Saying she wants to change what she sees as a negative tone on the city council and to end over-representation of the “development community,” retired social worker Deborah Vann is challenging incumbent Jim Llewellyn in the city’s central area.

“I got involved with the neighborhood, and became interested in the amount of development,” said Vann, a Ferncliff resident active in the East Central Bainbridge Island Community Association.

Vann calls Llewellyn, a home-builder, and retired real-estate agent Liz Murray, who is not seeking re-election, the “development community” members of the council.

“But those two are able to dominate and can put their ideas over very well,” she said, saying two members out of seven can constitute an “over-representation.”

Vann said that high-density development is spreading out beyond Winslow’s core, which she says is a concern to her and to many citizens. She believes development should be concentrated south of High School Road between the highway and Sportsman Club Road, and points to North Town Woods on the north side of New Brooklyn Road as an example of spreading development.

Within the Winslow core, she says development is necessary, but that there needs to be better infrastructure planning to accommodate problems like increased traffic.

“We need to encourage alternatives other than the car, and make it worth their while for people to use them” she said.

Describing increased traffic as a difficult problem, Vann said the city should consider steps like more car-pool slots at the ferry terminal to encourage more multiple-rider trips, and car-pooling for the high school. A computer car-pool network might help support that effort, she said.

She strongly supports the proposed downtown parking structure, calling it a “win-win” situation for residents and downtown merchants, particularly if affordable housing can be incorporated.

On affordable housing – another problem she acknowledges is difficult – Vann likes the concept of smaller “cottage” homes. But she does not think that the marketplace will provide the entire solution, and said direct city subsidies for rents or to buy land for affordable homes may be required.

She also supports the mayor’s proposed bond issue to raise money for buying open space.

She describes herself as “inclined to support” allowing the four south-end neighborhoods with identified septic problems to install sewers. And she says a better process needs to be put into place to deal with future requests for sewer extensions.

“These people aren’t going to be the only ones who ask,” she said. “We need a better process, so if people do need sewers, we don’t make them wait for three years.”

Vann chose to run against Llewellyn rather than filing for the council seat without an incumbent “because I think we need someone to run against Llewellyn who has a different point of view.”

She adds that she also hoped to avoid a primary, but that hope was derailed when Richard Berndt also entered the same race.

Originally from Tennessee, Vann moved to the Northwest in 1972, got a graduate degree in social work and began practicing in the Bremerton area, first with public-sector employers, then in private practice. She moved to Bainbridge Island in 1983.

“I concentrated on child-abuse cases,” she said. “I’m comfortable dealing with complex issues where people are angry and upset.”

Vann retired three years ago, suffering what she called a severe case of burnout.

After an enjoyable year-and-a-half staying at home and working in the garden, she needed something else to do. Neighborhood activism led to an interest in politics.

“I’ve spent the last year and a half going to city council school,” she said, “attending meetings and workshops.

“I think I’m up to speed on the issues. I feel I can represent what the citizens want.”