Saying he wants to promote family values and preserve the island’s quality of life, political newcomer Larry Johnson has declared his candidacy for the at-large council seat currently held by Michael Pollock.

Johnson said he has developed skills through his work that could be applied to the problems of city government.

“I’m new to politics but not new to problem-solving,” said the 31-year-old Johnson. “I’ve been heavily involved in management-development issues and task forces that solve problems, and I’d like to focus some of that energy on Bainbridge Island.”

Johnson joins retired television producer Christopher “Kit” Spier in filing for the at-large seat. Pollock has said that he will seek re-election, but as of press time had not decided for which seat he would file.

A resident of Cosgrove Street west of Winslow, Johnson has been involved in the Winslow’s Cove Homeowners’ Association.

Since he became interested in the council, he has visited other associations, and would like to see city government become more responsive to neighborhood concerns.

“The city sees a lot of problems at the 30,000-foot level, and doesn’t see the problems that are at the 10,000-foot level,” he said.

As an example, he cited an issue that came up in North Town Woods, where he attended an association meeting.

“The property next door is zoned for light manufacturing,” he said. “The owner wants to develop an office park, but that is not permitted in LM zoning. The neighborhood wants it and the owners want it, so we should look at that.”

Johnson also said he is concerned about growth.

“I want there to be enough free land to maintain our lifestyle,” he said. “We could look at other cities that have similar populations, and see what they have done to preserve their communities.”

Johnson is a manager with Bowne Financial Printing in Seattle, which handles filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other financial reports.

“I have the opportunity to work and partner with CEOs, CFOs, auditors and the securities attorneys of major corporations for their compliance documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,” Johnson wrote in a brochure announcing his candidacy.

“The skill of managing those high-profile projects successfully requires clear communication between the client, and our various internal departments, and this is the same road-map I will use if elected.”

An Arizona native, Johnson grew up in the Phoenix area, attended Scottsdale Community College, where he was vice president of the Native American organization, earned an associate degree at Phoenix College, then a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.

He worked for a number of years at a bank, then went to work for Bowne, which assigned him to Century City and San Diego, then to his present job in Seattle.

He found Bainbridge Island 18 months ago on the recommendation of colleagues.

“A couple of people I work with live here, and they told us it was a great place to raise a family,” said Johnson, married and the father of two toddlers.

His wife Lisa has been involved with Bainbridge Performing Arts, and has appeared in two productions, he said. Otherwise, the family likes to stay home, tinkering with basic projects “and enjoying the simple things in life,” he said.

Johnson hopes to set an example of how someone with a fulltime job can serve on the council.

“The council meetings are in the evening, so they are no problem. But some of the committee meetings might have to be rescheduled for after work, or held during lunch with teleconferencing,” he said.

Johnson said he intended to campaign through different neighborhood and community association meetings, and to get the word out through an existing network of family and friends.

“I don’t believe only the financially enhanced should be able to run for office,” he said.

Johnson acknowledges that he may not be as familiar with the Comprehensive Plan and some of the issues as he would like, but says he is capable of learning. And he won’t be deterred from trying again.

“I’m a new face with new ideas,” he said. “And if I don’t win this time, I intend to run again another time.”