Originally posted June 26, 2009

Today is the day and the results are in for our first ever online candidates forum for Seattle City Council.

Most of the candidates couldn’t be bothered with our simple questionnaire, and we were reminded by a friend yesterday that us smaller, browner fish don’t mean squat to most campaigns.  We of course, already knew this; it is exactly why we decided to do this forum and see what came of it.  Here are your candidates, in the order in which responses were received.

David Miller, Pos. 8 

In your opinion, what are the top 3 issues facing the City Council, and why those 3?

Jobs, public safety, and the environment

Jobs – With unemployment above 10%, our City Council needs to have a more focused economic development strategy. Seattle must have focused programs for building green economy jobs, which tend to be available to people of all educational backgrounds. I’m a founding volunteer instructor at UW-Bothell’s Center for Student Entrepreneurship, where we’ve launched over 40 companies in the nine-year history of the program. We demand our students focus their business ideas on their core competitive advantage. Seattle’s competitive advantage is low-cost, low-carbon power combined with space available in our industrial areas – and we don’t do enough to focus on this advantage.

Public Safety – Greg Nickels has made significant mistakes as Mayor. A lack of attention to public safety is one of the biggest. When former Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck proposed increasing the number of police officers, Nickels’ spokespeople called it a “publicity stunt.” After being flooded with letters supporting the increase, Nickels now takes credit for the idea. In about a year, we’ll have beat cops as a regular presence in our neighborhoods – a proven strategy for reducing crime. Nickels also defunded the Gang Unit, and we have more gang-related crime. His two most short-sighted mistakes were to ruin the great community-building work the Department of Neighborhoods was doing AND not paying close enough attention to Seattle School District policies that have taken too many schools out of the heart of too many neighborhoods in our city. Public Safety requires proactive leadership, and Nickels has proven time and again he can only work retroactively – usually based upon whatever is in the headlines each day.

Environment – Seattle has agreed to take on hundreds of thousands of new residents and jobs between now and 2040. If we do not grow responsibly by concentrating that growth in our urban villages and urban centers, we will destroy our in-city environment. This will dramatically reduce our quality of life in our city, doom our in-city watersheds, and adversely affect Lake Union, Lake Washington, and Elliott Bay.

What involvement do you think the City should have in Seattle Schools decision making, and why?

I do not believe it is appropriate for our City government, in its current state of disarray, to assert any decision making control over Seattle Public Schools. SDOT, DPD, and other departments have such significant internal problems there can be no confidence City government oversight of Seattle Public Schools decisions would result in positive outcomes. That does not mean City Council cannot help, however.

As a product of public schools, and the son of a woman who devoted nearly 20 years of her life working with at-risk kids in my home school district as a teacher’s aide, I am a firm believer in the essential role public education plays in any community. I believe we can do a better job allocating dollars from our Families & Education Levy to support before and after school programs. Seattle City Council should strengthen the education committee, commit to have a Councilmember at every School Board meeting, and ask a School Board member to attend most education committee meetings. Economies of scale obtained from sharing sports fields and open spaces can benefit both organizations once certain legal and financial issues are solved. City Council can also work to waive certain permitting requirements to bring needed school capacity online faster.

What is your opinion of the Youth Violence Initiative? Would you continue with the Initiative, why or why not? What solutions do you have for violent crime amongst young people across the city?

A program with its heart in the right place, but the Mayor predictably turned it into largely a public relations stunt serving to send large sums of money into too many unproven programs even as proven programs were not fully funded after the last round of budget cuts. I would continue with the initiative, but work with community leaders and effective city leaders like Councilmember Tim Burgess to refocus funds towards proven programs.

Violent youth crime is a community problem requiring a community solution. The solution to youth violence isn’t going to be created downtown in City Hall or the Muni Building. It will be created in the community centers, churches, kitchens, and schoolyards of our neighborhoods. Communities must work together to do better by their youth.

I’ve spent time, but need to spend more time, talking to people about this issue and watching what smart people have to say on the subject. I’m fairly confident the communities most affected by violence know what needs to be done. As a City Councilmember, my job is to help those who are willing to step up with smart programs and ideas that can get the job done.

What is your plan to make city government more accessible and inclusive for those who are often left out of the political process but are impacted by the decisions city electeds hand down?

My job as a Councilmember is to construct a process where communities are invited into our processes at the earliest possible opportunity. I know from a couple of decades of experience that if you get the right people in the room, give them access to good information, and ask them to answer intelligently crafted questions they will produce amazing results. I’ve already outlined a plan to work with the City Neighborhood Council to formalize an outreach, identification, and training process to create a “talent bank” of regular Seattleites we can plug into boards, commissions, and informal “information gathering” opportunities so we can do a better job of understanding the needs of communities across Seattle.

I have done enough neighborhood organizing that I am very aware not everyone can participate as easily. We have people who work multiple jobs or work schedules that don’t allow them to spend 3 hours on a weekday evening in a meeting room. People who work for a living and then have to come home and try to raise their kids in the time left over and not always be on call from City Hall. I am very committed to getting out into our communities, particularly our working class communities and communities of color who are not traditionally well represented at city forums, and actively seeking out opinions on important issues.

All Councilmembers have this responsibility, but I see it as an especially important role for anyone who holds Position 8 on our Council. I’m proud my campaign is considered the hardest working campaign for Council this cycle, and I’ll bring that same dedication and effort to Council if I win.

Do you support the new jail, why or why not?

Whether or not we need a new jail is largely in the hands of negotiators from the Mayor’s office and King County. If King County moves forward to essentially evict us, no honest candidate can say we do not have to build a new jail. There are people for whom incarceration is necessary. I do not want to spend money on a new jail, and will work hard to minimize the money we spend on jail cells if the Mayor fails to negotiate a new jail agreement. I also strongly believe the jail should be downtown.

If the Mayor fails and we must build a new jail, then we should take on that task with great vision and creativity. The facility should have incarceration as a small part of its use. Mental health services, counseling, education, vocational training, and other social services should be part of the mix. Seattleites are intelligent and creative. We should be able to effectively rethink the idea of “jail” if indeed we’re forced to build one.

Do you think that City Councilmembers should be elected by “district”, tasked to represent the interests of certain parts of the city, much like school board members or King County Councilmembers are? Why or Why not?

I am in favor of a proposal to create a hybrid Council made up of five districted and four at-large Councilmembers. Anyone who spends any time talking to people in our neighborhoods, especially those neighborhoods at the edges of our city limits, knows too many people are simply not having their interests represented adequately in the current system. Districting has nothing to do with “improving” the competitiveness of Council seats or encouraging more people to run for office. It has everything to do with better representation on Council.

While the current Council is doing a better job than we’ve seen in a long time – despite having to deal with our roadblock of a Mayor – I believe the best way to institutionalize this improved performance is through the hybrid approach.

To the point: “Why should I vote for you and not the other candidate(s)?”

I’m the well-rounded candidate.

• Past president of the Maple Leaf Community Council with experience working on city-wide issues of importance to our neighborhoods
• Experience working environmental issues like parks & open space, urban tree canopy, and particularly environmental health issues like preventing the spread of toxic dust in our neighborhoods.
• 16+ years of business executive experience, including work with multiple state legislatures, multi-state operational experience, and significant business creation experience.

Community, environment, and business – no other candidate has comparable breadth or depth of experience in my race. I strongly believe this is a critical difference because in any given hour of any given day, Councilmembers have to deal with an insanely broad number of issues and decisions. You want someone representing you on Council with the broadest experience possible.

When I started the campaign last November, I wanted to put together a coalition of community leaders, business leaders, and environmental leaders. I hope to add labor endorsement to that list soon. If you look at the endorsements section of my web site (http://www.MillerForSeattle.org/endorsements.html) you’ll see I’ve done exactly that. If you hire me for the job, I’ll hit the ground running with a broader coalition of support than any of my competitors and we can get right to work on the problems facing our city.

Anything you wish to add that hasn’t been asked?

Yes.

I need your help. I cannot be the kind of candidate or the kind of Councilmember I want to be without your input and ideas, so please take a moment to drop me an e-mail. Invite me to come out and meet your friends or your group. Help me understand your concerns so I can do this job better.

You can reach me directly at David.Miller@MillerForSeattle.org

Thanks to Ms. Sable Verity and her readers for the questions and the opportunity to respond.

Sally Bagshaw, Pos 4 

The number one issue facing City Council and the Mayor is the city budget and revenues.

A few months ago, the city took steps to adjust the 2009 budget because there was a shortfall of almost $30M. Midyear reductions were made to save about $13M. Those conversation and those cuts were difficult but they will pale in comparison to the adjustments needed for the 2010 budget. Based on projections, we are facing a shortfall of $40+M.

http://www.seattle.gov/financedepartment/pdfs/4-20-09_Mid-2009_GF_Budget_Reductions_Council_Presentation.pdf

Our state’s unemployment rate is hovering around 9%.  Based on conversations I’ve had with neighbors throughout this city, that number seems low in many neighborhoods. Too many people are suffering and struggling to pay their rent and mortgages, while juggling family responsibilities and sometimes multiple part-time jobs. We need to get back to work by inviting employers into the city who pay good paying jobs. If there is a silver lining to the economic crash, it is that our new economy could be, and should be, stronger. We should take advantage of this lull and plan for jobs of the future and where to put them, and create the “green’ and innovative technological industry.

We have an opportunity before us to make our region an international hub for green collar jobs- whether that’s weatherization, or solar production, or sustainable technology. That is a priority for me. Jobs, jobs, and jobs. That message seems to be resonating because many Labor organizations have shown their support and for that I am grateful.

Transportation is another priority for me. Using my experience with Metro and Sound Transit, I want to create a comprehensive transportation system that is accessible to all. A transportation system that truly gets us from north to south, east and west in the easiest, most affordable manner possible. If we want to encourage people to get out of their cars, we need to give people the ability to do so. That means more bus service, easier pedestrian routes, protected bicycle lanes, and the list goes on.

Public safety is also a concern across our city, and it is a concern of mine each an every day- election year or not. In my mind, public safety is a basic amenity. People should feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. I am pleased to hear that Seattle is experiencing a 40-year low in crime, but I also know that many neighborhoods feel the impact of gun violence, gang violence, and unacceptable behaviors that should be changed.  Let’s strive for an ‘across the board’ low. Everyone deserves that.

Though I am running for “City” Council, I am fully aware our issues go beyond our city’s boundaries. To be effective, and truly make regional progress, we must have a functional, working relationship with all levels of government— from Neighborhood Community Councils, to our School Board, to the Executive, County, and State. We must work together for the greater good. All stakeholders need to be at the table, and as a City Councilmember, I will make sure that happens.  What I will bring to the table is common sense, for the common good.

So, yes, there should be concerted conversations between the city and our School Board members and superintendent. We need to work together, and use our resources wisely.   I would like to see the Seattle Public Schools have the reputation as being one of the nation’s best.  We are a smart region, we can do this.  We can improve our district, whether the issues are about programming, or surplused property, neighborhood schools,  shared fields, or police officers on grounds- we need to work together.

Obviously much needs to be done, and this calls for listening to neighborhood leaders as well as youth leaders. I was relieved to see that the original proposal was altered so existing programs like CURB are still funded. We don’t need to recreate the wheel: we need to do a better job of supporting what exists and what works.

The city has budgeted $9 million over the next two years for a youth violence prevention program that will provide services and support to 800 middle-schoolers identified as having truancy or school problems, along with juvenile offenders who are returning. The goal is to cut youth violence in half in the first year of the initiative.

I do have some concerns. The goal to cut youth violence by 50% in the first year is laudable, but without neighborhood support and support of youths involved it is not realistic.   My other concern is that much attention is directed toward middle school children, while I hear from neighborhoods that we must actively consider the youngest students and high schoolers as well.

We need to give youth options and hear their voices.  We need to empower them and have them believe they are possibilities before them.

The decisions that are made in City Hall have impacts in every hall. It is arrogant for us to think that the political process exists during the hours of 9am to 5pm at City Hall. Only a small segment of people can attend Council Committee meetings, that is why we must do a better job of reaching out. People shouldn’t be required to come to us, we need to go out to the people or at a minimum make electronic communication available. If we want government to be accessible, and we should, we need to make it easier to navigate. The process needs to be inviting and not intimidating.

If elected, I’d hold traditional office hours, out in the neighborhoods. I’d surround myself with knowledgeable, responsive staff, so people didn’t feel dismissed. I’d always remember that as a Councilmember, I am a public servant: I serve the public. I know people feel a disconnect between themselves and City Hall. I am a connector, I bring people together to solve problems.

• Do you support the new jail, why or why not?

No, I don’t support a new city-owned and managed jail.  King County is responsible for county-wide misdemeanants and felons.   The city and county must renegotiate a contract so that the city obtains jail space from the county at a fair and reasonable rate.  See my website at www.sallybagshaw.com for a further discussion on this point.   My experience as King County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney could help facilitate a better outcome.

In addition, we should take actions so we reduce the number of jail beds required. Let’s examine the types of crimes that lead to jail time. We can make changes in sentencing requirements.  For example, we must decriminalize marijuana possession and vagrancy.  Additionally, we can save taxpayers money and provide more humane support by fully funding drug court, mental health court,  mental health diversion options, and jail alternatives such as community service and electronic home monitoring.

As I said, building jails is a last resort. What we should rather be doing is focusing our attention and making sure people don’t head in that direction in the first place.

• Do you think that City Councilmembers should be elected by “district”, tasked to represent the interests of certain parts of the city, much like school board members, or King County Councilmembers are? Why or Why not?

I am supportive of the at-large system. I understand why people are drawn to the district system but in my experience the benefits do not outweigh the disadvantages. Voters want councilmembers they can turn to, someone who is accountable to both themselves and their neighborhood. Those conditions can exist under an at-large system when responsibilities are shared and the council is looking out for the city as a whole.

Currently, if voters feel that an elected is not responsive or not working responsibly, he or she can be voted out of office.

If we have Districts, my concerns is that could actually work against smaller neighborhoods. Currently people work with Council and hope to secure five of nine votes. With Districts, you’d concentrate your efforts on one representative who is beholden first to the people in his or her district.  As demonstrated by the King County Council that is elected by districts, many councilmembers think first of their own districts, rather than thinking first of the County as a whole.  This is wrong.  Further, as demonstrated by the lack of competition against current County Council incumbents, competition is not nearly as rigorous as for the City’s at-large seats.

Rather than dividing the city up in districts, I’d prefer to see more people running for office. We need to encourage people to participate. Perhaps public-financing will help with that.

• To the point: “Why should I vote for you and not the other candidate(s)?”

My campaign theme is “uniting people, solving problems.”  I listen deeply.  I make decisions on facts.  And I act decisively, not divisively.  Besides, I’m open to all opinions and reasonable conversation.

This is the way I have approached problem solving as a community volunteer, as a former elected official, as a public school mom and as Chief of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Civil Division.  My experience is broad and deep.   I have organized programs and created a legal clinic to help homeless women,  I served two terms on the Lake Forest Park, I developed new before school programs for all kids, and I managed a division with nearly 100 lawyers and staff.  Most of all, I work hard, answer phone calls,  and will enjoy working with YOU.

• Anything you wish to add that hasn’t been asked?

I would like to emphasize neighborhoods again. Everyone deserves the right to be heard and included in neighborhood decisions.  We have important decisions to make about Transit Oriented Development and density in neighborhoods.   I also believe that everyone has a right to know what is happening in their neighborhoods and notified early about decisions being made.  As a councilmember, I will support open government and promote good public disclosure policies.  We, as a city, need to be more open, helpful, an transparent.

Sally Bagshaw

Bobby Forch, Pos. 8

• In your opinion, what are the top 3 issues facing the City Council, and why those 3?

Jobs & the Economy

Transportation

Public Safety

Jobs & Economy: We have the worst economy in a generation. We need to preserve jobs, jumpstart infrastructure, and create new jobs to get our economy back on track.

Transportation: This has been an ongoing mess that needs clear thinking and decisive action. We need a comprehensive transportation plan that integrates new infrastructures like light rail with new and existing bus schedules. We cannot look at each individual solution as the sole solution.

Public Safety: Even though crime is on the decrease, gang related crime and youth violence is rising. We need to improve neighborhood and community involvement in crime prevention.

• What involvement do you think the City should have in Seattle Schools decision making, and why?

At present, the city has limited involvement in the decision making of the school board. The City government and the School Board are necessarily separate entities, but the city should be actively meeting with the School Board and finding ways to do a better job of supporting public schools by providing better funding. The city and the board should seek to partner with each other to close the achievement gap and increase the graduation rate.

• What is your opinion of the Youth Violence Initiative?  Would you continue with the Initiative, why or why not?  What solutions do you have for violent crime amongst young people across the city?

The Youth Violence Initiative is adequate, but we need to improve upon it. Yes, I would continue it because it’s a good start. We need to create multiple learning tracks and better support systems that will allow for alternative choices for high school and post-high school students to find their way to work and not to violence.

• What is your plan to make city government more accessible and inclusive for those who are often left out of the political process but are impacted by the decisions city electeds hand down?

Transparency and information. We need to actively inform the public about what we’re doing and recruit their input. Streamline processes and make them simpler.

• Do you support the new jail, why or why not?

No. Crime is going down, and many of the people in jail would be better served alternatively (home arrest, addiction programs, work release facilities). The cost is prohibitive and isn’t worth the expense.

• Do you think that City Councilmembers should be elected by “district”, tasked to represent the interests of certain parts of the city, much like school board members, or King County Councilmembers are?  Why or Why not?

Yes, but this should be a combination of district representatives and at-large electeds so that we have don’t have all or most council members from one area and none from another; but also that we ensure that we have a cohesive unit of a council with a big-picture vision.

• To the point: “Why should I vote for you and not the other candidate(s)?”

I think you’ll hear a lot of us talking about the same issues: jobs, the economy, transportation, etc. We all agree on a lot of the same things, but I’m the candidate with the direct experience and a plan to get results on these issues. As a Strategic Advisor in the Major Projects Division of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT)  I am especially proud that in the last three years I have helped the City’s contracting with disadvantaged businesses increase by more than 40 percent.

I’ve helped our small businesses. I’ve made city government work smarter. I’ve championed our city’s kids. I believe I have the experience and commitment in achieving results to be one of your next Seattle City Council Members.

• Anything you wish to add that hasn’t been asked?

I am running because I believe the Seattle City Council can do more to turn around our economy while supporting the values we believe in as a city.

We need to improve our basic city services, however, our city is facing large deficits that leaves us with little money to move our city forward. Our first priority needs to be getting this economy moving again. Our city needs to invest in strong public safety, new sidewalks, transit that connects to light rail, new parks and open spaces, human services and other basic infrastructure needs.

We can’t make those investments by taxing people out of Seattle. Here’s what I will do:

* Create a new Small Business Division within the City’s Office of Economic Development to work with our small businesses to create jobs.

* Protect our industrial base along our waterfront to protect those living wage jobs and preserve our fishing industry.

* Eliminate the employee head tax that encourages city businesses to locate elsewhere

*  Ensure new infrastructure projects are on-time and on-budget

*Rework city bus service so it integrates with light rail and work with the new county administration to reduce costly Metro overhead and focus on service for riders

* Reduce the wastestream (such as petroleum products and harmful chemicals) from major construction projects to protect the environment

*Reduce Seattle stormwater runoff going directly into Puget Sound by 5% by leveraging new technology such as porous concrete

I live in Seattle’s Central District with my wife and son. I have been a board member for Northwest Children’s Fund and am a current member of the 37th District Democrats.. I am committed to ensuring Seattle continues to be a world-class city. I would be honored to hold the seat of retiring City Councilmember Richard McIver. I ask for your vote.

Dorsol Plants, Pos 4 

In your opinion, what are the top 3 issues facing the City Council, and why those 3?

I feel the three most pressing issues facing Seattle today are: 1. The state of our economy, specifically an environment that discourages small businesses, 2. Neighborhood affordability, and not just the housing but also the cost of taxes, utilities, and transportation. 3. The growing youth violence in Seattle, we’ve closed schools, libraries and community centers and allowed the problem to take the lives of many of our young people already.

What involvement do you think the City should have in Seattle Schools decision-making, and why?

I think the City should work more closely with the School Board, forming an actual partnership to work together. I think one of the ways we can do this is by taking control of the care and maintenance of the outside of the schools. We have an amazing Parks and Recreation department that would do an amazing job taking care of them. We also need to provide necessary funding to after school programs. It makes no sense for a teacher to spend the entire day mentoring and encouraging a student if we don’t provide a safe place for him to go after class.

What is your opinion of the Youth Violence Initiative?  Would you continue with the Initiative, why or why not?  What solutions do you have for violent crime amongst young people across the city?

I think the Youth Violence Initiative is a good start with a lot of really good ideas. It’s truly unfortunate that the economic crisis hit during the year the initiative was moving forward and made funding for it difficult. I think that is where we start to see our first issues. We need to fully fund our libraries and before/after school programs. The cost of not running those programs is so much higher than the money saved by scuttling them. We also need to restore our gang unit, and allow them the time to build relationships with our youth in the neighborhoods. Finally, we need to work harder at securing the funding for after school programs and community centers, our youth need safe places to just be kids and suffer when we don’t provide them.

What is your plan to make city government more accessible and inclusive for those who are often left out of the political process but are impacted by the decisions city electeds handed down?

One way in which I would seek to go about creating accessibility is in our neighborhood planning process. First, to restore the trust lost between the government and the neighborhoods we need to formulate a way to enable the decision made in the planning process to be used, giving the neighborhood leaders a means to help shape and protect the character of their neighborhoods. Secondly, we need to start recognizing not just the Department of Neighborhood leaders, but also all of the respected leaders in the community. Here in Highland Park we have a high population of minorities, many of which have formed their own neighborhood groups that should be recognized and acknowledged. Finally, each of the neighborhood plans should include a list of the spoken languages in each neighborhood and any time the city puts out information it must include it in those languages. It does no good to hold a public meeting if not everyone is invited.

Do you support the new jail, why or why not?

No, I do not support the new jail. The city has yet to provide any facts or figures to demonstrate the need for an entirely new facility. This issue instead demonstrates a problem in our city government, because the concept resulted not from a need, but because of the breakdown in communication between City and County. We need a government that will work with others, and works to move forward.

Do you think that City Councilmembers should be elected by “district”, tasked to represent the interests of certain parts of the city, much like school board members, or King County Councilmembers are?  Why or Why not?

I believe that the city would benefit from a hybrid district approach to the council. I think there should be 4 at-large and then 5 district positions on the city council. This would be enabling everyone to feel like they have a voice, while providing a sufficient citywide perspective.

To the point: “Why should I vote for you and not the other candidate(s)?”

I am bringing to this race a unique, and different set of skill sets than anyone in my race. I would be the only member on the City Council that has served and lead in a combat zone. This provides a very different view of what leadership is. A view that means I would never ask anyone to do anything I wouldn’t be willing to do, and the knowledge that I should always put the people first. You know that I am someone who is a fighter and will fight for you on the city council. I may not have the typical “political” experience, but I have the experience of a true public servant with the energy to carry it through.

Anything you wish to add that hasn’t been asked?

One of the issues I feel strongest about is the growing problem of homelessness. I believe that we could accomplish more with less in the Human Services Department that would enable us to expand services without increasing the demand already put on the budget. We could tackle this issue by creating an effect means of communication through the various nonprofits in the City of Seattle. We would create a “virtual supply depot” that would use modern technology to allow for instant communication about services, donated goods, and any growing needs.

Jessie Israel, Pos 6 

In your opinion, what are the top 3 issues facing the City Council, and why those 3?

In the next 20 years, an estimated 1.7 million people will move to our region. Today, we must take bold action on issues that will impact the future that our children inherit. For the past decade I have brought my passion for building partnerships across economic and political divides to help build stronger communities.  I will bring that experience to the City Council.

As your Councilmember, my first priorities will be building strong, walkable communities so that the neighborhoods we love can continue to be affordable and livable for many generations of families to come.    I will be a champion for making smart, efficient investments in transportation, energy, and infrastructure.  Second, I will focus on developing strategic partnership to make sure we are strengthening our safety net for those most in need.   In tough economic times, we have less funding for the support people need more than ever.  That’s why we need to more effectively work with non-profit and social service organizations.  Third, we need to support robust public safety and truancy prevention initiatives.

What involvement do you think the City should have in Seattle Schools decision making, and why?

I think that the City should be supporting teachers and administrators, but not running the schools.  Washington public schools rank 42nd in the nation based on per-pupil spending. Seattle gets about $10,000 per pupil from all sources (state, federal and local). In comparison, Boston spends about $15,000 per pupil, and the elite private schools of the country invest $25,000 or more per pupil. Our class sizes are the 46th-largest in the country. I will continue to support the Families & Education Levy and school levy campaigns.

In Seattle 33% of the high schools, generate 50% of the dropouts in the district. 51% of the dropouts come from four schools: Ingraham (12%), Chief Sealth (17%), Franklin (11%) and Cleveland (11%).  10 elementary schools and 5 middle schools feed up to these worst performing schools for dropouts.  I would actively work to ensure the City is targeting incentives and funding to support these 20 schools which are most at risk.  Similar to the successful Harlem Children’s Zone strategy, I will be a strong proponent of a collaborative, strategic and highly targeted approach to blanket the worst performing schools with support from all angles.  While the City cannot be a sole source of funding for this type of collaboration, the City must play a leadership role in its success.

What is your opinion of the Youth Violence Initiative?  Would you continue with the Initiative, why or why not?  What solutions do you have for violent crime amongst young people across the city?

Ten years ago under Cheryl Chow and Martha Choe there was a gang violence initiative which brought gang rates from highest the City had ever seem to lowest in a matter of months.  The reason that initiative was successful was because it partnered with parents, teachers, and community organizations.  I support the new initiative, but we need to listen to people who know how to work effectively with kids, especially educators because the number one thing we can do is make sure students graduate from high school.  It is also essential that we partner with other organizations to ensure we are being strategic in how we spend available funds.  As an example, I recently worked with the Technology Access Foundation (TAF) to leverage $2M in public grant dollars towards building a $15M state-of-the-art community center for teaching underserved children in South Seattle the math and technology skills that are critical to their success. TAF will operate this center for the next 30 years without support from the crippled County General Fund.

What is your plan to make city government more accessible and inclusive for those who are often left out of the political process but are impacted by the decisions city electeds hand down?

As we take on more growth and build communities around transit centers and urban centers we need to pay close attention to gentrification and not pushing communities of color and low-income communities outside the City.  Then we need to make sure that it is practical for real people to get involved in government.  Community meetings should not be during work hours, and there should be childcare available.  We should also have more robust outreach and translation programs that serve people for whom English is a second language.  Lastly, community partnerships are imperative in a time when we have limited resources.  We should be smarter about working hand in hand with non-profit and social service organizations that have existing relationship with communities that are often left out of the political process.

Do you support the new jail, why or why not?

I am in support of extending the contract with the county and putting resources into diversion, substance abuse and mental health, all of which have been proven to work.  It is a huge red flag that a disproportionate number of people going to jail are African American men, and I am concerned that we have too many people who are going to jail, when they should be going into other programs.  In addition to dealing with substance abuse and mental health, we should focus on unemployment in disadvantaged communities.  Many infrastructure projects on the horizon will support good-paying jobs for working men and women.  We must ensure that job seekers have technical training to take advantage of the durable jobs that are created instead of turning to crime.

Please see questions two and three for my ideas about supporting education and youth programs.

Do you think that City Councilmembers should be elected by “district”, tasked to represent the interests of certain parts of the city, much like school board members, or King County Councilmembers are?  Why or Why not?

Yes, I believe that district elections would mean more direct representation for the people of Seattle and better accountability.  It would also mean less costly and more transparent elections.  It would ensure that qualified candidates could get elected without being driven by money.

To the point: “Why should I vote for you and not the other candidate(s)?”

During some of the most prosperous years in our city’s history, we missed the boat on making important investments for our future: Infrastructure. Education. Transit.  Now, more than ever, we need leadership on the Seattle City Council that is innovative, inclusive and – most importantly – decisive about getting the job done.  With over a million people moving to our region in the next 20 years, we have no time to waste.  My opponent, Nick Licata, has been more concerned with stalling progress, than proactively championing new ideas and coalitions that can move our city forward.  In fact, he partnered with Rob McKenna and Maggie FImia to sue Sound Transit and it almost killed our chances at bringing light rail to Seattle.  Over the past 12 years Seattle has defined itself – NOT by innovation, efficiency or the coalitions we build – by process for the sake of process and my opponent has been at the center of it all.

I promise to focus on what CAN be done, not what can be stopped, stalled, studied again, or processed to death. I know how to leverage public funds. I know the power of new technology. I know the power of partnerships.  I have built a career out of figuring out how government CAN succeed in a tough economy.  When 80% of our budget at King County Parks went away over night, I had to figure out how to keep 25,000 acres of parkland open.  Those parks are still open today – and the parks are making money and reclaiming bad neighborhoods from Marymoor Park to White Center.

I am proud to be endorsed by:

Washington Conservation Voters | Cascade Bike Club | National Women’s Political Caucus | Alki Foundation | Rental Housing Association | West Seattle Democratic Women | Seattle-King County Association of Realtors | City Councilmember Jean Godden | Sen Jeanne Kohl-Welles | Rep Reuven Carlyle | Rep Scott White | Rep Marcie Maxwell | Rep Zach Hudgins | Port Commissioners Bill Bryant, John Creighton, Gael Tarleton | Hon Bobbe Bridge and many, many others!

These elected officials and hundreds of other business, environmental and community leaders alike are supporting my campaign because they believe I have what it takes to keep this City great.  I hope you will join them.  I would appreciate your vote.

Richard Conlin, Pos. 2 

Preface: Richard Conlin did not submit his answers for our questionnaire by deadline.  He sent an email a few days after deadline and asked if we would accept late responses.  Hmmm…while I would have appreciated that email before the deadline, it is what it is, right?  The SV said “yes”, we would, and Conlin submitted answers a week later.  In his initial email there was a remark about how “tight” our deadline was; I disagree as candidates had 10 days to answer 8 questions which, theoretically they already had the answers to.  When he submitted his questionnaire Conlin then apologized and said his campaign was swamped at the time and the deadline slipped away from them- we liked that better than the first reasoning.

Of course, deadlines exist for a reason, so we could have just as easily said “no” to his request.  But really, what would that have gotten us- or you?  Conlin is a big boy, he doesn’t need a lesson in deadlines, and we can appreciate that he’s pretty busy on the campaign trail and on the City Council (he is currently council president).  What matters more than being a stickler for deadlines is making sure that we’re getting you as much info on the candidates as possible before you decide who to vote for. He could have just dropped it.  He could have followed the lead of other candidates and decided we don’t fit the necessary demographic and taken the position that we (meaning YOU) don’t matter.  Instead he (not a staffer) contacted the SV directly to ask for more time.  That shows a level of humility we’re pretty damn comfortable with. Here are his answers to YOUR questions:

People for Richard Conlin

Po Box 22318, Seattle, WA 98122

www.richardconlin.com

conlin2009@gmail.com

In your opinion, what are the top 3 issues facing the City Council, and why those 3?

1. Economic recovery.  In our current situation, this has to be task number one.  I am working to use City resources to stimulate the economy, maintain human services, work with small businesses on a Buy Local campaign, and prepare the ground for Seattle’s leadership in the next economy – the green economy.
2. Transportation.  Connecting our communities through multiple modes of transportation is essential to keeping Seattle working well, and to supporting good jobs.  I want to keep light rail projects moving by building University Link, starting work on light rail to the Eastside, and beginning to plan for the extension to Northgate and beyond; implement Seattle’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, and make sure that road projects like SR 520 emphasize transit connectivity and environmental responsibility.
3. Hunger, human services, and housing.  Too many people are left behind in the best of times, and the problem has only gotten worse in these times.  I have created a Local Food Action Initiative, to tackle the challenges of hunger and malnutrition in our City, and have partnered with United Way to bring together public and private efforts into a coordinated strategy to end hunger in Seattle.  I am committed to maintaining our human services programs and to continuing our work to ensure that there is a roof over every head in Seattle.

What involvement do you think the City should have in Seattle Schools decision making, and why?

While the Council has no direct role in governing Seattle Schools, we already partner with them in many issues, and I am working to strengthen this partnership.  I persuaded the Council to make full funding for public schools the lead issue on our Legislative Agenda for the Washington State Legislature, even though we have no control or authority over the School District and no budget responsibility for it.  I secured $8 million in City funds that are supporting the School District’s budget by being used to assist community organizations to purchase the University Heights, Allen, Fauntleroy, and Crown Hill buildings.  The City already supports the School District through the Families and Education levy, and I would like to see us expand our support for schools through other such cooperative efforts, including taking on maintenance of school grounds and providing public safety assistance in schools.  In the long run, I believe that a true community schools program would integrate schools in to the community and ensure their success.  My three children are all graduates of Garfield High School, and I believe that schools are at the heart of our communities.

What is your opinion of the Youth Violence Initiative? Would you continue with the Initiative, why or why not? What solutions do you have for violent crime amongst young people across the city?

I believe that the way to approach violent crime among youth is to create true networks that support youth in the community – to focus on ‘youth at strength’ rather than ‘youth at risk’.  While there are a few people who are drawn to violence and must be swiftly dealt with by public safety, the answer to youth violence must involve the careful and methodical construction of webs of community support, where parents, family members, law enforcement, youth workers, schools, and everyone else who has a stake come together and ensure that youth are also given a stake in their future.  We can only break the cycle of youth violence by these kinds of approaches.

The Council only approved the mayor’s initiative after carefully reworking it to bring it closer to these principles.  It is still not there yet, but it is a very good start in the right direction.  Mentoring, community-school involvement, and coordinated services are necessary, but not yet sufficient to fully deal with the situation.  We will have to learn by doing and make modifications as we go along in order to achieve success.

What is your plan to make city government more accessible and inclusive for those who are often left out of the political process but are impacted by the decisions city electeds hand down?

I am deeply committed to true community engagement, and have created a Special Committee on Open Government.  We are working to improve access to information and ensure transparency and openness in decision making, and my goal is to also create new strategies for community involvement, especially for those who are left out under current practice.  We will begin our new efforts this fall, and they will range from expanding the traditional methods, such as Town Halls, to creating a web-based citizen engagement tool, to a focused and consistent program for reaching out to community groups on their own terms by attending meetings and directly contacting communities who are not participating in the traditional public hearing/Town Hall format.  Many, though not all, of the neighborhood planning organizations pioneered similar techniques and were successful in engaging a wide spectrum of the population.  In my role as Council President, I am trying to move the Council into this broader outreach and communication strategy.

Do you support the new jail, why or why not?

Seattle should not construct a new jail.  I have been working with County Councilmembers to secure a long-term agreement with the County to continue to be the provider of necessary jail services, and that is the most appropriate strategy for maintaining jail services.  We should not be assuming that we must incarcerate more and more people – instead, we should not only rely on alternatives to jails whenever possible, but focus our efforts on the reduction of crime through community efforts to prevent young people from entering the criminal justice system.  This means jobs, human services, community based support networks, a stronger school system, and a focus on the dignity and worth of all members of our community.  This must be combined with strategies that help people who are having problems with drugs and alcohol or who have been released from prison reintegrate into the community and have the needed support services and systems that will help them do so.

Do you think that City Councilmembers should be elected by “district”, tasked to represent the interests of certain parts of the city, much like school board members or King County Councilmembers are? Why or Why not?

I am not in favor of moving to a district system.  I find that having to represent all of the people of Seattle makes me a more effective Councilmember, and requires that I understand and respond to every neighborhood and organization in the City.  Communities around the City have nine people they can turn to for help, instead of being reliant on a single person, who may or may not be sympathetic to the concern of a particular group or neighborhood, and every member of the Council knows that s/he has to respond to every neighborhood, because they will have to ask for that community’s votes.  District representatives tend to get entrenched and their elections are non-competitive (in the last 20 years, only one incumbent County Councilmember or legislator from Seattle has ever been ousted, while no less than eight City Councilmembers have lost).

To the point: “Why should I vote for you and not the other candidate(s)?”

Seattle works best when we work together.  I have the experience, the commitment, and the knowledge to work with all of Seattle’s communities to create and implement a positive vision for our future – and a track record of accomplishment that demonstrates that I can get the work done.  I want to continue to use my skills to strengthen our democracy and meet the needs of the diverse communities of Seattle.

My goal is to keep Seattle stable and moving forward in these challenging times.  As Council President, I led my colleagues in creating and carrying out an action plan for Seattle, based on our principles of economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, social justice, and community.  I want to continue this work – and keep the Council connected and accountable to the public.  I am convinced that we can work together to strengthen neighborhoods, foster economic recovery from the current crisis, and make Seattle a leader in becoming a more sustainable city in our fragile world.

I’ve demonstrated my ability to be innovative and responsive, to make decisions that affect many lives – about public safety, transportation, health care, and education, to make tough choices, to take votes based on what I believe in — and to stand up for the people of Seattle.

Anything you wish to add that hasn’t been asked?

In the next four years, my goal is to:

• Bring Seattle back to economic health, ensure that those who are left out and left behind have the human services they need, support local business and our regional economy, and protect Seattle’s environment through holistic and creative solutions to environmental issues.  That is the blueprint for a sustainable future for Seattle.
• Continue to implement our neighborhood plans, growth management strategies, and transportation choices that make Seattle a safe place to walk and bicycle.
• Keep our communities safe and healthy, by supporting our parks and libraries, working for better public health, housing, education, and human services, and ensuring that our police and firefighters have the support they need.
• Continue my regional leadership work, on the Sound Transit Board to get light rail to Northgate and across Lake Washington to the Eastside, to keep moving on the Viaduct and bridge replacements, and for salmon recovery and the health of Puget Sound.
• Restore faith in government by listening and responding to citizens, valuing and supporting our diverse communities, and preserving open, accountable government and a City Council that develops superb public policy to keep Seattle vibrant, functioning, and resilient.