PORT LUDLOW — When Jefferson County Commissioner candidate Jim Boyer was asked to define the differences between himself and his opponent, incumbent John Austin, he hesitated only briefly before delivering one obvious answer.
“I’m taller,” he said.
Boyer, a Port Ludlow Republican, and Austin, a Democrat from Port Ludlow seeking a second term, spoke before about 150 people at the Port Ludlow Bay Club at a forum Wednesday night.
Boyer is challenging Austin on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
The political differences between the two candidates emerged most dramatically in regard to environmental preservation and its relationship with business development.
“You can hear how heartfelt John is about environmental issues,” said Boyer, a home-builder.
“I am just as strong on the development of our economic base, providing jobs and developing a sustainable economy.”
Austin, a retired psychologist, said there are no easy answers.
“We face some complex choices as to how we respond to the local recession and what kind of person you want as your county commissioner,” Austin said.
The forum was sponsored by the Port Ludlow Village Council and the Peninsula Daily News. It was moderated by PDN senior staff writer Paul Gottlieb.
Austin said he is capable of “creative solutions” to financial problems, referring to the fact that two state parks in the county that once were listed for closure by the state were still open.
“We managed to save Fort Flagler and the old Fort Townsend parks,” he said.
“If we weren’t able to do that, there would have been impacts. The Nordland store would not have stayed open.
“This is an example of the cooperative approach that I have been able to use and will continue to use if you allow me to serve another term as county commissioner.”
Boyer, who has based much of his candidacy on criticism of the county Department of Community Development, continued Wednesday in response to a question about a court decision that reprimanded the county for not properly considering an Iron Mountain proposal for a quarry.
Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Anna Laurie ruled earlier this week that the DCD’s action in denying a permit to Iron Mountain for a quarry south of Port Ludlow was “arbitrary and capricious” and that the county must reconsider the proposal.
“DCD is mired in their inability to do their work because of the burdensome regulations and processes that have been put in place over the years,” said Boyer, calling for streamlining of the permitting process.
Austin said he didn’t think the DCD acted improperly in regard to the Iron Mountain proposal but that it would need to show how it arrived at its conclusion.
“I think that DCD will need to spend more time documenting how they arrived at this answer, since a lot of us are still very concerned about the Iron Mountain proposal,” Austin said.
Boyer criticized the county’s proposal for a .03 percent sales tax increase on the November ballot, saying that the tax may be necessary but that it should have a “sunset clause” where it is repealed after a certain amount of time or when the economic conditions change.
Austin said such a clause was not instituted because the proposal addresses a long-term problem.
“We are facing a permanent shortfall,” he said.
“There is no sunset clause because the revenue we are receiving does not keep up with inflation, and these problems are not going to go away.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.