Cast your vote for Wennstrom for council
I have known Libby Wennstrom for more than 20 years, as a parent, a volunteer, and a force in the community. Over the years I have watched Libby fine-tune her ability to communicate with people on different sides of an issue, and I have seen her set aside any personal bias she may have about a subject to intelligently analyze data and reach conclusions based on facts. Libby is one of the smartest people I know, but is approachable, easy to talk to, and maintains a sense of humor in challenging situations. She will be an excellent addition to the city council.
Carrie Andrews
PORT TOWNSEND
 
Wennstrom is a skillful problem-solver
I am pleased to endorse Libby Wennstrom for Port Townsend City Council. Her proven leadership, community involvement, teamwork and communicative skills make her an ideal choice. Yes, ideal! Her record with Salish Rescue, Wooden Boat Festival, farmers market, Port Townsend schools and others proves her commitment to her city and her fellow citizens. As a valued partner in civic organizations and projects, Libby has earned the respect she so clearly deserves. Libby gets things done. She is open to others’ ideas, yet brings people together to move forward. Her interest is local, solving local problems that impact lives in Port Townsend. She is not party to divisive tactics or a broader agenda. She takes, instead, a pragmatic path to find solutions that really work — in the real world. I have supported her campaign and urge you to do the same, where it really counts — on your ballot.
John Fabian
PORT LUDLOW
 
Wennstrom presents more balanced solutions to issues
I’m a little perplexed when I hear Tyler Vega works well with others. I had a conversation with him and found someone locked into his ideas and not really interested in finding common ground or bridging the political divide. In particular, his myopic focus on dismembering the golf course at the root of his “vision” changes the narrative from the real issues — such as housing — to the future of the golf course, needlessly tying the two issues together to the detriment of both. The golf course’s future is settled for the present and doesn’t need to be rehashed every time someone has a “brilliant” idea predicated on destroying a local treasure. Yet, he’s more than willing to start that fight again. In fact, he said that’s a “no-brainer.” Well, some with brains find that an extremely divisive, even antagonistic, statement. Libby Wennstrom, in contrast, presents more nuanced solutions that can find greater support — because they are more nuanced than Tyler Vega’s slash and burn. One rarely gets to hire the perfect applicant; it’s the best person that applies that gets hired. In this case that’s clearly not Tyler Vega. That’s a “no-brainer,” as he said.
Erik Poulsen
PORT TOWNSEND

PT voters should cast their ballots for Wennstrom
Our city has been fortunate indeed that so many of those who choose to run for and serve in public office are talented, dedicated and thoughtful people. Libby Wennstrom has all those qualities and is doing us the favor of seeking a seat on the city council. I’m convinced she will do an outstanding job in that role, and urge you to join me in supporting her. I could go on at great length about Libby, but thought for this letter simply to point out that she has a keen mind, thinks independently and creatively, but most important has that rare ability of coming together as part of a team to put good ideas, hers or others’, into action. And it’s that ability which, in my judgment, makes for a truly superior representative democracy. Vote for Libby for PT City Council.
George Randels
PORT TOWNSEND
 
Wennstrom has the skills and talents PT needs
Libby Wennstrom for Port Townsend City Council! Since 2017, I’ve worked closely with Libby Wennstrom on two different volunteer projects, and here is what I have come to know about her. Libby has strong opinions and she will fight for them, but she keeps an open mind. She is genuinely interested in others and what they have to say – not just the people who agree with her. She is an excellent, active listener. She knows how to build consensus and she understands that working with others can turn a good idea into a great one and make a great idea even better. She uses her many skills and talents to benefit our community in big ways and small, and she takes real joy in helping others. She is highly intelligent and has lots of energy. When she says she’s going to do something, Libby follows through and gets it done. Libby will bring all of this and more to the Port Townsend City Council. I’m voting for Libby Wennstrom and I encourage you to vote for her too!
Mara Lathrop
PORT TOWNSEND
 
Elect people who respect tradition
Our city faces some relentlessly challenging problems in an increasingly complex world. Hard choices are always just around the corner, and needs inevitably outstrip available funding. Ideally, those choices will be made on the basis of fact, with the best interests of the city and its citizens at their core. It’s not an easy task to balance the diverse interests of some 10,000 citizens, county, state and federal laws and regulations, and the widely disparate needs of business and our economy. It requires good information, solid analysis and, importantly, a thorough, rational, and inclusive process.
In today’s toxic political environment, too often we see citizens and politicians talk past each other, occasionally listening, but seldom hearing what is said. Local government is the last government we can easily touch, where we can actually converse with our representatives, whether in a council meeting or down the grocery aisle. It’s vital that we elect people who honor and respect that tradition. Leaders that have a history of community involvement and are willing to put in the work and discourse it takes to factor diverse opinions as well as political and economic realities.
This is why I’m supporting Libby Urner Wennstrom for council. I believe she will bring the intelligence, experience, knowledge, and temperament we need in this position. In her 20-plus years in this community Libby has shown herself to be a dedicated, hard working, and creative asset to the causes and organizations to which she’s contributed her time and efforts. I have every confidence she will devote the time, energy and thoughtful consideration required to do the hard work ahead for city council.
Mark Welch
PORT TOWNSEND
  
Wennstrom will get the job done
Port Townsend City Council would be extra enriched by the addition of Libby Wennstrom. I have had the privilege of working with Libby on several projects over the past four years, and she is always prepared, professional, offers well thought out and reasoned advice, collaborates well with others, asks the tough questions, and when assigned a task she goes over and beyond — and gets the job done. Reliable leadership is Libby’s trademark.
What I particularly enjoyed when collaborating on projects, and at board meetings with Libby, is that she genuinely listens, asks the needed questions, and then follows through with logic and information — everyone in the room learns something when Libby speaks. Libby always adds value to any discussion. She does not just talk the talk, but she walks the walk — repeatedly. Whenever our community needs leaders, she steps up and volunteers without being asked, and then brings in resources to facilitate efficiency. At the beginning of COVID, when we were all perplexed, Libby dove in. She made masks for the kids in public school and private school as well, and now she daily shares accurate and current information from Jefferson County Public Health to the public as one of its website administrators.
​I have witnessed and benefited from Libby’s superb technical skills, and she is very proficient. When a local organization needed supplies, she just showed up with a new printer in the box and the ream of paper. Then she connected it. Libby leads by example, and she just gets the job done. She never shies away from being of service to the community. Vote for Libby Wennstrom for City Council on Nov. 2; she is the best choice for our beloved Port Townsend community. Thank you.
Alise Moss Vetica
PORT TOWNSEND

The League of Women Voters-Jefferson County is still accepting questions for the upcoming October 7, 2021 Forum for the Port Townsend City Council Candidates.
Please submit your questions for the candidates to lwvjeffcowa@gmail.com no later than noon on October 5, 2021.
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Concise, unbiased questions will be given priority, and some questions may be combined. Unless directed to a specific set of candidates, questions submitted will be balanced between the two sets of candidates.

Libby is endorsed by ALL of Port Townsend's current Congressional, State and County elected representatives. *ALL* of them:

U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer
State Senator Kevin Van De Wege
State Representatives Steve Tharinger & Mike Chapman
All three of our current County Commissioners:
​Greg Brotherton, Kate Dean, and Heidi Eisenhour.

She's also endorsed by three former County Commissioners and eight current and former Port Townsend Mayors and City Councilors, along with over 90 of your friends and neighbors.
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All of these leaders are endorsing Libby because they know her, and they trust her to do the job. She's spent years building relationships that will help the City partner effectively with County, State and Federal governments.

I'm getting a lot of questions about the Poplar Trees on lower Sims Way. There are a lot of pieces of this that haven't been well covered in the newspapers or in the swirling (and mostly wrong) rumors on social media. 

This decision is likely to get made by the current council, so asking me about it probably isn't the best place to get heard. I'm still learning about this myself. But I'd encourage everyone to watch City Public Works Director Steve King's very thorough presentation about the lower Sims project at Monday 9/20 City Council Meeting. The recording of the meeting is at:
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/player/clip/2290?view_id=4&redirect=true 
and Steve's presentation begins at 2:08 (about 8:41 pm) on the video timestamp.

If you've got more questions, Steve is probably the best place to start to get them answered with accurate information: (360) 379-5090, sking@cityofpt.us

Here's the sort of short summary: Poplars normally only live 40-50 years. These trees are about 70 years old and have been in trouble for years, and are now failing fast. Falling branches hitting power lines are starting fires; falling trees and limbs are suddenly landing in the roadway. There was a plan to replace them over time in the 80s and another in the early 90s, and a row of firs was planted behind them on the Lagoon side nearly 30 years ago; with recent drought conditions, the firs are suffering because the poplars are pulling all their water.

​There's an opportunity right now to partner with the Port as part of Boatyard expansion, and get most of the replacement work paid for from grant funding, which is why the push to do this now. The alternative is having 70 separate emergencies as each tree fails one by one. The trees are going to come down due to extreme age; we can either do this in a smart, planned way with public benefit, good street tree replacement and lower costs, or we can just have them fail and not be able to afford to replace them, and end up losing the row of firs too. This is a case where planning and foresight makes more sense than doing nothing. Everyone involved understands that the poplars are beloved by many. I'd like people to have a little faith that the replacement may also become beloved too.

I attended the open house for the Community Build Project recently and was REALLY impressed with the project and its sponsors.

If you’ve been hearing a lot of negative stories about this project, I strongly encourage you to look into it further. The pilot program (Peter’s Place in Port Hadlock) has been up and running for 5 months now. I spoke with Sheriff Nole and he said they’d had ZERO law before issues at Peter’s Place in that time.
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Here’s a video from the open house:
https://youtu.be/4-ymxhfwiQY

Clarifying for all the people asking me about this:

In Washington, the top two vote getters in the Primary advance to the General election, regardless of party. And there’s a General election regardless of percentages in the primary.

So I will face Tyler Vega again on November 2.

Unlike a lot of other local races which are by District in the primary and whole county in the General, the City races are city-wide for both primary and general. So the November election will be the exact same voters with only two candidates instead of three.
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Voter turnout will likely be much higher in the general election than the primary (this is normal), with more races on the ballot, including the other contested City Council seat. Only races with more than two candidates appear on the Primary ballot. The November ballot will be bigger, with races for Port Commissioner, Hospital Commissioner, school board and more.