PORT TOWNSEND — Candidates for Jefferson County commissioner clashed over the county’s “down-zoning” from commercial to residential properties during a forum on Monday.
Port Hadlock businesswoman Sandy Hershelman, running as independent in the Nov. 4 general election for District 1 commissioner, told about 60 attending Monday’s Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon that she believes down-zoning has hurt business in the past.
Hershelman is challenging incumbent Democratic Commissioner David Sullivan.
“Down-zoning has been done in the past,” Sullivan said, but not since he took a seat on the Board of Commissioners nearly four years ago.
Hershelman urged that the county commissioners to return property back to the original commercial zonings.
Sullivan agreed.
“To down-zone land or up-zone land is a complicated process that’s going to take a long time,” Sullivan said.
