The candidate forum schedule for the League of Women Voters of Clallam County is confirmed, but one Sequim-specific topic might be left off.
Paula Barnes, co-chairman of the voter services committee, said discussing the Sequim School District’s proposed $49.3 million bond is tentative because they only have half of the argument.
“The league’s policy is to have an organized support and opposition, and we have the Citizens for Sequim Schools but no opposition,” she said.
The forum, set for 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Sequim City Council Chambers, 152 W. Cedar St., ncludes candidates for the Sequim School Board and Port of Port Angeles Commissioners race.
Barnes said she started seeking confirmation from all the candidates in mid-August on the Nov. 3 ballot, but that no one has filed a statement opposed to the bond in the Clallam County Voter’s guide.
Barnes said she sought groups or individuals who have opposed the school district’s previous bond(s) to speak but they declined.
In Forks, Barnes said they have a similar situation with a tentative discussion on the Clallam County Fire District 1 proposed levy of 75 cents per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation to fund a paid fire chief position and to maintain or increase staffing and service levels.
She said opposition can be found on social media but no one formally speaks against it or fills out paperwork for the voter’s guide. A representative of organized opposition to this measure can reach Barnes at 808-5876.
Bond background
In April 2014, voters defeated Sequim School District’s $154 million bond proposal by a 56-44 percent margin. A trimmed down version put to a vote in February 2015 of $49.5 million received more than 57 percent yes votes, still falling short of the “super majority” figure.
The latest proposal would help pay for a new elementary school, refurbish the district kitchen, add classrooms at Sequim High School and Greywolf Elementary School, repurpose two buildings at Helen Haller Elementary for Olympic Peninsula Academy, renovate part of the Sequim Community School for the maintenance department and demolish the remainder of the Community School.
The resolution would allow the school district to issue and sell unlimited tax general obligation bonds in the principal amount of $49.3 million over 20 years. That would put the school tax rate for a property owner within the Sequim School District boundaries at $2.19 per $1,000 of assessed valuation (the figure includes the current educational programs and operations levy).
The proposal needs to meet a “super majority,” or 60 percent, of the vote in November.
Bond group reacts
Brandino Gibson, co-chairman of Citizens of Sequim Schools, said his group doesn’t see there being a negative opponent or feeling against the bond.
“We just don’t have the 60 percent we need,” he said.
Gibson said they suggested some names of groups and individuals to the League of Women Voters but don’t know how they feel about this specific bond.
Since the February election, Gibson said the group changed its focus somewhat with a new logo and approach. “It’s not about buildings,” he said. “It’s about (our new slogan, Our Children, Our Community, Our Future, and to get there we have to fix the schools so they can be a vital part of our community. That’s what we’re about.”
They’ve been encouraging parents to vote as well.
“An area we’ve failed in the past was with the parents,” Gibson said. “There are 3,200 parents and 1,800 are registered to vote and only around 900 actually voted in the last election. We’re trying to get the word out and getting parents registered to vote and getting them to understand the need.”
Gibson said they’ve pinpointed areas such as Sunland and Agnew which have opposed the bonds and seek supporters to host coffee chats with Interim Superintendent Gary Neal to answer questions.
“If you look at the numbers from the past two elections, it shows the people who vote for it, continue to vote for it,” Gibson said. “We had a turnaround when the number got dropped. In reality, we’re not that far off.”
