BRENDA FANTROY-JOHNSON APPOINTED TO BAINBRIDGE ISLAND CITY COUNCIL IN 4-0-2 VOTE

Brenda Fantroy-Johnson became the chosen applicant to the Bainbridge Island City Council Position #2 North Ward seat. The seat was left vacant when two term council member, Kol Medina, took a job in his home town of Walla Walla, WA at the Blue Mountain Community Foundation.

Last week saw another Council deadlocked in a tie between then candidates Jane Lindley and Brenda Fantroy-Johnson. Lindley dropped out last Wednesday siting "bullying" from Council member Pollock.

"I'm withdrawing my application to the North Ward Council Seat effective immediately.
Brenda Fantroy-Johnson has achieved a great thing for herself and for the City of Bainbridge Island.
I wish Brenda and the Council well.
Best,
Jane Lindley"

Fantroy-Johnson will join the current Bainbridge Island City Council members (Christy Carr, Joe Deets, Kirsten Hytopoulos, Rasham Nassar, Michael Pollock, Leslie Schneider) in January when they reconvene Council business in the new year.

The vote was not without drama. There were four "Yays" and two abstentions. Council members Kirsten Hytopolous and Christy Carr were the two members who chose to abstain from the vote. Both of the council members sited a flawed process that was complicated by Council member Pollock's email to Kitsap County Commissioners who were potential vote casters in this appointment process at the time.

Both Council members Carr and Hytopolous noted that although Brenda Fantroy-Johnson was not their first choice, they both believe in her qualifications and welcome her to the council. They said they were abstaining from voting due to process issues, not candidate ones.

Fantroy-Johnson is the current co-chair of the Race Equity Task Force which was just voted to be converted into the Race Equity Committee. She will have to resign her seat thus opening up another spot on the Task Force. It will likely be left open until the two additional seats will be added next year to the new Race Equity Committee.

See Other Articles About the North Ward Candidate Selection Process Here