changes to strengthen our local economy, help cities and the county plan for growth, and protect our natural environment,” Young said in announcing his candidacy. “I’m running because I want those same positive results for our whole region. Pierce County needs to improve long-term planning to promote local economic development, stabilize the budget, make our community safer, and provide adequate transportation options for our citizens.” read more »

Jesse Young of Gig Harbor has been appointed to fill the vacant 26th District seat in the state House. Kitsap County commissioners and the Pierce County Council met in joint session Jan. 17 and voted to appoint Young to fill the seat held by state Sen. Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) until she won a special election in November for the district’s open Senate seat.

Young, a business technology consultant who made an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2012, was the top choice of three nominees submitted by the state Republican Party to succeed Angel. The other two nominees were Adam Berman and Doug Cloud, both of Gig Harbor. read more »

A dentist whose practice provides mobile dental care for Seattle-area seniors has announced she will run in 2014 for the 26th District seat in the state House of Representatives.

Dr. Michelle Downey Caldier sent out a news release Dec. 12 saying she will run for the seat that’s been held since 2006 by Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor). Caldier’s news release did not identify her party affiliation or list where she lives, but other media outlets have reported she will run as a Republican, and she lives in Port Orchard according to her Facebook page.

Caldier is the owner of Golden Age Dentistry, a Kenmore-based business that provides dental services to the elderly in assisted-living centers and nursing homes around Puget Sound. read more »

State Rep. Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) will be sworn into office as the 26th District’s new state senator on Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m. in a ceremony at the Kitsap County Courthouse in Port Orchard, the same place she served as a county commissioner for eight years prior to becoming a state representative in 2009.

Angel won the Senate seat in a special election Nov. 5. She will become the first Republican woman to serve as a state senator in the 26th District.

The oath of office will be administered to Angel by Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes. The public is invited to attend the ceremony in Room 212 at the courthouse, 614 Division St.

Bremerton resident and community leader Ed Wolfe announced today that he will file to run for the Central Kitsap County Commission seat which will be vacated by Commissioner Josh Brown. He will file as a Republican candidate in May of next year.

“After careful consideration and discussion with my wife Wendy, and many trusted friends and supporters, I’ve decided to run for Kitsap County Commissioner in 2014,” stated Wolfe. “I’ve spent years living and working in our community, and believe now is the right time to take this next step to serve Kitsap County as Commissioner.” read more »

The Gig Harbor City Council is accepting applications for a council vacancy created by the resignation of Mayor-elect Jill Guernsey on Dec. 31. Applications for appointment to City Council Position #4 are available at City Hall, 3510 Grandview St., online at www.cityofgigharbor.net, or by calling 253-851-8136. Completed applications must be submitted to the city clerk by Jan. 8.

All applicants must complete an application and submit a letter of interest to be considered for the vacant position. Interviews with interested applicants are tentatively scheduled for the City Council meeting on Jan. 13. If a selection is made, the appointment to office would be effective at the next regular meeting on Jan. 27. read more »