Island newcomer seeking Councilman Bob Scales’ soon-to-be-vacated North Ward seat
Law student Matt van Winkle has announced his candidacy for a City Council North Ward seat.
Van Winkle, who moved to Bainbridge last year, stressed the need for careful growth and development in downtown Winslow.
“As the city moves forward with Winslow Tomorrow and dealing with growth, I want to make sure that it maintains its charm,” he said in a prepared statement. “I don’t want to watch Bainbridge become another suburb or watch Winslow become another area like Capitol Hill or Ballard in Seattle.”
He added that Winslow could lose its “history and charm through an overrun of condos, tall buildings, and inefficient traffic (and) parking management.”
The position is currently held by Councilman Bob Scales, who will not seek a second term.
Van Winkle is the only islander who has publicly announced intention to run for the seat.
The filing deadline for council races is in June.
Councilmen Jim Llewellyn and Nezam Tooloee have also decided not to seek reelection.
No one has officially announced candidacy for Llewellyn’s South Ward seat, although retired naval officer Robert Dashiell is considering a bid.
Retired human resources consultant Barry Peters and attorney John Waldo are vying for Tooloee’s at-large position.
Councilman Bill Knobloch, who represents the Central Ward, is, so far, running unopposed.
Van Winkle is in his second year of law school at Seattle University and works for the Office of the Attorney General in the Sexually Violent Predator Unit.
He previously worked for King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, a Seattle Democrat.
Van Winkle moved to Bainbridge with his wife Lindsay in the summer of 2006 after she was offered a job teaching at Bainbridge High School.
“As we make this our new home, I want to work to make sure the island preserves its beauty and community atmosphere,” van Winkle said.
