Election ’08

Danielson possess unique qualities

I have family, business and social interests that I see are under siege here on Bainbridge and in Kitsap County at large. The problem comes from self-serving special interests and failed government.

We know all too well the corrosive effects of the real and apparent conflicts of interest making our government and laws move in ways hurtful to the people.

There is a bright alternative to this conflict on the ballot and that is Bruce Danielson, who is a candidate for Kitsap Superior Court. He has blazed a career and a campaign on standing up to the vested interest at the Kitsap County Bar and the legal community. He has full-spectrum of legal experience and a unique quality as a humble servant.

Do not allow this election to be bought by special interests. Ms. Dalton has self-financed a campaign with over $90,000. If a candidate can’t run her campaign with grass-roots support, hard work and small contributions, why should anyone believe her pocketbook would qualify her for the office?

I made a short documentary on Attorney Danielson: www.youtube.com “Elect Bruce Danielson.” Please meet Bruce and vote for him. We deserve a truly independent and principled judge. Vote Danielson.

Mary V. Dombrowski

Soundview Drive

Judicial candidate is misleading voters

My family has lived on Bainbridge Island for over 50 years and I am in my 20th year of practicing law here and within Kitsap County. Therefore, I take it personally when some person tries to play me or my community as the fool. That person is Bruce Danielson.

Mr. Danielson’s recent political advertisement claims that he is serving as an acting judge with Kitsap County Superior Court as an arbitrator. This statement is totally misleading, and as an attorney I find it laughable. The truth is that Mr. Danielson has zero judicial experience. He has never been a judge, in any court, anywhere.

Arbitrators are not judges and are not viewed by the courts or attorneys as judges. An arbitrator is simply a local attorney whom is assigned to a case that typically mandates arbitration before it may proceed in court. Any attorney may be considered to act as an arbitrator if the attorney registers with the superior court.

The punch line to this bad joke is that Bruce Danielson is not even among the attorneys registered in the court court to hear arbitration cases! What’s next, claiming judicial experience by umpiring a Little League game? Yes, his claim is that silly.

In my opinion, Mr. Danielson violates the Canons of judicial Conduct when he misrepresents his qualifications to the public.

However his opponent, Jeannette Dalton, has actual and lengthy judicial experience. I have personally appeared before her and can attest to her abilities and qualifications to represent the citizens of Kitsap County.

Thomas S. Alpaugh

Bainbridge Island

Danielson has no judicial experience

We have reviewed an ad in at least two newspapers in which Bruce Danielson claims “Judicial Experience,” and supports that claim by stating he has served, “as an acting judge with the superior court as an arbitrator…”

We do not believe that Mr. Danielson has any judicial experience and has never acted as a superior court judge. Acting as an arbitrator is not acting as a judge of any court.

The Canons of Judicial Conduct, which apply to all candidates for judicial office, provide that such a candidate should not knowingly misrepresent his qualifications or other facts concerning the candidate.

This deception and misstatement of his non-existent judicial experience should, by itself, disqualify him from being considered by the voters as a qualified candidate. At least a judicial candidate should be honest and not engage in deceptive campaign advertising.

We have submitted this letter because of the importance of accurate information in judicial campaigns. We have been retired for some time (Judge Kruse spent 19 years on the Kitsap County Superior Court bench, Judge Maddock 15 years), but continue to be very interested in having judges on our former court that are highly qualified and adhere to the highest ethical standards.

Judge James I. Maddock

Judge Leonard W. Kruse

Ferries

Shelve selfishness for togetherness

First I want to thank Martha Burke for her considerable efforts to watch out for us, the residents of Bainbridge Island who use the ferry. Many of us ride the ferries daily and yet don’t find the time to go to meetings, as she has. We all have different demands, so I especially appreciate her willingness to go and question, as well as offer feedback to, ferry officials.

I recognize the ferry service is having difficulty making ends meet, and the current outlook with the recession makes budgets more difficult. But I find the idea of raising prices at Bainbridge to encourage people to go elsewhere to be problematic. Will forcing people to drive further to go to Bremerton help with the state budget or the environment? Surely, the Bremerton ferry ride is actually more expensive with its longer route to Seattle.

So what are the solutions? I wouldn’t mind the idea of reservations (at a nominal fee) to guarantee your spot on a ferry. I don’t mind the advertising on the ferry so far.

I think we need to look at a regional or state-wide solution. Tim Eyman’s initiatives have succeeded in defunding the ferry system,and setting one group of travelers’ interests against others. We pay through our state taxes for state highways that we rarely drive, but benefit from. We need to look at our state’s expenses as community costs (roads, schools, health care, etc.) not as someone else’s or the “government’s” wasteful spending.

In tough times, we need to work together, not look at how to take care of ourselves at the cost of others – in part because it will ultimately cost us.

We can all do our part by contacting the ferry at the WSF website.

Gloria Sayler

Agate Pass Road