Election 2009: Seattle City Council races, so far
(added 9:31 pm, Position 4 candidate Dorsol Plants of Highland Park, at Dow Constantine’s party)
Position 4 results here, with Sally Bagshaw in first, David Bloom a distant second.
Position 6 and 8 results here. For 6, Nick Licata is leading, ahead of Jessie Israel; for 8, it’s Mike O’Brien followed by Robert Rosencrantz.
9:14 PM UPDATE: Dorsol Plants, West Seattle-residing candidate for Position 4, just stopped by our table at the Dow Constantine party. He’s not in the top 2 so far but is in “great spirits.” We’ll add a picture shortly.
In all of these races, the top two advance to the general election.
Election 2009: Seattle Port Commission, N. Highline Annexation
(photo of Max Vekich at Dow Constantine’s party, added 9:49 pm)
Port Commission: Latest results here. For Position 3, it’s Rob Holland followed by David Doud; for Position 4, it’s Tom Albro followed by Max Vekich.
For North Highline South Annexation – “Yes” is way ahead, 59 percent to 41 percent; latest results here.
9:45 PM UPDATE: Your editor here is still at the Constantine party, where we just talked to Max Vekich, who is a West Seattleite. He says his top issue for the general-election campaign is “reform.”
Election 2009: Less than eight hours left to vote!
Really, it’s that important. All of our local governments have declared themselves to be in deep money trouble and have to make major decisions regarding how to spend what they have – the folks you vote for today will be making more big decisions when the winners are sworn in early next year. And if you’ve got a voting question, King County Elections has answers – in an earlier comment thread, it was asked if you can just put your ballot in the outgoing mail today – Barnaby at KC Elections’ Media Hotline told us, “If a postal worker picks up your ballot today, it will be postmarked today.” (And remember the dropboxes, till 8 pm.) If you never got a ballot, call 206-296-VOTE, ASAP. More info here. First vote count should be announced shortly after 8 pm, and we’ll track results here, as well as roving to some of the election-night parties.
Election 2009: Sign-waving tradition goes on
With today being the first major all-mail election in King County, we wondered if the tradition of candidates and supporters waving signs during “rush hour” would go on anyway … it did. Here’s what and who we found in the 35th/Fauntleroy area on the way to The Bridge – King County Executive candidate (and King County Council Chair) Dow Constantine above, these two groups below (none of whom contacted us, by the way – we just went out looking):
The Fauntleroy walkover bridge had two volunteers with Constantine signs – didn’t get a photo. If you have photos of other sign-wavers in West Seattle this morning, editor@westseattleblog.com – we’ll be out looking when the afternoon commute gets close too. Remember, make sure your ballot gets postmarked today, OR take it to a dropbox by 8 pm tonight (locations listed here).
Election 2009, by the (money) numbers: West Seattle spending
30 hours to go till the vote-counting begins. We have profiled candidates, covered forums and endorsement meetings, and now it’s in your hands – if you haven’t voted already, get your ballot in the mail or into a dropbox (no stamp needed for that option!) – there’s still time to prove the “low turnout” predictions wrong. Our pre-election coverage is all archived here, with contributors including veteran West Seattle-based journalists Kathy Mulady and Jack Mayne. Kathy looked into the latest campaign-spending information, with a West Seattle hook, to bring you this report:
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle residents have already contributed nearly $121,000 to an election season that is shaping up to be one of the most expensive ever.
So far, candidates for mayor, city council, and city attorney have raised $2.4 million and spent $1.9 million.
Mayor Greg Nickels and challengers for his office have already spent more than $1 million, according to the Seattle Ethics and Elections website.
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Election 2009 closeup coverage: Council candidate Bobby Forch
With 8 pm tomorrow your deadline for voting in King County’s first-ever all-mail primary, we have been wrapping up our close-up looks at candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Bobby Forch is the final council candidate in this series. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Bobby Forch is running for Seattle City Council Position 4 with knowledge of city government from the other side – as a manager for the City of Seattle, specifically a strategic adviser in SDOT.
Forch, a 53-year-old Central District resident, says, “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.”
He’s one of six candidates running for Position 8, held for more than a decade by Councilmember Richard McIver, who decided not to run again.
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Seattle mayor candidate Jan Drago: One more look
With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Mayoral candidate Jan Drago knows what she is getting into. She has served on the Seattle City Council for 15 years, and worked on complex issues such as downtown and South Lake Union revitalization, transportation and economic development.
She’ll probably be remembered most for her push to build off-leash dog parks throughout the city.
Drago is firmly in favor of replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bored tunnel.
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Seattle Mayor candidate James Donaldson: One more look
With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
James Donaldson’s campaign for mayor plays off his three years as a center for the Seattle Sonics basketball team. He talks about teamwork, and about being the big man who can help the little guy.
Donaldson jumped into the election year as a candidate for City Council, then after a couple of months, made the switch to mayor. His main focus has been helping small business owners like himself, who are overburdened by the cost of doing business in Seattle.
Donaldson owns a string of physical therapy and fitness businesses, but said he had to close the Seattle office when it became too expensive to do business in the city.
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Seattle Mayor candidate Joe Mallahan: One more look
With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Joe Mallahan says he has a plan. The T-Mobile vice-president and candidate for Seattle mayor sees plenty of room to run the city more like a business. He plans to focus on the customer – citizens — providing service, accountability and efficiencies.
The Wallingford resident would put the brakes on the Mercer Street realignment project, and says the South Lake Union Streetcar diverted money for expanding Rainier Valley bus service. He opposes expanding the streetcar system.
As mayor, Mallahan says, he would cut the number of consultants the city hires, and build expertise among city workers.
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Seattle Mayor candidate Norman Sigler: One more look
With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Norman Sigler says one of his best skills is his ability to bring diverse communities and groups together. If elected mayor, Sigler plans to build on his matchmaking experience to create partnerships that will work on solutions to transportation and education issues, homelessness, neighborhoods and the economy.
Sigler has lived in Seattle for about six years. He lived for two years in West Seattle, specifically on bus routes #54 and #120, he notes, before moving to the Magnolia area.
Although he preferred the surface solution for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Sigler said he won’t oppose the bored tunnel solution in the interest of moving the project forward instead of discussing it for decades. Then he wants to get to work on an elevated train down the middle of Interstate-5 between Everett and Olympia.
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Seattle Mayor candidate Mike McGinn: One more look
With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It seems that mayoral candidate and environmentalist Mike McGinn has one focus to his campaign – to stop the deep-bored-tunnel plan that will replace the central section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
McGinn wants to tear down The Viaduct, and let traffic flow on surface streets with a dramatically improved bus system and expanded light rail, along with more opportunities of bicycling and walking. He contends the tunnel idea is too expensive, will increase taxes too much, is guaranteed to have huge cost over-runs, and by-passes downtown without exits.
Candidate McGinn’s position is in stark opposition to Mayor Greg Nickels‘ support for the tunnel, and has sparked an overheated back-and-forth in the days before the ballot deadline.
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Seattle Mayor incumbent Greg Nickels: One more look
We happened onto the mayor’s campaign stop (with wife Sharon Nickels) while covering another story at West Seattle Farmers Market this morning. With ballots due Tuesday night, we are publishing one last round of candidate-closeup coverage, focusing on the mayoral race. In Mayor Nickels’ case, we interviewed him earlier in the campaign, asking questions suggested by WSB’ers, so we’re providing links to those stories (taken from a video-recorded interview in late May):
Interview with the mayor, #1: Keeping parks clean
Interview with the mayor, #2: Keeping the peace on Alki
Interview with the mayor, #3: Why re-elect him? How does he address the claim he’s not so likable? What can be done about the “Hole Foods” situation?
Interview with the mayor, #4: Will/should Seattle annex the rest of White Center (assuming the southern part votes for Burien annexation in this election)?
Nickels’ website is at gregnickels.com. We also have covered multiple forums involving the candidates in this race and others; all WSB Politics coverage is archived here, newest to oldest. Be sure to vote – your ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday, or dropped off in one of the dropboxes around the county (no postage needed if you choose that option – the nearest ones are in North Delridge and White Center) by 8 pm Tuesday night. (More mayoral-candidate coverage ahead.)
Seattle Mayor candidate Elizabeth Campbell: One more look
With more than 80 percent of the primary-election ballots yet to be returned, per King County’s daily updates, it looks like many voters are going down to the wire. WSB candidate-closeup coverage is concluding with last looks at the Seattle mayoral challengers (we interviewed the incumbent earlier in the campaign). We sent them five questions, 4 geared to West Seattle.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Magnolia neighborhood activist Elizabeth Campbell knows she is a long shot for the mayor job. She entered the race late, hoping that a lawsuit she won against the city in the spring in connection with the Fort Lawton Army Reserve property would infuse her campaign with some momentum.
A King County Superior Court judge decided the city, which wants to put 80 units of housing for homeless people on the land connected to Discovery Park, failed to consider alternate uses for the property.
Campbell’s campaign struggled to raise money and get attention. A friend’s illness took her away from campaign appearances. She also tried to get a “no tunnel” initiative on the ballot, and she is working on her master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Washington.
Still, Campbell is fired up over the issues and was eager to answer our questions.
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Election 2009 closeup coverage: Councilmember Nick Licata
With three days left to vote by mail for Tuesday’s primary, this morning we are wrapping up our close-up looks 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 Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
City Councilmember Nick Licata is running for his fourth term even though he acknowledges he said in 1997 he would not serve more than three terms.
Licata is opposed in the Tuesday primary election by Jessie Israel and Martin Kaplan. The two who get the most votes will move on to the November general election.
The councilmember says he has “found through experience that a formulistic approach to government does not work,” and that “specific time limits on serving the public, is one such formula.”
He rejects criticism that he is “Mr. No” on the Council, too often opposing issues with no positive approach to counter his objections.
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Election 2009 closeup coverage: Council candidate Jessie Israel
With three days left to vote by mail for Tuesday’s primary, tonight and Sunday morning we are wrapping up our close-up looks 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 Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Jessie Israel is seeking to replace a Councilmember she once supported but now says has done more obstructing than supporting solutions to the city’s problems.
The 35-year-old Ballard resident is running for City Council Position 6 against incumbent Nick Licata and candidate Martin Kaplan. She has never been a candidate before but she is certainly not a political neophyte.
“I was co-chair of the Women’s Political Caucus for five or six years, so I have been following campaign politics for many years,” she says.
But why Licata, who has gotten more than 70 percent voter support in his last two races?
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Election 2009 closeup coverage: Council candidate Martin Kaplan
With three days left to vote by mail for Tuesday’s primary, tonight and Sunday morning we are wrapping up our close-up looks 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 Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Behold, a political candidate who says he is not a politician and maintains he will serve only one term in office “because I can get a lot of work done in four years.”
Martin Kaplan, a 60-year-old Queen Anne resident, says his experience makes him ready to start working as a City Councilmember on the day he is sworn in and can work harder for voters because he will not have to spend all that time during his term trying to line up financial and political support for a reelection bid.
“I won’t be involved in (preserving) the future of my political life,” says Kaplan, who contends that he is running “against two politicians,” Nick Licata and Jessie Israel. Licata is finishing his third term on the Council, and is running for a fourth, which he once promised would be as much time as he would serve. Israel is running for the office for the first time, but her political involvements over the years show she is no political novice.
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Election 2009 closeup coverage: Council candidate Brian Carver
With three days left to vote by mail for Tuesday’s primary, tonight and Sunday morning we are wrapping up our close-up looks 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
Brian Carver sees the future of Seattle in its young people. As one of five candidates for Seattle City Council Position 4, he says he would tap that creativity and energy to find long-term solutions to some of the city’s most persistent problems, including more affordable housing and jobs.
“I have always thought that working with youth is so rewarding and so necessary,” he said. “I am most interested in programs that empower youth so the direction of their life is in their hands and they are equipped to drive it forward.”
Carver, a 30-year-old North Seattle resident, has master’s degrees in business and engineering. He is the Worldwide Lean Manager at Amazon.com, in charge of making sure the company is operating as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. It’s a skill he wants to bring to City Hall.
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Voting this weekend? We’re #1 – but with a long way to go
King County Council District 8 – which includes West Seattle and White Center – is now atop the list for percentage of ballots returned, as of the latest nightly update: Just under 16%, half a point ahead of District 6 on the Eastside. So, 84% of us will vote this weekend (never mind those predictions of low turnout, we can prove them wrong). Toward that end, we have more than a half-dozen additional candidate stories to publish here in the next few hours, in case you still need more info to make up your mind. Earlier coverage is archived here.
Another garden party tonight: 34th District Democrats
Thanks to Bill Schrier, the 34th District Democrats‘ webmaster, for photos from tonight’s big annual fundraiser at West Seattle Nursery, the Garden Party – just two nights after the group made headlines by hosting a largely nonconfrontational health-insurance-reform forum featuring a congressmember and an overflow crowd. Tonight’s crowd — all fun, as you can see by the photo above (most exuberant, in the blue shirt, is Chris Porter, who chaired the party-planning effort). Media personality New York Vinnie (who lives in Gatewood) served as auctioneer:
If you’re wondering about the bright colors – there was a Brazilian theme tonight – including music from Grupo Amoroso. Plus candidates and elected officials in attendance – center and right, here’s State Sen. Joe McDermott and State Rep. Eileen Cody, with State Rep. Sharon Nelson‘s legislative assistant Joe Fitzgibbon at left:
In addition to the group’s expenses, the money it raises from events and dues goes toward everything from charity donations to campaign contributors for the candidates it endorses.
Election 2009: Need voting help? Special Saturday hours
By 8 pm Tuesday, your ballot needs to be either in the mail (make sure it’ll get postmarked August 18th or earlier) or in a drop box (here’s the list – there’s one in North Delridge and one in White Center). If you’re having trouble, haven’t received your ballot, etc., you can get help in person tomorrow, 10 am-5 pm at King County Elections HQ in Renton. Read on for the official announcement, which also includes details on Accessible Voting Centers:Read More
Election 2009 closeup coverage: Council candidate Jordan Royer
With days to go till the official Election Day on Tuesday, but 87 percent of Seattle ballots not returned yet, it’s clear many voters are still making up their minds, so we’re continuing our series of stories looking at City Council candidates, with a few questions beyond the ones you’ve heard them answer at forums. You’ll see the ones we’ve already published in our Politics archive; right now, from the race for Position 8, which Richard McIver is leaving, we look at Jordan Royer:
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Jordan Royer says he wants to give families and small-business owners a voice on the Seattle City Council.
“There aren’t many people on the city council who have kids in public schools. The people who are paying the bills don’t have a seat at the table,” he said.
Royer, a 43-year-old North Seattle resident, is vice president at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. He has two daughters in public schools in Seattle.
Royer said his main emphasis will be on bringing common sense to government.
Read More
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