BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – During a contentious exchange at a League of Women Voters forum for Bainbridge Island candidates Thursday night, an incumbent candidate for a seat on the board of the island’s park district reached out and swatted at his opponent. Her response: “Please don’t hurt me.”

The forum, held at Bainbridge Island City Hall, featured candidates for positions on the island’s school board, fire department board and park district board. Rachel Pritchett, a former Kitsap Sun journalist, is running against longtime park district commissioner Tom Swolgaard for a six-year term on the parks board.

While answering a question during the forum, Swolgaard was interrupted by Pritchett, who was seated next to him at the dais. The interruption prompted Swolgaard to lean over and swipe at Pritchett’s shoulder, saying, “It’s my turn.”

“Please don’t hurt me,” she said following the contact.

“Then turn your mic off,” he said with a laugh, reaching over in the direction of Pritchett’s microphone.

When Pritchett interrupted again, the forum moderator cut in, “This is not a debate,” and the event continued.

Prtichett described the contact on her shoulder as a “firm grasp for a moment,” which she said startled her. She acknowledged she may have spoken out of turn, “But if I violated my time that was not an open door to invade my personal space to put his hands firmly on my shoulder, that’s not right. It startled me, and it’s just not right.”

Asked about the incident Friday, Swolgaard said Pritchett had “continually” interrupted him during the forum and downplayed the episode, saying, “I think she’s blowing it out of proportion to get more votes.”

A few minutes after an interview with the Sun, Swolgaard called to walk back his comments, saying he planned to get in touch with Pritchett to apologize, but added the caveat, “It’s gotta be two-sided. She was disruptive, and she owes me an apology as well. Hopefully we can work that out between us.”

Later Friday, Swolgaard forwarded an apology email he sent to Pritchett: “I'm sorry for how I reacted last night. It's obvious that we both feel strongly about our common concern for the parks and the citizens of Bainbridge Island. It's for them we serve. Here's to preserving the parks on Bainbridge Island.”

To watch the full video of the forum, visit bkat.viebit.com.