I had a lot of support in '96 from both sides. I've got a lot of friends from both sides. Most voters aren't interested in party politics and wonder why county offices have to be partisan, he said. If anything, switching parties shows he would be open to ideas from either side, he said. By running as a Democrat, he'll face the incumbent Garrido in the September primary election, when only South Kitsap voters will be voting for the position.
All voters vote for commissioners in the general election.
Garrido said she was surprised Wiley was running as a Democrat because she hasn't know him to be active in party affairs. I wonder if Dusty's indecisiveness about his political party will show in some of his platform positions from last time. Wiley has worked for the county for 31 years, and since 1990 has served as traffic operations supervisor, evaluating traffic accidents, investigating accident claims and working to make county roads safer. He's been an elected Fire District 7 commissioner since 1993, and currently is president of the Kitsap County Fire Commissioners Association.