Her opponent, Republican Scott Henden, contends the county is pushing too fast to meet deadlines established by federal government. Commissioner Charlotte Garrido, another key player in the strategy, was defeated in the primary election. Her seat soon will be turned over to either Republican Jan Angel or to Democrat Dusty Wiley, both of whom have raised questions about the county's efforts. All four candidates agree that the salmon issue is complex, involving a balance of science, politics and property rights.
Most biologists agree that past land-use practices contributed to the salmon decline.
Land use is not the only factor, Endresen said, but it is one factor for which the county has primary responsibility. More than 2,000 waterfront property owners, many of them angry about possible new regulations, attended meetings in August and September to discuss shorelines. Henden, a Kingston resident, said he had not heard that harvest managers have already adjusted fishing seasons dramatically. Managers say fishing avoids nearly all threatened salmon while allowing harvest of abundant runs, such as fall chum and coho. Angel, a Port Orchard resident, said she realizes that land use plays a role in salmon recovery.