by Just 21 votes separate 34th Legislative District candidates Mike Heavey and Joe Fitzgibbon after a second day of counting ballots cast in the Aug. 17 primary election.
Fitzgibbon gained more than a hundred votes in the updated totals released by King County Elections on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 18) to virtually erase Heavey’s slim election-night lead.
But whoever emerges as winner in this neck-in-neck race will walk away with little more than bragging rights. As the clear front runners, Heavy and Fitzgibbon, both Democrats, will advance beyond the top-two primary and face each other in the Nov. 2 general election.
Ballots cast by 27.49 percent of voters in the 34th Legislative District have been counted. Unreported is how many of its 75,415 registered voters mailed in ballots.
Heavey now has 33.43 percent of the vote, with Fitzgibbon at 33.32 percent. Independent Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy is at 18.47 percent, and Democrat Marcee Stone has 14.27 percent.
The two finalists seek to replace Sharon Nelson as state representative from Position 2. Nelson is unopposed in her move to the Senate, where she will replace former Sen. Joe McDermott. He easily won his contest for the King County Council and will face Diana Toledo in November.
Reached Wednesday morning (Aug. 18) by The B-Town Blog, Heavey reflected on his campaign that now has seven more weeks to go, noting, “I’ve been working since six months ago. There’s no rest for the weary.
“I’m very positive and I’m really humbled by all the support I got. It wasn’t a fluke. I did a lot of hard work from door belling to phone banking to visibility. It paid off.”
Fitzgibbon said “it’s just really gratifying to see all the hard work that we put in during the last five months paid off, and that our message has resonated with the voters of the district. I wouldn’t be surprised if I moved into the lead in the next day or so.”
Fitzgibbon has been a legislative assistant to Rep. Nelson, and also a King County Council legislative aide. He is chairman of the Burien Planning Commission, and was a member of the Burien Shoreline Advisory Committee.
Heavey is director of Outreach and Constituent Relations for the King County Council, focusing on public safety, crime and youth violence. Previously he worked at Expedia.com in fraud and identity theft prevention.
Despite their apparent similar positions on major issues that will confront the next Legislature, both say voters will have a clear choice.
Joe Fitzgibbon on election night. Photo by Mark Neuman.
“I think things look very good. People have known the Heavey name for years, and I have only gotten my name out in the last few months. If we keep doing what we’re doing, I’ll be in a strong position.
“Mike’s a good guy and has been working hard, but one of the big differences is that I have a track record of service to our communities. I’ve demonstrated a stronger grasp of the issues, a better grasp of what’s going on in state government for our communities.
“On most big issues, Mike and I have had similar positions. We differ on a matter of style. I hope that will come out in the fall campaign.”
Heavey:
Mike Heavey. Photo courtesy his website.
“I think the voters will have a clear choice come November. It will be my job to articulate those differences and it will be up to the voters to decide who they want to represent them in Olympia.
“On paper and in personality, there are some striking differences between us. I’m confident that at the end of the day, the voters will make that decision.
“The biggest issue is the state budget. The question is, do the residents of the 34th District want someone acting in the Legislature on behalf of all the citizens of the state, or acting for only a select few?”
Neither McElroy nor the Stone campaign returned calls from The B-Town Blog for comment.
After a second day of counting ballots cast in the Aug. 17 primary election, Joe McDermott maintains a lopsided lead in the King County Council race from District 8.
McDermott has almost 60 percent of the votes counted in the district with the release of updated totals by King County Elections on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 18).
Diana Toledo at The B-Town Blog's Candidates Forum July 20th. Photo by Michael Brunk.
Diana Toledo appears headed for a second-place finish with 19.69 percent of the vote. The top two finishers qualify for the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
Normandy Park City Councilman and former mayor Shawn McEvoy is third with 13.14 percent of the vote. Tim Fahey, a South Park carpenter who based his campaign on getting a new bridge there, has 6.89 percent.
The totals for McDermott and McEvoy increased slightly, while those for Toledo and Fahey slipped a little – but all changes were well under 1 percent.
Ballots cast by 26.62 percent of voters in the district have been counted. Unreported is how many of its 109,557 registered voters mailed in ballots:
METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 8
Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: * 28,466 / 109,557 25.98%
County Council District No. 8 Unexpired 1-year Term
Diana Toledo 4,879 19.63%
Tim Fahey 1,711 6.89%
Joe McDermott 14,859 59.79%
Shawn McEvoy 3,265 13.14%
Write-in 136 0.55%
“I’m surprised with how high [his vote total] was,” McDermott told The B-Town Blog. “I thought I would place first, but had no idea it would be with numbers as high as I received last night. I’m very pleased.”
Toledo said she is “very excited and looking forward to working very hard over the next few months to close the gap [with McDermott] and to win in November. I’m encouraged by my numbers given the fact that I came into the race so late.”
If Toledo holds her primary position, which now appears likely, the election for this seat will take on a pivotal dimension for the King County Council despite the fact that she is a long shot.
McDermott, who has served 10 years in the Legislature, seven in the House and the last three in the Senate, will continue to run on his record as a liberal Democrat from West Seattle, which he points to with pride.
“I think voters will continue to have a strong choice and I look forward to continuing to knock on as many doors as I can and talk to as many voters as I can about transit and transport, environmental protection, human services and public safety, as I have thus far in the campaign,” he added.”
A political newcomer from West Seattle, Toledo, who worked for King County for 15 years, campaigned on conservative themes – government reform, reduce spending and taxes, cut waste, and public safety as the top priority.
She planned to hit the ground running the day after the primary to increase her visibility and “tell voters who I am and point out the differences between Joe and me. I have a lot of people supporting me and I believe that that number is going to grow.”
They are running to fill the council position vacated by Dow Constantine when he was elected county executive last year. The winner will serve one year, then must run for election to a full four-year term in 2011.
Both highlighted their opposing positions in interviews with The B-Town Blog.
Joe McDermott at our July 20th Candidates Forum. Photo by Michael Brunk.
McDermott:
“I’ve had the opportunity over the last 10 years to demonstrate my priorities and my values in my service in the Legislature. They have meshed well with the district I represented and they mesh well with the larger 8th County District. It is those priorities and those values that I took to the voters, asking them to support me in yesterday’s primary.
“Certainly the council positions are now non-partisan and I have a track record of working with a variety of people in Olympia and I look forward to continuing to do that if elected to the county council. At the same time, I think the voters have a right to know what my values and priorities are and a party label is an initial indicator of that to the public.”
Toledo:
“Shawn McEvoy ran a great race. I’m very honored that I have been able to make it through to the general election. I’m grateful for the support from all the people who believe in the issues that are part of my campaign – who want change in King County government, who want reform in King County government.
“We can’t afford politics as usual. We can’t sustain unsustainable budgets. King County cannot afford to continue the excesses of career politicians and career appointees whose policies have devastated our communities, a projected budget deficit of $60 million next year, with talk of sales and property taxes and the slashing of law enforcement positions. We have to protect our senior citizens who are being taxed out of their homes.”
Illustration by Michael Owsley.
Can Toledo win despite McDermott’s lead? “I have to. We’ve got too much to lose.”
But McEvoy isn’t ready to concede the race. “It’s going to be one of those multi-day adventures,” he said about the continuing vote count. Elections will continue to update results at 4:30 p.m. every weekday through Aug. 31.
“I’d rather be in second place, but I’m not that concerned. I’m looking forward the late vote during the rest of the week. That’s where I’ll swing back.”
He added, “My goal always was to be in second place in the primary. The race is still on. It’s the first turn of the horse race.”
Fahey expressed hope that the second posting of votes would improve his fortunes. With that apparently not in the cards, “Diana has my complete and absolute endorsement. I agree with her platform, she’s bright, and I’ll be delighted to have her as my councilman. I don’t think there is any way I can come close at this point, and I will campaign for her.”
He added, “I’m happy. We didn’t make it but I’m happy. I did something I never thought that I’d do … I will continue to work to see that a new bridge is built and that things like this don’t happen again. This is a silly way to run a government.”
King County Elections posted its “early returns” Tuesday night (Aug. 17) around 8pm, and with between 22 – 24% of the mail-in ballots counted, it looks like a neck and neck race between Mike Heavey and Joe Fitzgibbon (32.8%) for 34th Dist. State Rep. Pos. #2, and Joe McDermott (59.3%) and Diana Toledo (19.97%) for King County Council, Dist. #8.
Keep in mind that these are preliminary results, and the final tally won’t be released until Sept. 1st.
STATE REP. DISTRICT No. 34 – POSITION 2:
| Joe Fitzgibbon | Prefers Democratic Party | 5,065 | 32.80% |
| Mike Heavey | Prefers Democratic Party | 5,185 | 33.58% |
| Geoffrey Mac McElroy | Prefers Independent Party | 2,910 | 18.84% |
| Marcee Stone | Prefers Democratic Party | 2,191 | 14.19% |
| Write-in | 91 | 0.59% |
In the King County Council, Dist. #8 race, Joe McDermott is at 59.3% and former King County employee Diana Toledo is at nearly 20%. Normandy Park’s Shawn McEvoy is at 13%.
METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT NO. 8:
| Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: * | 23,990 | / | 109,557 | 21.90% |
| County Council District No. 8 Unexpired 1-year Term |
| Diana Toledo | 4,182 | 19.97% |
| Tim Fahey | 1,481 | 7.07% |
| Joe McDermott | 12,421 | 59.30% |
| Shawn McEvoy | 2,732 | 13.04% |
| Write-in | 129 | 0.62% |
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NO. 7
| Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: * | 90053 | / | 419100 | 21.49% |
| United States Representative Congressional District No. 7 |
| Bob Jeffers-Schroder | Prefers Independent – No Party | 5624 | 6.75% |
| Bill Hoffman | Prefers Democratic Party | 3598 | 4.32% |
| Jim McDermott | Prefers Democratic Party | 64258 | 77.16% |
| Scott Sizemore | Prefers Democratic Party | 2034 | 2.44% |
| Don Rivers | Prefers Democratic Party | 2814 | 3.38% |
| S. Sutherland | States No Party Preference | 3150 | 3.78% |
| Write-in | 1803 | 2.16% |
Results can change of course depending on which areas get counted when, and we’ll be posting updates as they are released by the county.
In other interesting races (at least to us), here are some early returns:
United States Senator:
- Sen. Patty Murray: 140,192 • 57.98%
- Dino Rossi: 68,501 • 28.33%
- Goodspaceguy: 707 • 0.29%
United States Representative Congressional District No. 7 :
- Bill Hoffman*: 3,598 • 4.32%
- Jim McDermott: 64,258 • 77.16%
* We went to West Seattle High School with Bill Hoffman; note to Bill: next time, choose a weaker opponent!
If you forgot to mail your ballot in, you can still drop it off until midnight tonight at the Riverton Heights Post Office (located at 15250 32nd Avenue South Seatac, WA 98188-9996 – (206) 241-7061).
by Voters in Burien, Normandy Park and North Highline will help decide the only two contested races in the Highline area on the Aug.17 primary election ballot.
Ballots must be postmarked by next Tuesday, Aug. 17, or deposited in a King County Elections ballot drop-box by 8 p.m. that day.
There are no contested legislative district or local primary races in Des Moines.
A contest that has gained high-profile status is the race for the King County Council seat from District 8, which includes Burien, Normandy Park and North Highline.
The eventual winner in November will complete the unexpired term, with one year remaining, which was vacated by Dow Constantine after his election last fall as King County Executive.
And that outcome, depending on who is elected, may significantly alter the complexion of the county council.
Constantine’s replacement, former Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago, did not file for election to that post.
The quartet of candidates includes:
- Tim Fahey, a South Park carpenter who is basing his campaign on the need for immediate action to build a new South Park bridge and the failure of the county to replace the structure before it was permanently closed to traffic.
- Normandy Park City Councilman Shawn McEvoy, who has served as mayor and is a small business owner, and who cites his environmental record for protected critical areas in and surrounding the city.
- State Sen. (and Rep.) Joe McDermott of West Seattle, currently representing Burien, White Center, West Seattle, and Vashon and Maury Islands, who is running on his 10 years in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Constantine.
- Diana Toledo of West Seattle, who says her experience from 15 years as a county enforcement coordinator, animal cruelty investigator and licensing supervisor will help her reform and restore financial responsibility to King County government.
Fahey and Toledo both oppose the proposed .02-cent sales tax increase that advocates say is needed to avoid layoffs of sheriff’s deputies, prosecutors and court personnel next year. They maintain that savings can be found within the county budget to avoid those cuts.
McEvoy and McDermott both support the sales tax measure.
In the 34th Legislative District, which includes Burien and North Highline, Democrats Joe Fitzgibbon, Mike Heavy and Marcee Stone, and Independent Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy are running for State Representative, Position 2.
The winner in November will replace state Rep. Sharon Nelson, a Democrat who is running for the State Senate to fill the office vacated by McDermott.
- Fitzgibbon, who is chairman of the Burien Planning Commission, has been a legislative aide to Nelson and also a King county Council legislative aide.
- Heavey currently is director of Outreach and Constituent Relations for the King County Council, and has worked in fraud and identity theft prevention for Expedia.com.
- McElroy owns Mac’s Triangle Pub in White Center. A military veteran, as a member of the White Center Chamber of Commerce he is involved in community development.
- Stone, a legal administration professional who has worked for several law firms, has been a professional actor and a local political activist.
We’d like to welcome our latest Advertiser, Shawn McEvoy, running for King County Council, District 8.
Here’s what Shawn would like us to share with our Readers:
Thank you for taking the time to learn about me. I’d like to share a little about myself with you; perhaps you’ll gain some insight into why I’m running for King County Council and why I care so much about good government.
Shawn McEvoy
I grew up in Normandy Park and pretty much have lived here all of my life. I’ve seen when things didn’t work in this city and community and how things deteriorated. I’ve been involved in my community and city government because I care and because I feel I can make a real difference and I have. Whether it’s been serving as the Mayor and Council member for the city of Normandy Park, or as President and board member for the Normandy Park Community Club (Cove), I have always made great strides in improving the quality of life for my community and city. I’m proud of the many accomplishments and honors I’ve received for our successes.
The proof of my commitment to good leadership and government is easy to verify. During my twelve years on the board of trustees for the Normandy Park Community Club as President and Board member, add to that, eight years as Mayor and Councilmember for the city of Normandy Park, my service was completely voluntary. That’s right, even though elected, we are not paid a thing for our services. In volunteering I believe it is perhaps the truest form of leadership and democracy.
Our success is because we act in a non-partison fashion. I’m here to tell you non-partisanship works. I believe one of the problems we have today is that politics is getting in the way of solving problems and making progress. Career politicians at the County level are the problem not the solution. That is why our citizens of King County voted to have a non-partisan Council. Instead of career politicians, we want council members that work together on the problems of today and are focused on our future, not theirs.
I can make a difference at the County level. I have the experience, skills and the abilities to help solve the problems of political bickering, as well as help solve King County’s other problems. I can bring real change to the County Council. I’m endorsed by the 11th District Democrats, many Independents and Republicans. I’m rated Very Good by the Municipal League of King County. Because you want a moderate with an excellent environmental record, great leadership skills, strong council experience, and impressive regional involvement, I’m asking for your vote and I’m looking forward to earning your trust.
More information on Shawn is available at his website: http://friendsofshawnmcevoy.com.
[Would you like to have a "Blogvertorial" story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by over 51,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
by All four candidates vying to represent District 8, which includes Burien and North Highline, on the King County Council met in their last scheduled pre-primary face-off at Seattle First Baptist Church on Aug. 5.
The primary election forum, sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Seattle will be broadcast on King County TV, cable Channel 22. Check KCTV at the county website – kingcounty.gov – for program times.
Considered a pivotal race that could change the complexion of the County Council, the top two finishers in this non-partisan field of Tim Fahey, Joe McDermott, Shawn McEvoy and Diana Toledo will advance from the Aug. 17 primary to November’s general election.
[Note: Candidate comments appear below in the pre-determined order they answered the questions, which are paraphrased from the original wording.]
What is your position on the proposed King County sales tax increase of 0.2 cents per dollar to avoid cutting sheriff’s deputies, prosecuting attorneys, and a new juvenile justice facility? (Note: Half of the tax would be scheduled to expire after three years; the remainder would stay on the books for 20 years to pay for the juvenile facility.)
McEvoy: “I’m not a big fan of raising taxes, but I will vote for it reluctantly … with my nose plugged … I think it stinks.” He committed to voting for the measure after talking with Sheriff Sue Rahr and Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, who said told him it is needed to avoid sharp cuts in public safety services.
Toledo: “I oppose this tax.” Public safety is the county’s top priority and “we can find money within the existing budget without raising taxes … this recession is not the right time to raise taxes” Some people in county government who aren’t qualified earn six-figure salaries and care only about collecting their paychecks. “First look within the budget we have.”
McDermott: Innovative programs like drug courts “that turn people’s lives around … would be the first to go in this round of cuts. Sixty sheriff’s [deputies] and 12 prosecutors would be laid off. This is only 2 cents on a $10 purchase … I will vote for it.”
Fahey: “I’m not in favor of the tax increase.” Several deputies have told him “there are plenty of places where savings can be found” in the sheriff’s office budget. “There is so much waste” throughout county government, why do they “always start cuts in my community?” In White Center and Boulevard Park?
What is your view on privatization of county services?
Toledo: Having worked with King County for so long … I’ve seen some of the benefits of privatization,” like private management of the county’s parking garage. “Good places to start” privatizing services can be found in any part of the county “where people are passionate to help.”
McDermott: “Of course there are important roles for privatization.” Some services can be provided better by government – people “coming together collectively” – and some provided better through privatization. The garage “with private management is a good example,” but public transit is done better by government.
Fahey: “Privatization in the current political climate seems to be a poison pill.” Yet there are some “functions of King County that never should have been made part of government in the first place.” Some social services could be privatized. “We must stand up and use our hearts because government can’t do it” and give tax dollars to private service providers.
McEvoy: Efficiencies can be achieved with privatization … one area is transit” with the use of smaller busses and shuttle vans by private operators. The West Seattle water taxi is an example of “how inefficient government can be. It costs three times more to operate under the county than when it was run by Argosy.”
How will your background help you on the King County Council?
McDermott: He served in the Legislature from 2000 to 2010 “when difficult decisions needed to be made.” This year “I voted for furloughs for state employees” and for funding cuts that resulted in layoffs for others. “I did support new revenue, including a tax on candy, gum and bottled water” that will benefit schools and teachers around the state.
Fahey: He has been an employee, run his own business, “and succeeded and failed … and as a carpenter I know how to build things and I know how to fix things, and I can find problems and rectify them … As a businessman I can recognize what business needs and help business grow.”
McEvoy: As the owner of two small businesses, “I know the pitfalls and rewards of small business ownership.” He is also a member of the South King County Economic Development Partnership and the Highline Forum, which encourage “small business growth, job opportunities, public/private partnerships, and less regulation, not more.”
Toledo: “I’ve seen first-hand how overregulation affects people … a small business owner in my community who no longer sells certain products based on the cost of increased taxes.” Unsustainable budgets passed by “career politicians,” taxes and regulations have impacts “we overlook” on those “who can least afford it” like senior citizens being taxed out of their homes.”
[Photo of King County Council candidates by Michael Brunk, taken at The B-Town Blog's July 20th Forum.]
On Monday (July 19), the King County Council announced that it had approved placing a proposal on the November ballot to increase the sales and use tax in King County, with revenue going predominately to public safety services.
According to a release, if approved by voters on Nov. 2nd the increase would generate around $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.
In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.
The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.
Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.
The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on Nov. 2nd as part of the general election ballot.
Here’s the full press release:
County Council places sales tax ballot measure on November ballot
Proposal to raise $80 million in revenue sent to general election ballot
Facing a projected $60 million budget deficit, the Metropolitan King County Council today approved sending to the voters in November a proposal to raise the sales and use tax in King County by two-tenths of one percent. The revenue raised by the ballot measure would go predominately to public safety services.
“It’s important to remember that the Council did not raise taxes today,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “We’re giving voters the chance to tell us if they support public safety services provided by King County and every other city in the County.”
“Keeping the public safe is an essential County function,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson. “Voters deserve the opportunity to decide whether critical criminal justice services should be preserved.”
“A sales tax increase is absolutely necessary to save vital services such as sheriffs, prosecutors and programs that serve to lower our jail costs,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “What is at stake is the quality of life that we treasure so much in our county. This is the reason we are asking King County voters to support this crucial measure at the polls this November.”
“With public safety being the paramount concern of people in King County, voters must have a chance to weigh in about whether to cut $60 million in criminal justice services or preserve them with temporary higher taxes,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “Knowing the difficult choice this will be for voters struggling through this Great Recession, I worked to lower the tax burden and add accountability to the proposal by including a three-year sunset provision.”
“The Council’s decision today is all about giving voters a choice,” said Councilmember Jan Drago. “Cutting $60 million from the budget will touch every part of county government, and that’s just too big a number and too big of a decision to make without the public’s input. We need to know what people are willing to pay for or willing to give up in these tough economic times.”
If approved by voters, the increase would generate approximately $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.
In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.
The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.
Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.
The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on November 2 as part of the general election ballot.
| Jul |
| 20 |
| 7:00 pm |
Our sister site The B-Town Blog wants to remind our readers of its next Candidates Forum, featuring the contenders vying for Dow Constantine’s former seat on the King County Council.
It will be this Tuesday, July 20, from 7pm to 8:45pm at the Highline School District’s E.R.A.C. Building, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W. in south Burien, across the street from Azteca Restaurant and just north of Hi-Line Lanes.
Moderator for the evening will be longtime local reporter and radio talk show host Dave Ross. Ross’s show airs 9am to noon Monday through Friday on 97.3 KIRO-FM.
All four candidates for the seat have been invited and all four have agreed to attend.
They are:
- Diana Toledo, former King County employee.
- Shawn McEvoy, former Normandy Park mayor and current Normandy Park city council member.
- Joe McDermott, current 34th district state senator.
- Tim Fahey, professional carpenter and South Park resident.
The forum format is to have area journalists ask questions for the first 45 minutes or so, followed by questions from the public. There is no admission charge and anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.
The 8th District council seat everyone is duking it out for is currently held by Jan Drago. Drago is not running for election.
The primary is August 17. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters later this month. The two candidates garnering the most votes advance to the general election in November.
by Mark Neuman
Diana Toledo is a self described “proactive” person. That particular proactive quality may have preserved her young candidacy for a seat on the Metropolitan King County Council.
Toledo, a former King County employee, told The White Center Blog that “my blowing the whistle on gross mismanagement and waste of taxpayer money” in King County government resulted in her being laid off May 1 after 15 years of county employment.
“I was no longer included in policy-making meetings and I realized I was being pushed out,” she said. “My position in management was cut in fake budgetary reorganization. I was told about the position cut while I was on fully protected family medical leave after the birth of my baby.”
Shortly thereafter, Toledo decided to run for Dow Constantine’s former seat, now held by the appointed Jan Drago, who has opted not to run for election.
Toledo, her husband Jerry and brother David, and “lots of grass roots supporters” spent the recent three weeks collecting signatures of about 1,500 voters to get her name on the August 17 primary ballot.
“I lost my voice collecting signatures,” she said.
Diana Toledo and family.
A minimum of 1,277 valid signatures had to be turned in by 5pm this past Friday, June 11, to qualify for the ballot. The signatures would waive the necessity of paying a filing fee, which, Diana Toledo said, is $1,277.47.
Before filing “we crossed off about 30 signatures due to coming from voters outside the 8th District,” she said. “We turned in about 1,467 signatures on Friday (June 11) at about 10am.”
Four hours later, three hours before the filing deadline “the lady from the county elections office called to say we didn’t make the cut due to signatures not matching” original voter signature cards.
“They only went through 900 signatures. The look of someone’s signature can easily change over, say, 20 years,” Toledo said.
“I am a proactive person. We’d been told anywhere from ten to twenty percent of signatures get tossed out for various reasons. So I left a check with the elections office to cover the filing fee in the event we didn’t make the signature cut.”
Leaving that check kept her name on the ballot.
Diana Toledo began working for King County selling pet licenses door-to-door while a student at the University of Washington.
“I worked my way up the system,” said Toledo, whose work involved business license inspections.
“In 2006, I was brought in to fix the the animal cruelty investigations program and to repair the county relationship with the animal welfare community,” Toledo said.
“I would like to see what can be done to save the South Park bridge,” which will be closed June 30. “We need to be fiscally responsible. Twenty thousand cars will be diverted daily and many small businesses will be impacted,” she said.
“When I was a baby we were just a stone’s throw from the South Park bridge. My brothers used to fish from under the bridge.”
King County Council District 8 includes Normandy Park, Burien, parts of SeaTac and Tukwila, North Highline, West Seattle, and Vashon and Maury Islands.
Also running for the non-partisan council seat are State Senator Joe McDermott, Normandy Park City Council member Shawn McEvoy and South Park resident and professional carpenter Tim Fahey.
The all mail-in primary election ballots will be sent to voters by July 28. The two candidates receiving the most votes will advance to the November 2 general election.
by Normandy Park City Councilman Shawn McEvoy says it’s time the Highline area is represented by someone who lives here, and not in West Seattle.
So McEvoy, now serving his second term as an elected member of the city council (he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2002), recently announced that he is a candidate for the county council from District 8.
The district includes Normandy Park, Burien, the western reaches of SeaTac and Tukwila, North Highline, West Seattle, Vashon and Maury Islands.
McEvoy makes an obvious point.
Former District 8 King County Councilman Dow Constantine, who was elected county executive last fall, lives in West Seattle. So does his replacement to the District 8 seat, former Seattle City Councilwoman Jan Drago.
District 34 State Sen. Joe McDermott, who is not seeking re-election so he can run for Drago’s seat, also lives in West Seattle – as does District 34 State Rep. Eileen Cody.
“I think the voters [in these districts] outside of West Seattle feel under represented, even ignored,” McEvoy said. “The political process is heavily skewed to West Seattle. We want representation …
“I have the qualifications, I have the experience, and I can do a better job than the other guy,” he continued. “I understand the issues of King County, the problems and challenges facing King County, and the issues in District 8.”
His time on the city council – including serving four years as Normandy Park mayor – also gives him the “demonstrated experience to develop a responsible budget, the demonstrated experience to respond to public concerns, and demonstrated leadership skills.”
King County Council District 8 includes White Center, North Highline, Burien, Normandy Park, the western reaches of SeaTac and Tukwila, West Seattle, and Vashon and Maury Islands.
McEvoy also points with pride to his “strong environmental record,” including salmon habitat recovery efforts in Miller Creek and the Cove that received national recognition from Trout Unlimited.
He is on the steering committee for Water Resource Inventory Area 9, which is responsible for Chinook salmon protection in the Duwamish/Green River watershed.
A five-point “immediate action plan” is the framework for McEvoy’s campaign:
- Better communication by King County government with the public.
- Enhanced county partnerships with the cities.
- Ensure that “service levels and funding match. “If we haven’t got the money, don’t spend it.”
- Stabilize funding of county services.
- “Work with county employees to solve problems” from budget-cutting job furloughs to streamlining the way services are provided “to make the county better to work for all of us.”
These address what McEvoy called King County’s “image and relationship problems with mayors, city councils – and citizens,” who see county government as “bloated, dictatorial, inefficient and Seattle-centric.”
In the interview, which took place before this week’s county council vote on a proposed sales tax increase and then a proposed property tax “reallocation” to help fund the sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices and the courts, McEvoy said, “I’m a strong believer in public safety.
“When [Sheriff] Sue Rahr and [Prosecutor] Dan Satterberg tell me it’s important to have these funds [generated by a 2-cent increase in the sales tax], I believe them.”
Asked about contracts negotiated by public employee unions, which include pay raises and benefit increases at a time the county is facing another multi-million-dollar revenue shortfall, McEvoy added he would “certainly support a study to see if public contracts are in line with the private sector … or not.
“Whether we look to the unions as a first place to cut, [the cost of county government] is still an open question. But public safety and public health are, to me, number one.”
Noting a recent Puget Sound Regional Council projection that the area will experience a lot of growth by 2040, McEvoy said more roads probably will be needed.
He added his interest in “quicker buses” that provide service every 10 minutes to provide “a good, cost-effective people mover.”
Although he was “initially skeptical of light rail,” McEvoy said “it has started to make sense to me … we need to look at all [transportation] options and go with what makes sense.”
But county residents “don’t see much in return” for the taxes they pay the county,” he continued. A “classic example” is the way Metro bus service was reallocated. Although more routes were supposed to go to the county rather than Seattle, “it hasn’t worked out that way.”
[PHOTO CREDIT: City of Normandy Park]
On Thursday (May 20), former Normandy Park Mayor and current city councilmember Shawn McEvoy announced that he’s running for the King County Council seat in District 8, against State Sen Joe McDermott.
This is the seat currently held by Jan Drago, who was appointed last year but is apparently not planning to run again this fall.
District 8 serves the communities of Burien, North Highline Burien, White Center, West Seattle, Vashon/Maury Islands, Normandy Park, SoDo, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, West Beacon Hill, and portions of SeaTac, Tukwila and West Hill.
Keep in mind around election day that this McEvoy should not be confused with Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy, who’s running for State Representative Position #2, currently held by Sharon Nelson.
Here’s a press release we received from McEvoy’s friend Ian Gunsul:
May 20, 2010
Shawn McEvoy, former Mayor and current City Council member of Normandy Park, citing a strong sentiment from voters for a non-partisan King County Council, announced he is running for the King County Council seat in District 8.
McEvoy’s experience since 2002 as a non-partisan mayor and councilmember in an otherwise politically divided city is proof that non-partisanship works.
By focusing on finding common ground; working together through challenges; communicating, coordinating and cooperating; allows communities to get through the tough issues and focus on the future.
Shawn McEvoy wants voters to know that he is a candidate that is not locked into one party’s ideals and agendas.
| May |
| 6 |
| 7:00 pm |
The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council will be holding its monthly meeting this Thursday night, May 6th, beginning at 7pm at the North Highline Fire Station at 1243 SW 112th Street.
Also, they will be holding their annual election on Thursday, May 20 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the same location; a list of candidates and who can vote is on their website here.
Here’s the agenda:
NORTH HIGHLINE UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCIL
North Highline Fire Station 1243 SW 112th St. Seattle, WA 98146
AGENDA: May 6, 2010
- 7:00 p.m. Call to order
- Flag salute
- Roll call
- Approval of agenda
- Approval of minutes
- 7:05 p.m. Public announcements
- 7:10 p.m. Public comment – 3 minutes for individuals
- 5 minutes for groups
- 7:15 p.m. KCSO – Report
- 7:25 p.m. Rachael Levine – White Center Library Guild
- 7:35 p.m. Dick Thurnau – Friends of Hicks Lake
- 7:45 p.m. Election Candidates
- 8:00 p.m. Treasurers Report
- 8:05 p.m. Corresponding Secretary Report
- 8:10 p.m. Committee Reports
- 1. Governance
- 2. Arts and Parks – Flower Planting & Movies in the Park
- 3. Public Safety
- 4. Housing and Human Services
- 5. Public Outreach
- 6. Transportation
- 7. Steve Cox Memorial
- 8.20 p.m. Old business
- 8:25 p.m. New Business
NHUAC MEMBERS: Pat Price – District 1: Teresa Vert, Heidi Johnson – District 2
Jessica Stoneback – District 3: Ron Johnson, Christine Waldman – District 4: Douglas Harrell, Russ Pritchard, , Rebecca Lopes – At large.
COUNCIL OFFICERS: President – Christine Waldman Vice President – Douglas Harrell
Treasurer – Ron Johnson Corresponding Secretary – Jessica Stoneback
by Candidate filing for this year’s primary and general elections doesn’t begin for another month, but the four hopefuls for state representative from the 34th Legislative District, Position 2, are already on the campaign trail.
And Joe Fitzgibbon, Mike Heavey, Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy and Marcee Stone brought their campaigns to Burien on Tuesday April 27 for an exchange of views on a variety of issues in a forum moderated by KVI/KOMO Radio talk show host John Carlson and sponsored by The B-Town Blog.
They are running to replace Rep. Sharon Nelson who, in turn, is running to replace state Sen. Joe McDermott, now a candidate for King County Council, Position 8.
The first question focused on Washington’s bottom line: with an anticipated revenue shortfall of $2 billion next year, where would they cut the state budget? Especially if voters again pass an initiative to require a 2/3 majority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes or impose new ones?
Stone said she does not believe in cutting “essential services” including health care and education. “I believe in tax reform,” but Initiative 1077 to establish an income tax on high earners “does not go far enough,” she added. “It doesn’t address the sales tax.”
“Clearly we have to prioritize spending, McElroy said. “We have to listen to our constituents.” He noted that there is “no objective measurement of success” for spending on education.
Heavey rejected the premise that voters are going to re-institute the supermajority requirement for tax increases, which would let the legislature fill the revenue gap with new taxes.
“The Legislature cut $4 billion from the budget in the last two years,” Fitzgibbon said. “I don’t think there are many places for us to cut from. I don’t think the voters will ask us to cut another $2 billion.”
Asked what programs they would cut, only McElroy suggested a specific target. Because “you can’t spend money you don’t have,” he would “cut state environmental programs right off the bat for two years.”
Stone said she would eliminate tax incentives to large corporations like Boeing and Microsoft.
But Fitzgibbon said he “will not vote for any budget that cuts state spending another $2 billion.”
Heavey defended education funding but offered no specific program cuts.
Fitzgibbon said his first legislative priority would be comprehensive tax reform. He supports I-1077 and, “if it is not successful, we need a backup plan.” That would include a state value added tax (VAT) and a tax on polluters.
Heavey said he would make full funding of public schools a priority and indicated that he, too, supports I-1077.
“I would streamline the process to give greater information to small businesses … that helps keep small businesses in businesses,” McElroy said.
Stone’s top legislative priority would be a pro-union move to exempt employees from attending “meetings imposed by their employer.”
None of the four supports enactment of a Washington law similar to the measure recently enacted in Arizona, which mandates state enforcement of federal immigration laws to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and denies state benefits to persons who are there illegally.
During her response on this subject, Stone paused to object “to the conservative tone of the questions” being asked.
McElroy said such a state law is “not pragmatic” and “would cost more than it’s worth.”
Saying he did not support the Arizona law, Heavey added, “We’re a nation built on immigrants … every Nazi movie begins with, ‘Show me your papers.’”
Fitzgibbon thinks the law is unconstitutional because of racial profiling, and that it will be overturned in the federal courts.
Each candidate also expressed support for increased funding for mass transit, primarily light rail, while indicating no interest for increasing highway traffic lanes to reduce congestion.
Responding to Burien City Councilwoman Kathy Keene’s inquiry about a $1.50 per barrel of oil tax to pay for stormwater control required of local governments, which was considered during this year’s legislative session, Fitzgibbon replied “it is absolutely the right thing to do to ask polluters to pay.”
Heavey also said “it is absolutely the right thing to do.”
Stone said the state needs “to make sure we have a way to take care of this runoff … I have no problem with taxing … corporate profits.”
McElroy, however, said if such a program is mandated by the federal government, “then the federal government should, by God, pay for it.”
Asked by former Burien City Councilman Stephen Lamphear if they support removing the state sales tax exemption for providers of professional services, Stone said yes, Heavey indicated his support, and Fitzgibbon gave it a “qualified yes” to avoid a pyramid effect. McElroy said “leave the exemption where it is.”
The deadline for candidate filings with King County elections is June 11. In-person filing begins June 7, filing by mail begins May 21, and filing online begins the first Monday in June and continues through the following Friday.
AUDIO: Here’s the audio of the forum in its entirety (running time is 1-hour and 25-minutes; click the “Play” button to listen):
PHOTOS: Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the evening, as shot by Scott Schaefer:
Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow
Our sister site The B-Town Blog is holding its first-ever 34th District Candidates Forum Tuesday night, April 27th, from 7pm – 8:30pm at the Highline Performing Arts Center, which is less than 5 miles south of White Center at 401 South 152nd Street in Burien.
This free event will be hosted by KVI Radio Host John Carlson, and it should be a lively evening (you do the math: conservative radio talk show host + 3 Dems + 1 Indie + a stage + YOU = ???).
The goal of the forum of course is to allow YOU, our Readers a chance to actually question the candidates yourself, in hopes that it will help make your mind up for the primary election, which will be held Aug. 17th.
KVI's John Carlson will host.
In alphabetical order by last name, here are the four candidates you’ll get to grill:
Remember, one of the four candidates you’ll meet Tuesday night will go on to become your new representative in Olympia in January 2011.
So come on down and let them know what’s on your mind!
Our sister site The B-Town Blog is hosting its first-ever Candidates Forum next Tuesday night, April 27th, which will not only feature all of the four announced candidates for 34th District State Rep., Pos. 2, but will be hosted by KVI Radio Personality John Carlson.
Now, you may be thinking “What the heck does a conservative radio host have to do with a mostly-democratic candidates forum“?
While we too have the same question, the reasoning is quite simple:
We went to high school with John. He’s an old friend.
And we think having someone “on the right” host this may add a sense of balance and fairness that you normally might not see in such an event (plus, if he gets out of line we can embarrass him with stories from high school!).
The goal of the forum of course is to allow YOU, our Readers a chance to actually question the candidates yourself, in hopes that it will help make your mind up for the primary election, which will be held Aug. 17th.
As the event draws nearer, we’ll announce the format and rules, but please mark your calendars for what’s sure to be a lively, spirited and locally-relevant discussion.
KVI's John Carlson will host.
In alphabetical order by last name, here are the four candidates you’ll get to grill:
Remember, one of the four candidates you’ll meet April 27 will go on to become your new representative in Olympia in January 2011. So let them know what’s on your mind!
Bring your neighbor.
Bring your friend.
Bring your vote-canceling spouse!
| Apr |
| 27 |
| 7:00 pm |
There have been some great, classic Candidate Debates in political history:
- Lincoln-Douglas 1860
- Kennedy-Nixon 1960
- Carter-Reagan 1980
- Carlson-Locke 2000 (Carlson-Locke? Well, anyway…)
And now…the 34th District Candidates Forum…2010!
Yes, our fellow Americans, you heard read it here first. You read it here because our sister site The B-Town Blog is pleased to announce that they’ll be hosting a gathering of the four announced candidates for 34th District State Representative, Position 2, which of course includes White Center.
It’ll be held Tuesday, April 27, from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Highline Performing Arts Center, next door to Highline High School on SW 152nd just down the road a bit in Burien.
We’re expecting a big turnout and a lot of energy at this event. Since no incumbent is running (current State Representative Sharon Nelson is running for the Senate this go-round) this is the first open seat for Position 2 in quite a while.
In alphabetical order by last name, here are the four candidates you get to grill:
The source of most of the questions to be asked will be YOU, the curious and informed citizen. Yep, you can ask whatever you want. No kidding. This event is open to everyone and there is, of course, no cover charge.
Remember, one of the four candidates you’ll meet April 27 will go on to become your new representative in Olympia in January. So let them know what’s on your mind! Bring your neighbor. Bring your friend. Bring your vote-canceling spouse!
The primary is set for August 17. The two candidates with the highest number of votes move on to duke it out in the General Election, set for November 2. We’ll be covering that for you, too.
As the big day gets closer, we’ll be announcing more info on the format, so be sure to stay tuned (you can subscribe to our RSS Feed here).
Aren’t you glad you don’t live in North Korea or Cuba? Nights like April 27 just don’t happen often in those parts.
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