Bainbridge Island City Council
Central Ward, District 5
Respected Leader / Passionate Advocate / Commonsense Approach
Meet Clarence
Nearly 30 years ago, I made the best decision of my life - moving to Bainbridge Island, drawn by its natural beauty, excellent schools, and welcoming community.
I'm honored to serve on your City Council. Together, we’ve made meaningful progress - opening the long-overdue Ted Spearman Justice Center and advancing the island’s first major affordable workforce housing project at the former police station site. Yet, much work remains.
Affordable housing is our most urgent challenge. Too many essential workers, teachers, nurses, and young families can no longer afford to live here, resulting in long commutes that strain families, businesses, and our environment.
As our population ages, we must also make space for the next generation to support our schools and keep our community vibrant, and as we plan for thoughtful growth, protecting Bainbridge Island’s unique character and environment is essential.
Together, we can build a more inclusive, sustainable future that honors our history and uplifts every generation.
Elected & Professional Experience
Elected Experience
City Council Member, Bainbridge Island and Tukwila; Board Member, Kitsap Transit, Kitsap 911, Housing Kitsap Authority; Council Liaison, Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center and Bainbridge Island Public Arts Committee
Professional Experience
Senior aide and spokesperson for the Clinton Administration, Governor Mike Lowry, Congressman Jay Inslee, Washington State Senate, Sound Transit; Campaign Manager, ACLU of Washington; CEO, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington; Broadcast journalist, program producer and film critic, Seattle radio stations KVI, KJR, KAYO; Washington state's first and only 12 year-old Eagle Scout.
Community Service
Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community, Trustee and President, 1998-2021
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Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, Founding Member and President, 2008-2021
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National Park Conservation Association, Northwest Regional Leadership Council
2008 to present
Common Threads/North Kitsap Multi-Cultural Task Force, Founding Member
2005-2008
Puget Sound Blood Center, Rare Blood Task Force Member, 2006-2007
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Board of Directors, 2003-2006
Friends of Joel Pritchard Park, Steering Committee Member, 2003-2006
City of Bainbridge Island Wyckoff Superfund Site Acquisition Task Force, 2001-2005
Walt and Milly Woodward Fund, Board of Directors, 2001-2005
City of Bainbridge Island Salary Commission, Member, 2001-2004
Marge Williams Center, Board of Directors, 2002-2004
City of Bainbridge Island Health, Housing and Human Services Council
Board of Directors, 2001-2003
City of Seattle, Child Care Staffing Task Force, Founding Member, 1990-1993
Child Care Resources, Founding Board Member, 1989-1992
Tukwila Parks and Recreation Commission, Chairman, 1983-1987
ISSUES
CITY
GOVERNANCE
Bainbridge Island deserves responsive, responsible and predictable governance
PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT
We must ensure that the pressures of growth are carefully balanced against with the preservation of the quality of life that we all enjoy.
A COMMUNITY
FOR ALL
I believe that a community is defined and made richer by social, economic, religious and racial diversity.
Endorsements
Kitsap County Democrats
Kitsap Democratic Women
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Former Governor Jay Inslee
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Former Congressman Derek Kilmer
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State Senator Drew Hansen
State Representative Greg Nance
Former State Senator Phil Rockefeller
Former State Representative Larry Seaquest
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Kitsap County Commissioner Christine Rolfes
Kitsap County Commissioner Katie Waters
Kitsap County Commissioner Oran Root
King County Council-member Rod Dembrowsky
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Former Mayor Val Tollefson
Former Mayor Anne Blair
Former Mayor Kol Medina
Former Mayor Wayne Roth
Former Mayor Darlene Kordonowy
Former Council Member Kjell Stoknes
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Park Commissioner Ken DeWitt
Park Commissioner Tom Swolgaard
Former Parks Commissioner Neil Johannsen
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Kathleen Alcala
Jeanette Alexander
Kelly Ann
Marshia Armstrong
Louie Balukoff
Perry Barrett
CarolAnn Barrows
Bill Basl
Johanna Baxter
Tom and Karen Beierle
Michael Berry
Mark Biggs
Laura Blair
Sarah Blossom
Barbara Bolles
Kim Bottles
Alisa Lynn Broch
Keith Brofsky
Julie Brown
Marty Brown
Chris Cancialosi
Liz Brunell
Lynn Brunell
Ellen Bush
Erika Campbell
Johanna Caspander
Eric Cederwall
Dave Cinnamon
Barbara Clemons
Ron Coglin
Karen Connell
Karen Conoley
Gina Corpuz
Stephanie Reese Coates
Shiela Curwen
Marcy Daley
Mary Ann Dow
Jerry Elfendahl
John Ellis
Paula Enborg
Mark Epstein
tj Faddis
Ellen Ferguson
Lisa Mighetto
Stan Miyao
Felix Narte
Alex Nelson
Todd Nichols
Joe Norris
Lucy Ostrander
Paul Parker
Barry Reid
Lisa Rennie
Greg Robinson
Keru.Rawlings-Rooney
Pete Salutos
Emily Sato
Brad Schabert
Katy Curtis Schabert
Greg Scheiderer
Cynthia Sears
Donald Sellers
Ken Sethney
Ben Shepard
Gerald Simonson
Lynn Smith
Rob & Joni Smith
Adem & Bridal Solak
Marie Spearman
Denise Stoughton
Frank and Mary Stowel
John and Susan Swolgaard
Carole Tashima
Laura Tilley
Mary Ann Tollefson
Jay & Sue Trinidad
Dan Trifle
Keith Uyekawa
Jo Vander Stoep
Art Verhaven
Steve Walden
Elaine Manz Yancovitz
Christina Young
Pearl Young
Theresa Young
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Danny Fleenor
Nate Ford
Tammy Fujihara
Maradel Gale
Lara Blar Gano
Tom Goodlin
Leigh Manheim Gray
Tom Gray
Fred and Wilene Grimm
Emily Groff
Gina Guddat
Bruce Hall
David and Cindy Harrison
John Haydon
John Herman
Libby Hudson
Frances Kitamoto Ikegami
Trudi Inslee
Johnathan Jackson
Jeff Jelinek
Steve and Vicki Johnson
Döna Keating
Tom Kilbane
Mike & Penny Kimball
Danny & Kristina Kim
Elaine Ko
Lilly Kitamoto Kodama
Luann Konrad
Ed and Karen Kushner
Kristina Hermach
Marsha Lancaster
Lara Lant
David and George Lewis
Jon Liebling
Adam Lindstrum
Chastity Malatesta
Sallie Maron
Karen Matsumoto
Kyoko Matsumoto-Wright
Lynda McMaken
Maureen McNulty
Jennifer Merrill
