By Marsha Kuykendall
Note: This article is the first in a series covering Wednesday night’s forum. Articles on other panel discussions to follow.
Jobs, curbing gang violence, transit-oriented development, improved educational support, and giving neighborhoods a voice in decisions that effect their communities were the key issues cited in Wednesday night’s Southeast Seattle Candidates Forum.
The evening was broken into four Q&A panel discussions featuring candidates running for positions on the Seattle School Board, Seattle City Council, and for Seattle Mayor. Questions came from a broad variety of sources, including questions submitted by RVP readers. Organizers say that up to 300 local residents attended the 3½ hour event. C.R. Douglas, of Seattle Channel 21, served as moderator.
While city council and mayoral candidates disagreed on some fronts, they were basically in accord on the key issues facing Southeast Seattle communities. The were also in agreement that state and city government have consistently left Southeast Seattle neighborhoods out of critical discussions and decisions effecting their lives and communities.
Mayoral candidates Jan Drago, Joe Mallahan, Kwame WyKing Garrett, Mike McGinn, James Donaldson, and Norman Sigler participated in the forum. Incumbent Greg Nickels and Elizabeth Campbell were no-shows.
When the mayoral candidates were asked to describe their core campaign issues, Jan Drago said, “We need new leadership that can restore the confidence and trust of the people and the neighborhoods.”
Joe Mallahan cited his core issue as “delivery of basic city services efficiently [and] equitably.”
“To bring real change to our city, we have to stop wasting tax payers money on solutions that don’t work,” explained Kwame WyKing Garrett. “We can no longer put the special interests of a few before the interests of the many.”
Top on Mike McGinn’s list is for the city to take “greater responsibility for helping our local school districts succeed, and more importantly, working with children and families to make sure the kids are safe, health and ready to learn.”
James Donaldson cited, “keeping businesses in business, creating living wages and jobs,” as critical to overcoming the current economic downturn.
Getting the Southeast Seattle community and city government to work together was Norman Sigler key message. “If we don’t work together, communities like Southeast Seattle will always be disadvantaged,” he warned.
During a “yes or no” Lightening Round Q&A, candidates discovered they had more in common than not. All agreed that, if elected, they would issue a mandate to develop and fund an economic stimulus program for Southeast Seattle.
They all voted “No”, when asked if they thought the current neighborhood planning process was adequately engaging the community. None believed that Southeast Seattle was treated equitably by City Hall compared to other parts of the city, and none were in favor of building a new jail.
Only one candidate, Jan Drago, said she would support City Hall’s proposal to close the libraries for a week this summer to help with the budget. She was also the only candidate who voted “no” to supporting the district election proposal calling for five districts and four at large positions.
Two questions received more mixed responses. Four voted against the proposal to add a 20¢ tax on plastic grocery bags, while Mallahan and McGinn voted favor of the tax. Four candidates said they would support building parking lots by the new light rail stations, while Drago and McGinn were opposed. And finally, it was tie vote, on those who approved and disapproved of the proposed Viaduct Tunnel Plan, with Donaldson, Drago, and Mallahan voting “yes” and Garrett, McGinn and Sigler voting “no.”
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“… effecting their lives and communities.”
That would be “affecting”.
The custodian at Aki Kurose said he thought between 400 and 450 attended. (We printed 250 programs, which were all gone in short order.) He said he observed people who came to one segment of the forum and left and that there was a constant flow of new people coming in.
Southeast – this is a huge positive step toward getting some positive attention from City Hall.
Thank you again to everyone who attended.
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