Economic Viability

Bremerton is teeming with opportunities for strong local businesses and living wage jobs. As the future of our economy turns towards "green" jobs and technology, we must ensure that we bring these jobs home to our community. We are a prime community for small manufacturing business. Big corporations do add to the economy. However, small family-owned businesses truly care about neighborhoods and schools. Daryl Daugs will be a voice for our economic future.

Building on a Solid Foundation

For 40 years, we watched Bremerton ebb and flow between signs of growth, stagnation and decline. Lots of ideas but not enough action. Through all of that time there has remained a spirit of community and pride. Many of us grew up here and came back as teachers, community leaders and many (like me) chose to return as business professionals.

We have seen some very impressive improvements downtown in recent years. I love the parks, the gateway and the fountains. This should be seen as the beginning. We are more then just a place to drive through on the way to or from the ferry.

But it doesn’t matter how pretty the parks are if no one wants to live in the neighborhoods. We need new neighborhoods of affordable housing. Revitalization of downtown neighborhoods. Improved streets, infra-structure and streamlining of government service. This is what we need to focus on. Can we drive down the street without having to dodge potholes? How many of the neighborhoods have pavement that is “original”?

I want to live in a community that families can afford to live in. This is not Seattle or San Francisco. Those places are nice to visit but WE LIVE IN BREMERTON!

City Government that Represents the People

Public service is not lip service. Do you feel like you have a say in your community? How many times have you showed up for some “public input meeting” only to find that the decisions have already been made. That is not representative government. That is looking for a rubber stamp.

I have a history of giving voice and representation to families and communities. My executive style is collaborative … not directive.

Many tough decisions are on the horizon in Bremerton. Every leader needs to be ready and willing to make tough decisions. But those decisions cannot be made without advice and input from the community … BEFORE THE DECISIONS ARE MADE!

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My 5-Point Economic Plan

I am committed to preparing Bremerton for economic recovery by helping community interests work together for strong businesses and great jobs. I have a 5 point plan:

1. Keep Bremerton's small business owners successful and encourage entrepreneurship.

• Work with small businesses to ensure adequate low-cost, convenient parking for downtown merchants and their customers.
• Offer incentives to small businesses, the largest engine of job growth and innovation.
• Establish a small business liaison to facilitate communication between the city and small business owners.
• Take a personal interest in the success of each small business in Bremerton.

2. Invest in the education of our people.           

• Partner with the business, labor/trades and military communities to develop a mentorship and dropout prevention program in Bremerton Schools.
• Help create more business internships for high school students, so they can gain workplace experience, learn the work ethic, and contribute directly to our economy and society.
• Work towards establishing an independent four year college in Bremerton.  We are one of the most populated regions in the state which has no standing four year college to educate our people.  Because of the lack of a committed higher education system, Bremerton loses the opportunity to build an economy of small businesses which could spring forth from the needs of college students. 

3. Streamline government and improve accountability.

• Simplify licensing and permitting to reduce the time businesses spend on compliance, so they can focus on succeeding and creating jobs.
• Require all City Departments to review policies and procedures that could have a significant impact on business.
• Emphasize service in permitting of business and construction projects.  City Departments are for the service of all taxpayers, and they exist to assist in obtaining required permits in a timely manner.

4. Support our cornerstone industries and strengthen our infrastructure.

• Focus economic development-specific infrastructure programs on creating good-paying jobs and enhanced employee training to those targeted companies.
• Assist in the preservation and expansion jobs in our core industries by understanding and addressing their unique business needs.
• Keep our transportation system moving by making safety improvements and addressing congestion choke points.

5. Help emerging technology industries thrive.

• Focus on supporting and nurturing our existing small businesses to become leaders in the production of clean technology tools.
• Lead in Green Technology.  Green technology is the oil industry of the 21st Century, and Bremerton should be a regional leader.  Take the initiative now, and foster technology to support wind, solar, biofuels, and other renewable energy sources.
• Help academic institutions match course offerings with real world local needs in high demand fields.