Crowder seeks to add new flavor to council

POULSBO — While city council candidate Kimberlee Crowder may be unopposed in the upcoming election, that doesn’t mean she won’t be out campaigning with the rest of the field.

“I’m definitely going to put the time in to get something out to the public, so people know who I am and why I’m running,” said Crowder.

She will fill the council position vacated by Councilwoman Kathryn Quade, who is running for mayor.

As owner of the Poulsbo Tea House, she believes she brings a different perspective to the council than it has had in years past.

“There’s not a downtown business owner on the city council right now, and I do have a lot of love for the community,” Crowder explained.

After serving on the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation Commission, the decision to run for council seemed like the next logical step toward an increased level of community involvement, she said.

As both a downtown business owner and council candidate, Crowder said she has kept a careful eye on the city’s current visioning process as well as efforts to begin the revitalization of downtown.

“I see the visioning process as needing more public input and making the public more aware of what’s been happening,” she remarked, adding that it is the council’s responsibility to reach out to the public and ensure that all groups have an opportunity to participate in the visioning process.

“I hear everybody’s opinion here at the tea house because that’s the type of business I’m in,” Crowder explained.

Having that level of contact with various elements of the community will allow her to bring those concerns to the full council as she works to ensure that all groups are equally represented, she said.

As far as representation goes, being a downtown business owner has instilled a deep appreciation for the area’s heritage and cultural feel, she said.

“As we grow we need to keep our roots and remember why people come to Poulsbo,” she explained. “We don’t want to see an AM-PM down on Front Street.”

While the key to revitalizing downtown will be balancing growth with tradition, Crowder said the proposed partnership between the city and Olympic Property Management is exciting.

“I think they’ve done an excellent job in Port Gamble and I definitely think there are something things they can bring to the table,” she said.

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