Mayor's Last Newsletter, May 2009
Download the Mayor's May Newsletter in Adobe PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat to download, get your FREE copy of this program today!MY LAST NEWSLETTER: WHAT I WILL REMEMBER MOST
The first rate staff at the City of Bremerton
People will never realize how blessed the City is with outstanding public employees. No city in the State has the quality of the people who work for the City of Bremerton. From the Department Directors to the people who work on our public works and parks crews, to the people who greet you at the community development counter. I have never worked with a more dedicated, smart, and good group of people. That is what I will miss most about not being Mayor.
My Executive Assistant Elaine Valencia
When you spend eight hours a day with someone you get to know them pretty well. The most difficult thing about leaving my job is knowing I won't have Elaine to help me run my day to day working life. She has worked for five Mayors and is the rock of the City staff. It's very unusual when you are universally respected by your fellow employees and the people in the public who deal with the City. She has that respect and it was my honor and privilege to work with such an outstanding public servant.
The incredible work of Gary Sexton
I have met many impressive people in my life, none more impressive that our Economic Development Director Gary Sexton. No one will ever realize or appreciate the work he accomplished in the revitalization of our downtown waterfront. His dedication and love of Bremerton drove him to build or be a part of the construction of Kitsap Conference Center and plaza, Harborside Fountain Park, PSNS Memorial Plaza, the new Marina, Anthony's, Kitsap Credit Union, the new Fire and Police stations, and the Norm Dicks Government Center. He had his hand in every one of these projects and helped make them happen. I love the man for all he has given to this City.
The Groundbreakings and Grand Openings
We celebrated a lot of special days over the past seven years. The wonderful day we opened the Norm Dicks Government Center with Norm's family in attendance was an emotional day for this great son of Bremerton. A fun opening was Anthony's with bright sunshine, great seafood and the community enjoying themselves. But the best was the grand opening of the new Kitsap Conference Center and the Harborside Plaza. Over 1,500 people attended this event which really symbolized people starting to come back downtown for meetings and events. Not far behind was the opening of Harborside Fountain Park and the PSNS Memorial Plaza. Both were great sunny days with thousands of people enjoying these creations of Gary Sexton that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
Gold Mountain Gold Course National Tournament
I love to play golf and I love Bremerton's great public golf course Gold Mountain. The high point was when Scott Alexander, Director of Golf, brought the National Public Links Golf Tournament to Gold Mountain. It really put our course on the national map. Scott and his team ran a world class tournament and now we will be hosting the second national tournament in 2010. We are very fortunate to have one of the great golf courses in the United States right here in Bremerton.
Telling the Bremerton Story
Over the last seven years I have probably given 400 presentations all over the State telling the Bremerton story. It was great to see the regional interest in our City and the appreciation for our revitalization efforts especially of our downtown waterfront. We received front page coverage in the regional newspapers, and were on the cover of many local and regional magazines. I will miss hauling my PowerPoint presentation around giving my presentation on our City.
Our great Partnerships
One thing I have learned over the years is that nothing can be accomplished without support from others. We have been blessed with partners who wanted to support the effort to revitalize our City. The following partners were all part of the Bremerton team: Congressman Norm Dicks, Kitsap County, Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority, Port of Bremerton, United States Navy, State of Washington and Speaker Frank Chopp, OPUS Development, Ron Sher, Tim Ryan, Kitsap Credit Union, Anthony's, Hampton Inn, Kitsap Public Facilities District, Olympic College, Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton School District, Bremerton Housing Authority, and many, many more. Thank you for your belief in Bremerton.
The Citizens
Almost every day in the past seven years someone has stopped me on the street or in the grocery store and thanked me for being Mayor. I have felt that most people really appreciate that you are doing your best and are respectful of the sacrifice it takes to be in public office. I love public service and want to thank all the citizens of Bremerton who have been so good to me over the past years.
I'm not going away
In my new position as the CEO of the Port of Bremerton I will still be working on behalf of the City in my effort to bring new jobs, new companies, and new revenues to the City and the rest of Kitsap County. I will remain in my home on Shore Drive will still eat out in my favorite restaurants in Bremerton. I will call Elaine once in a while to ask her advice, and will go down to Harborside Fountain Park and PSNS Memorial Plaza on nice days and watch the kids play in the fountains and know that we were able to make a difference in the past seven years. It's has been a great run. Thanks for the honor.