1. Name as it will appear on the ballot
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First Name |
Middle Initial or Nick Name |
Last Name |
2. Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):
3. Are you the incumbent? Yes
4. How long have you resided in this district/city?
5. How long have you
resided in
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Since 1982 - 21 years |
6. Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan? Nonpartisan
CAMPAIGN CONTACTS
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1. Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held. Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.
Public Office |
Elective or Appointive? |
Dates Held |
Leadership Role (if any) |
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Chair, Energy & Environmental Policy Committee past 4 years
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2. If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:
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In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge. These are defined as follows:
1. In a page or less, why are you running for this office? (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)
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Seattle's unemployment rate is nearly 7%. More than 2,000 people sleep on our streets every night. 42% of foodbank clients say they have to choose between food and paying their bills. Our air toxic levels rank in the top 5% worst in the nation. One in every four parents in Seattle say they can't find or afford a childcare program for their children. And we have the worst traffic in the nation, and the second highest number of vehicles per capita in the country.
These are the challenges I have addressed in my first term and would like to continue working to address. In my first term, we've made some progress in taking care of our most vulnerable citizens, offering transportation choices to commuters, fostering economic opportunity and creating jobs while protecting the environment, and ensuring Seattle remains a liveable city to live, work and raise a family. But there's more work to do, and I would like to continue to confront the major challenges that require thoughtful, balanced and decisive leadership.
It's rewarding to have worked to support community investment in new modes of mobility for Seattle's residents, from monorail to additional bicycle lanes; to have shored up Seattle's electricity supply to ensure we are never caught playing the volatile electricity markets again just to meet our basic power needs; to have expanded City utility rate assistance programs so 12,000 more needy households don't have to choose between electricity and putting food on the table; to have been the Council's deciding vote on the Housing Levy to ensure that we continue to invest in emergency shelters and affordable housing; to commit the City to purchasing low-emission vehicles to improve our air quality; to have secured City funding for childcare programs that match private dollars to provide quality childcare to more families; and to help keep businesses like Nucor Steel employing 300 people by offering an electricity payment plan with no public subsidy.
These are the issues where I have provided leadership and made tangible improvements in the quality of life for our community. I'm running for another term on the City Council because I'd like to continue to address the immediate challenges before our city and region. |
2. Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.
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I enjoy being of assistance to people - making government work for the people who its established to serve. People pay taxes in order to collectively create infrastructure and provide needed public services that couldn't or wouldn't happen as efficiently otherwise. When members of the public have unmet needs, such as correcting their utility bills, or getting responsiveness from a city department, I enjoy helping resolve their concerns. My office has assisted hundreds of individuals who call me frustrated with their city government. Whenever possible, it is rewarding to help resolve constituents' concerns to their satisfaction.
I am a good communicator, both written and orally. I believe strongly that open government is critical to fostering good public policy. I've actively encouraged public participation into the legislative process. I track interest areas of constituents who have contacted my office and then proactively contact them at future dates when they may wish to be involved in the decision making process such as providing public hearing dates. I send out an electronic newsletter called "Seattle Matters" each month to thousands of Seattle residents with information on what is happening at the Council and how to become involved. I go to organizational meetings to communicate directly with people about what their local government is doing on their behalf.
I am a good listener who cares deeply about making the world a better place. In order to understand how best to be effective, I listen to people and try to understand what they are communicating, and how I may help. I am interested to understand how the City's services are working, or in some cases, not working, for people. I spend a lot of time outside my office, taking tours in our community to see what is happening in our neighborhoods, going to organizational meetings to hear first-hand what people are meeting about and talking about. I take part in my community - such as going to farmer's markets, childcare centers, charitable events, and open houses for new programs - so I may understand how City government impacts the people that City programs are intended to serve. Before I make a decision that impacts people, I proactively contact the stakeholders involved to solicit their suggestions and I often act on recommendations from these interactions.
I am a detailed-oriented "policy wonk." I am interested in the details of public policy making, and this attention to details is helpful in offering meaningful input and leadership impacting city policy decisions. For example, by digging into the transportation budget, its revenues and the City's expenditures, I was able to effectively advocate for additional City transportation spending to garner additional outside matching dollars, making the City's funds go farther to provide more services during tight budget times.
I take a longer-term view in my approach to public policy making. I am interested in how the decisions made today will impact Seattle's residents generations from now. This is why I lead a revision of City Light's financial policies, because rate payers today deserve a financially-healthy utility, and rate payers of tomorrow deserve a fair debt ratio. This is also why I am a champion for environmental protection, because it is often less expensive to protect the environment to begin with than to restore it once it's been damaged. I think of our children and our grandchilden when I approach public policy decisions as much as I do their parents of today. A longer-term approach is a needed balance to short-term thinking that is more common in today's politics.
I am flexible and look for win-win solutions. I don't take differences of opinion personally, and this allows me to effectively work with people with whom I may differ on other issues. |
3. Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud. These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking. These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life.
4. Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek. Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved. Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.
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Member, 2002 - present, Seafair Board of Directors - Planning, coordination, community and public outreach efforts related to Seattle's community-based and neighborhood-based Seafair events.
Member, 2002 - present, First Tee Board of Directors - Local chapter of a nationwide network of programs specifically aimed at introducing at-risk youth in urban environments to extracurricular activities, teaching them life skills, and giving them support, tools and mentorship opportunities.
Member, 2000 - present, Project Lift-Off Executive Committee - A regional cooperative effort of childcare providers, government entities, the School District, the business community, and volunteers committeed to creating quality childcare and early learning opportunities beyond the classroom to help children be ready to learn in school and excel and grow with positive, safe, and meaningful experiences.
Member, 2001 - present, Transportation Choices Coalition Board of Directors - A non-profit organization committed to promoting transportation choices for citizens in Washington State, such as public transit, carpooling, trip reduction programs, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, light rail, monorail, commuter trains, and other alternatives to traffic congestion.
Policy Aide to King County Executive Ron Sims, 1998 - 2000, worked on transit polices, growth management issues, salmon restoration, convened citizen forums on the impacts of I-200, and provided constituent services.
Chief of Staff, 1996 - 1998, and Legislative Assistant, 1994 - 1996, to King County Councilwoman Cynthia Sullivan - provided policy assistance on issues of human services, affordable housing growth management, public transportation, and environmental protection, as well as assistance with constituent services, public outreach, and resolving constituent concerns.
Organizer and Fundraising Director, King County Democratic Party, 1992 - 1994 - helped local Democratic party with fundraising, newletter development, candidate training and recruitment, and helping elect Democratic candidates to all levels of public office.
Outreach Coordinator, Electricity Conservation Program at Seattle Central Community College funded by Seattle City Light, 1991 - 1992, coordinated outreach to Seattle-area schools to teach children about the importance of conserving electricity.
Executive Committee Member, 1989 - 2001, 43rd District Democrats - Local activist organization committed to promoting the principles and values of the Democratic Party and help elect Democratic candidates, registered hundreds of people to vote, distributed campaign information to neighbors, convened community debates on relevent topics, represented the legislative district at the State Party level, and volunteered for several local and state-wide campaigns.
Precinct Committee Officer, PCO, 1989 - present, active member of the Democratic Party at the smallest neighborhood level, registering people to vote, informing people of where to vote, providing campaign information to voters, helping to elect Democrats.
President, 1990 - 1991, Associated Students of the University of Washington - Student Body President of 35,000 students at the University of Washington representing their interests and concerns, championing the successful U-Pass transportation program, and campus-wide campus recycling program.
Board of Control Member, 1988 - 1990 same as above, student government at the University, elected officer representing students to university administration on a variety of issues including bicycle advocacy, tuition policy, solid waste management, and other campus-specific issues. Prior to that, 1987 - 1988, served as a commuter representative to the Student Assembly.
Volunteer for several campaigns, from Patty Murray to U.S. Senate, to Ron Sims for King County Executive, to fundraising recently for the No on I-745 campaign.
Volunteer cyclist for American Lung Association "Big Ride" across America, from Seattle to Washington, D.C., Summer, 1998, to personally raise $10,000 for gaining public awareness about the importance of clean air and clean lungs. This taught me tenacity!
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Communicating with constituents - Responding to questions from citizens, meeting with constituencies to learn about their concerns, communicating the rationale for how I've come to a decision on public policy and allowing adequate time and opportunity for meaningful public input.
Working effectively with colleagues, the public, and other government agencies - The ability work with other councilmembers, the public and other jurisdictions to openly discuss policy issues and being able to articulate a clear and concise perspective and rationale for any particular position on any issue.
Considering and evaluting legislation - Possessing the analytical skills necessary to weigh the costs and benefits of every piece of legislation being considered by the Council. To have energy and commitment necessary to study the issues, listen to all the perspectives and make a well-reasoned decision.
Taking leadership and responsibility in areas of concentration (committee assignments) - The ability to lead and focus on committee chairship responsibilities. Dedicate time and resources necessary to learn about the details and be informed about issues related to committee assignments both within City government, and beyond (regionally, and nationally as applicable). Recognize that as a chair of a committee, the rest of the Council is looking to you for guidance and direction on legislation and policies related to this area of focus.
Overseeing and supervising staff - The ability to supervise and maintain a functional, and efficient Council office. Delegating duties to legislative assistants, central staff, administrative staff to carry out the responsibilities of elective office.
Oversight and budget authority to hold City Departments accountable - Being able to make difficult choices and decision on budget appropriations, understanding budgets and carefully conducting cost/benefit analysis, understanding the role and responsibilities of department oversight.
Working with the Mayor and Executive Staff - It is critical to understand the prospective roles and the relationship and function of the Legislative and Executive branches of government. Recognizing and understanding the ovesight fuction of the Council versus the execution of legislation by the Mayor and the departments. Being able to making this relationship work effectively on behalf of Seattle's citizens.
Representing the City of Seattle - This includes regional committees, multi-jurisdictional issues, sister-city relationships, national representation as appropriate. As an elected member of the City Council, must acknowledge the role of best representing the City as a whole.
Protecting the interest of Seattle's citizens - Recognizing and understanding that councilmembers work for the people of Seattle. Directly accountable to the citizens and work for their interests and values in our best judgement.
Actively seeking public input and being accessible to the public. There are many ways to engage the public in meaningful participation in government, from electronic communication to organizing community forums. A good legislator should help facilitate public involvement in government and be accessible to members of the public representing a broad spectrum of interests.
Finally, a duty to remain fair, impartial, honest and forthright. Consistency in decision-making helps garner public trust.
In my opinion, these are all critically important functions. In order to be a competent Councilmember, one must be able to fully carry out these responsibilities to the best of one's ability. Effective governing is incumbent upon being able to balance all these duties and roles - therefore I feel that Councilmembers need to view all their duties with the utmost attention, focus and consideration. |
EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website. It includes a summary of the candidate’s education. Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined). The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry. Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired).
Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.
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B.A., History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Washington |
FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT
The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement. Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below. We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted. Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined). It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important. If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed.
Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report. If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.
Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.
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Former Aide to King County Executive Ron Sims, 1998 - 2000; Former Chief of Staff and Legislative Aide to King County Councilmember Cynthia Sullivan, 1994 - 1998; Project Lift-Off Executive Committee, 2000 - present; Seafair Board of Directors, 2002 - present; First Tee Board, 2002 - present; Transportation Choices Coalition Board, 2001 - present; Executive Board Member, 43rd District Democrats, 1989 - 2001; Former Fundraising Director, King County Democratic Party, 1992 - 1994; active Precinct Committee Officer for over 13 years, and volunteer for several local and state-wide campaigns. |
Finished!
If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (rebecca@munileague.org). Mail and fax numbers are listed below. If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.
Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League: a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials. Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.
Candidate Evaluation Coordinator: Rebecca Cooper
Seattle, WA 98104-1614 Fax: 425-671-0506 Website: www.munileague.org