West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
Planning to vote early, now that ballots are arriving for the biggest election King County’s ever conducted entirely by mail (which is how they’ll all be done from now on)? If you’d like to see and hear the candidates in key races, the county-produced Video Voters’ Guide has King County Executive candidates here ; and Seattle city races (plus bag-fee Referendum 1) here.
Ballots have started arriving for the August 18 primary. WSB continues offering close-up looks at — asking the same 3 West Seattle-specific questions — candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
City Council Position 4 candidate Thomas Tobin lives on Capitol Hill, where he was born, grew up and plans to stay. He said he rarely has a chance to visit West Seattle, but when he does, Alki Beach is his favorite place.
“My grandma used to love to go to Spud’s,” he said.
This is Tobin’s second time running for city council. In 1997 he was in the race with Richard Conlin, who is now city council president.
Tobin is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a small business owner providing Internet service. “Being from here, I have watched the city deteriorate,” he said.
King County has mailed the ballots for the August 18 primary. WSB continues offering close-up looks at — asking the same 3 West Seattle-specific questions — candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Mike O’Brien’s background is in finance and economics; his passion is the outdoors and protecting the earth.
The 41-year-old Fremont resident is running for Seattle City Council Position 8 with the hope that he can use his experience as the former chief financial officer of a Seattle law firm to help the city create more housing, better transportation, and develop policies that will make Seattle vibrant economically and environmentally.
“I’m a numbers guy, I’m not a political beast by nature,” he said.
That started to change about nine years ago when O’Brien got involved with the Sierra Club.
As ballots go out today, the King County Water Taxi has become more and more of a political football in the campaign for county executive, with at least three candidates saying they want to end funding for the King County Ferry District, which runs the West Seattle-Downtown and Seattle-Vashon routes, and a new proposal from County Executive Kurt Triplett last week to shelve funding for “demonstration routes.” The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has just sent an open letter to county government, noting that anyone who wants to make sure the Water Taxi remains available to West Seattle might consider doing the same. Read on for the letter:Read More
NEWEST FORECAST: As usual, the National Weather Service issued a forecast update overnight – no reprieve, though, it still calls for a potential 100-plus-degree high today.
PROSECUTOR’S DECISION IN SOUTH PARK MURDER: At 10 this morning, King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg is scheduled to announce his decision on charges against Isaiah Kalebu, jailed in connection with the attack that killed 39-year-old Teresa Butz at her South Park home a week and a half ago. After Kalebu’s arrest last Friday night, a deputy prosecutor had said they would consider seeking the death penalty.
BALLOTS IN THE MAIL: Also from your county government – today’s the day ballots will be mailed for the August 18 primary, the first major election King County is conducting entirely by mail. Who’s running – along with links to their websites and other info – is listed here; the city Voters’ Guide, including video links and information on Proposition 1 (the bag fee) as well as the mayor/council races, is here.
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE 11-12 ALL-STARS GO FOR WIN #3: The state tournament continues for the WSLL 11-12 All-Stars; tonight at 7:30, they face Pasco in their third game of the tourney, which is happening at Art Mikelson Field in Port Orchard (just a Fauntleroy-to-Southworth ferry ride away, and think of those cool breezes on the water!).
YOUTH OUTDOOR SOCCER REGISTRATION: Today is Day 2 of signups for the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor)’s Youth Outdoor Soccer teams, for ages 3-10. Register – and find out more – online.
King County mails ballots for the August 18 primary tomorrow. WSB is offering close-up looks — asking the same 3 West Seattle-specific questions — at candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
If you like lone-wolf councilmember Nick Licata, you might love David Bloom, one of 5 candidates for Position 4, which Jan Drago is leaving to run for mayor.
The progressive community activist — who has advocated on behalf of affordable housing, the homeless and other social issues for 30 years — would add a second vote to stop the Mercer Street revision and instead direct money to neighborhood projects.
He’d let the city’s plans for a streetcar network and the deep-bored tunnel fall by the wayside. He’s also against plans for a new city jail.
King County mails ballots for the August 18 primary this week. WSB is offering close-up looks — asking the same few West Seattle-specific questions — at candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With a sweeping general knowledge of Seattle issues and a good grasp on some of the specifics, it is hard to believe that Dorsol Plants has only lived in the city two years — not to mention that he also is a combat veteran and has led a neighborhood association, all before his 25th birthday.
Plants lives in West Seattle’s Highland Park neighborhood, where he served as chair of the Highland Park Action Committee before resigning to focus on his council campaign. He grew up in West Virginia and served five years in the U.S. Army before landing in Seattle in 2007 and jumping right in as a community volunteer.
He quickly became involved in domestic-violence-protection programs and neighborhood issues. He was elected a Precinct Committee Officer for the 34th District Democrats, who gave a dual endorsement to Plants and Sally Bagshaw in the Position 4 race.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
There were moments of humor and moments of tension as 14 of the 16 candidates running for four Seattle City Council seats fanned out across several tables at center stage in the ArtsWest theater this evening.
(iPhone shot courtesy Chas Redmond – taken before Nick Licata arrived)
First – it’s become clear that for many West Seattleites, transportation is the hottest issue of all. That was one of the first questions to the candidates – listen to this audio clip as they take up to 1 minute each to discuss it (the first voice is Council President Richard Conlin, the others are each identified in turn):
Now, as for what else was said – read on:Read More
From left, candidate Sally Bagshaw, Admiral resident Dennis Ross, and candidates David Ginsberg and David Miller are among those on hand for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce-presented City Council candidates’ forum at ArtsWest in The Junction – starting shortly (but feel free to drop in “late” – it’s in the theater, and there’ll likely be seats left). We’ll be publishing in-progress updates via Twitter at @wsblive and will add a wrapup here later. 6:58 PM UPDATE: The forum just concluded on time. By the time it was over, 14 candidates had participated – Nick Licata showed up about half an hour after it started. Lots of lively banter and questions/answers about serious neighborhood issues. Will write up the wrapup as soon as we can.
(Evening sunshine along Beach Drive, photo by Chas Redmond)
BEFORE you go for your evening walk – one place to cool off in the early evening heat (temperatures peak around 5-6 pm!): ArtsWest in The Junction, where, tonight between 5-7 pm, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s City Council Candidates’ Forum takes the stage. You don’t have to be there right at 5 – the first half-hour is for mingling and/or one-on-one questions/answers – then the forum starts around 5:30. Candidates who are confirmed so far include West Seattleites David Ginsberg (Position 2) and Dorsol Plants (Position 4) as well as Sally Bagshaw and David Bloom (Position 4), Marty Kaplan (Position 6), David Miller, Mike O’Brien, Robert Rosencrantz, Jordan Royer and Rusty Williams (Position 8). #4 and #8 are the spots where the incumbents aren’t running again, so the primary vote (August 18, but it’s all by mail and your ballot will arrive by the end of next week) is particularly huge. CR Douglas moderates, no admission charge, and since it’s done by 7ish there’s still time to go enjoy the beach, a walk, whatever. ADDED 3:35 PM: One more name on the confirmation list – City Council President Richard Conlin, who’s being challenged by Ginsberg for Pos. 2.
Primary Election Day is coming up on August 18; your ballot will arrive in less than two weeks. WSB is offering close-up looks — with West Seattle-specific questions — at hot races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. So far in the past week, we’ve looked at three of the Position 8 candidates; now we’re jumping over to Position 4, the seat being given up by Jan Drago for her mayoral run, and starting with one of the 2 candidates dual-endorsed by the 34th District Democrats: Sally Bagshaw.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw was at the Luna Park Café for breakfast Saturday, working on a plate of eggs, a fruit bowl and bottomless cups of decaf coffee.
Breakfast could be her only meal of the day as she dashes to neighborhood events, meetings, interviews and fundraisers.
“The single most exciting thing about this campaign is what I have learned,” she said.
That’s saying a lot coming from an attorney who earned her pilot’s license when she was 47 and recently returned from an adventure to Bora Bora aboard a 39-foot sailboat that she called “eight months of the hardest work I ever did.”
Today’s the deadline that the homeless encampment calling itself “Nickelsville” — on the eastern edge of West Seattle — had been given to vacate. They had said they didn’t plan to do so without a permanent site to which they could move. Now the state has just issued a news release suggesting they’ll be evicted if they don’t leave:
The Washington State Department of Transportation today posted
a 72-hour notice to residents of a south Seattle homeless encampment
that they need to vacate a nearly 4-acre state-owned property at 2nd
Avenue Northwest and West Marginal Way in Seattle.The encampment moved onto the WSDOT-owned property June 6. For the past
six weeks, the state has worked closely with King County, the City of
Seattle and both the Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Lutheran
Public Policy office of Washington State to develop a long-term solution
for the members of the encampment.Paula Hammond, Washington Transportation Secretary, negotiated a
two-week extension with the Church Council of Greater Seattle for the
camp to leave the site by July 20, which organizers failed to abide by.The City of Seattle notified
WSDOT Monday, July
20, that the state, by allowing the encampment to continue at the site,
is in violation of city health and safety codes. As a result of the
violation, the encampment can no longer stay on WSDOT property.“The state negotiated an ample timeframe for a more permanent solution
for the residents of the encampment, and we even extended the deadline
to give church council leaders more time,” said Paula Hammond. “While we
are sensitive to the issues relative to homelessness in our state, WSDOT
is not equipped to manage homeless encampments. We are governed by state
law on the use of our property, as well as city zoning requirements.”While an agreement on a more permanent encampment is being negotiated, a
local church has offered its property as a temporary place to stay while
a long-term solution is developed.During the last six weeks, staff at DSHS has coordinated outreach
efforts, and has visited the encampment on several occasions to assist
food banks, and offer help with employment placement and health care.The site has been posted for a 72-hour notice to vacate
. Social services are on site to help members move. Washington
State Patrol will become involved after Thursday evening if people
insist on remaining on the site.
ADDED 10 PM: Here’s the Nickelsville spokesperson’s version of the latest development:
Per the State of Washington, Nickelsville has 3 days (72 hours) until they must vacate their current location.
Governor Gregoire’s Senior Adviser, Ron Judd, visited the Nickelsville encampment at approximately 7 pm tonight. At that time he provided written and posted notice from State Secretary of Transportation, Paula Hammond, which permits Nickelsville 72 hours until they must vacate the site.
2 hours prior, at approximately 5pm, the City of Seattle visited the site and posted a notice directed to The State of Washington. That notice said the site must be cleared by 5pm on Tuesday 7/21, but appears to be nullified per the recent visit by Judd.
Public calls and emails continue into Gregoire’s office asking for an extension while Nickelsville and its supporters actively search for a permanent site. Nickelsville’s residents express gratitude for the 3 days notice, but are committed to staying at the current location unless an adequate permanent site becomes available. They call on friends, supporters and the public to stand-by-them at this time.
With ballots going in the mail in less than two weeks, it’s time to start thinking hard about who you’re going to vote for in the primary election. Four Seattle City Council seats are on the ballot and we’re reminding you that candidates from all four are expected at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce-sponsored candidates’ forum tomorrow, 5:30-7 pm at ArtsWest in The Junction, moderated by C.R. Douglas. We’re continuing our series of close-up reports too (find them in the WSB Politics archive and look for the next one late tonight), but there’s no substitute for seeing and hearing them in person to help clarify your decision. If you can come early, you’re welcome to mingle 5-5:30 pm and talk to candidates one-on-one.
That’s video of Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair, King County Executive candidate and West Seattleite, marching with supporters in Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade (and giving WSB a shoutout after spotting us on the sidelines). With by-mail voting about two weeks away for the August primary, you’ll even find non-West Seattle-dwelling politicians almost anywhere a crowd gathers – the City Council‘s president (who’s up for re-election this year) was in the parade too – Richard Conlin and supporters were seen here in the staging area south of Lafayette Elementary:
Other sightings included Conlin’s opponent, High Point resident David Ginsberg, later down the parade route:
And we saw two other council candidates pre-parade, Dorsol Plants and Rusty Williams. Not in the parade but seen working the sidelines, two mayoral candidates – James Donaldson and Mike McGinn, who talked to spectators and handed out “Mike Bikes” stickers:
No sighting of Mayor Nickels himself – though we know that earlier in the day, he helped open the new Sound Transit Light Rail line. Speaking of transportation, Ron Richardson shares this photo of Port Commission hopeful Max Vekich‘s parade visit:
Meantime, King County Assessor candidate Lloyd Hara and supporters stopped to pose:
Acting assessor Rich Medved was scheduled to march in the parade but suffered a stroke last Tuesday and remains in the hospital. Meanwhile, not all politicians in the parade were running for something – both of West Seattle’s State House reps were spotted – here’s Rep. Eileen Cody:
Keep an eye on the WSB Politics archive for all the latest; we also have an archive for the West Seattle Grand Parade, where you’ll find all our other stories on Saturday’s extravaganza. And we’re not done with Saturday reports yet …
Primary Election Day is a month from today; your ballot will arrive in about two weeks. WSB is offering close-up looks — with West Seattle-specific questions — at races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot, starting with Position 8, which Richard McIver is leaving. Six candidates are running; two nights ago, we looked at Robert Rosencrantz, who won one of the 34th District Democrats‘ “dual endorsements” in this race; last night, the other endorsee, David Miller; now, Rusty Williams.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
When you meet Rusty Williams, it won’t take him long to mention his mother, Jeanette Williams, a hard-working Seattle City Councilmember who served from 1970 to 1989, and his inspiration.
Williams, a 58-year-old View Ridge resident who used to play with the band Bighorn, is eager to follow in her footsteps. He has a business degree from the University of Washington and has worked a wide range of jobs, starting with a paper route. He was the Information Technology Director for Pacific Trail Sportswear’s production department.
Williams grew up overlooking Magnuson Park, and in recent years, has worked on thorny Magnuson Park issues. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and Ceasefire, which works to stop gun violence. Most recently he has been encouraging the city to name the West Seattle Bridge in honor of his mother, who died last year, for her leadership in getting the bridge built. (The council has voted unanimously to recommend this, as reported here last Monday.)
Williams says his favorite place in West Seattle “is anywhere you can see the sun set over the Olympics. The best sunsets in the world.”
Unless you’ve just moved to this state, in which case you have till Aug. 10 to register in person, today’s the day to be sure you’re registered in time to vote in the August 18th primary (which has not only the mayoral, council and county executive primaries, but also the bag fee). You can do it online here.
Primary Election Day is a month from tomorrow; your ballot will arrive in about two weeks. So we’re ramping up our close-up looks — with West Seattle-specific questions — at races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot, starting with Position 8, which Richard McIver is leaving. Six candidates are running; last night we looked at Robert Rosencrantz, who won one of the 34th District Democrats‘ “dual endorsements” in this race; tonight, the other endorsee, David Miller:
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Most people wouldn’t admit a fascination with land-use codes, but Seattle City Council Position 8 candidate David Miller, a 42-year-old Maple Leaf resident, doesn’t hesitate.
He has experienced its intricacies up close and personal as past President of the Maple Leaf Community Council, as a member of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Citizen Advisory Committee, and while working on several other environmental committees.
He helped develop the Parks and Green Spaces Levy that voters approved last fall.
Since he announced his candidacy, Miller seems to be at every possible gathering throughout the city, whether it’s an early breakfast meeting on Saturdays or waving to supporters at community events.
That’s what interim King County Executive Kurt Triplett is proposing – a one-tenth of one-cent increase – though he says that still wouldn’t hold off all potential cuts. He’s asking the County Council to send it to voters in November. Read on for the full news release just sent by the county:Read More
(mid-June photo by Revel Smith)
We sent a note this morning to Revel Smith, asking for an update on the homeless encampment in eastern West Seattle that calls itself “Nickelsville” – since the last update two weeks ago had said their latest extension for staying at the state-owned 2nd SW/Highland Park Way site was only through this Monday. Smith has just sent out a news release saying there’s been no new extension:
Nickelsville’s State-granted 2-week extension to stay at the West Seattle site ends Monday 7/20/09. With understanding from the State of their dilemma, they’ve been able to continue their aggressive search for a place to relocate. Conversations continue as Michael Ramos of The Church Council of Greater Seattle and Rev. Paul Benz, Director of the Lutheran Public Policy Office, and others participate in the search for a new place for Nickelsville. However, nothing certain has been confirmed in this short time.
Nickelsville hopes The Governor and the State of Washington will extend the deadline beyond 2 weeks for this search. In absence of a permanent place to relocate to, they are committed staying at the West Seattle Site.
Nickelsville is calling on the help of friends and supporters to stand with them through the deadline. They ask everyone also contact the Governor’s office at (360) 902-4111 or e-mail: govcommoffice@gov.wa.gov
The encampment returned to West Seattle six weeks ago, moving onto a site (map) just a stone’s throw from the one they briefly occupied last fall.
From last night’s Alki Community Council meeting (held at Alki UCC because the Alki Community Center‘s closed till July 25th):
PARK GUN BAN? The ACC has sent city leaders a letter urging support for a ban on guns in parks. Even if it’s not the city’s jurisdiction – if that would have to go through the state Legislature, as was suggested after the mayor proposed such a ban last year – ACC’s Paul Carr says they hope the city would lobby strongly for a guns-in-parks ban. The ACC’s support for this is a result of discussions that followed the May 1st Alki shooting (photo at left). Carr stresses that this is not a challenge to individual gun-ownership rights – but if firearms can be off-limits in a particularly vulnerable public place like a school, he asks, why not parks?
Ahead: Paper or pixels? And politics … Read More
Though the primary election is officially one month from Saturday, voting begins in as little as two weeks – it’s an all-mail election, and ballots go out on July 30th. Starting tonight, WSB takes a closeup look at the Seattle City Council races and how several key West Seattle issues figure into them. Veteran journalist Kathy Mulady sets the stage, right before her first candidate report:
Two of Seattle’s longest-serving city councilmembers are giving up their seats. Jan Drago is running for mayor, and Richard McIver is retiring. The vacancies have opened up crowded contests, with 11 candidates running for the two seats.
Two other seats are also up for election, those held by Council President Richard Conlin and Councilmember Nick Licata. Both men are fighting to keep their positions.
In all, you will see 14 city council candidates on the primary ballot (with only one challenger, Conlin advances automatically to the November general election). In the days/weeks ahead, we’ll try to help you make a little sense of it all, at least in regard to West Seattle issues – like growth, and the economy.
–How do we preserve the hometown feel of West Seattle, and still bring new jobs here so people don’t have to commute?
–With more people comes more traffic – just as plans are laid to tear down the Alaskan Way Viaduct and replace it with a deep-bored tunnel. Should West Seattle have better bus service, or even a streetcar line like South Lake Union?
–And there are still lingering questions about plans for a new jail – does the city really need its own jail, and where would it be built? West Seattle is still officially a possible site – should it be?
We asked the candidates those questions and more. Check back here during the coming days to see what they say and ask your own questions. We have asked candidates to watch WSB and respond to questions asked by readers when they have a chance.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, POSITION 8: ROBERT ROSENCRANTZ
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Robert Rosencrantz has a theory about giving up – “don’t.” He also knows hard work pays off, and that the easy way often isn’t the best way. With those life lessons well ensconced, Rosencrantz, a 53-year-old Montlake resident, is making his third run for a Seattle City Council< seat.
Although his early life was spent on crutches, Rosencrantz went on to become a race-walker and runner. While in high school, he started sweeping and doing minor maintenance at an apartment building to save money for college. Now Rosencrantz owns four apartment buildings with his wife.
Once a month, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is hosting small brown-bag gatherings that president/CEO Patti Mullen has dubbed “Lunch with LEOs” – local elected officials. We’ve made it to all three, and today, the guest 
was City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who heads up the council’s Energy and Technology Committee. The roundtable chat with seven of us representing local businesses/organizations covered a wide range of topics; of most interest – will Seattle City Light rates go up? Harrell stressed that SCL is technically a distinct entity but that he hasn’t seen any “data” regarding alleged money woes, which he says include “leaked” suggestions they might seek a rate increase of 20 percent next year. He says, “There might be a rate increase of some sort, but nothing close to that,” promising to closely scrutinize any such request, and the utility’s operations. He also discussed the city’s just-submitted application to get federal funding to put City Light on a “smart grid” – they’re hoping for up to $100 million of the $200 million he says it would cost to install technology that would enable more efficient management both at the operations level and at the individual customer level. Harrell says it would also assist in outages, potentially rerouting power around a trouble spot. That was good news to Marcia Chittenden, operator of the Chittenden House B&B, who told the story of how her business was without power for a week and a half after the December 2006 windstorm. According to Harrell, the “smart grid” money is being sought from a “stimulus” fund administered by the U.S. Energy Department and a decision on the grant should be in by October. Other projects Harrell says are on the drawing board include pursuing subsidized broadband for some low-income residents. Participating in the gathering as well as covering it, we put in a pitch when it was time to go around the table: Since his committee oversees technology as well as energy, we asked to have Seattle Police crime information available online, in something closer to real time – right now, the primary way reports are distributed to the media involves turning them into PDFs, copying them onto CDs and distributing them to precincts for reporters to peruse.
U.S. Senator Patty Murray has announced that $7.6 million more transportation dollars are coming to our state for ferry operations 
– and $2 million is earmarked, we’re told, to go toward a new vessel for the West Seattle run of the King County Water Taxi. (The other money is going toward a Seattle-Bremerton foot ferry, as well as $3 million for Washington State Ferries‘ Anacortes terminal and $750,000 for a new Skagit County ferry terminal serving Guemes Island.) The $2 million would be “more than half the cost” of a new ferry, according to King County Council Chair Dow Constantine‘s office. (Meantime, some of Constantine’s opponents in the King County Executive race continue kicking the Water Taxi around as a political football – eastside State Rep. Ross Hunter, who said the other day that he’d kill the county-run ferries altogether, promises “startling numbers” about passenger ferries at a media briefing this morning — in front of a Lake Union yacht dealership.) 11:27 AM: Daily Weekly has posted a bit about Hunter’s latest anti-KCWT attack.
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