The Municipal League of King County

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224

Seattle, WA 98104

 

2005 Board of Trustees

 

Rita Brogan, Chair

Mark Troxel, Vice Chair

Beth M. Arman, Secretary

Harold Taniguchi, Treasurer

 

Putnam Barber, Executive Alliance

Vaughnetta J. Barton, community volunteer

Jill D. Bowman, Stoel Rives

Patricia Bowman, human resources manager (ret.)

Bruce Carter, judge pro tem, Seattle Municipal Court

Kevin Carter, Safeco

Stephanie Cirkovich, Pike Place Market PDA

Peter Coates, Building and Construction Trades Council

Chris Cooper, CHHIP

Paul Demitriades, Medina City Council (ret.)

Sandra Driscoll, City Attorney (ret)

Deborah Eddy, Consultant

Keven Franklin, King County

Mary Gates, Consultant

Norma Jean Hanson, Norma Jean Hanson Paralegal Services

Robert Klein, McNaul, Ebel, Nawrot, and Helgren

Eric Laschever, Stoel Rives

Steve Marshall, Snohomish PUD

Rob Neate, Puget Sound Energy

Jennifer Piccolo, citizen activist

Charles Redell, Reporter

Tami Ritoch, Fireside Homes Real Estate Associate

R. Todd Slind, CH2MHill

Lucy Steers, public participation consultant

Harold Taniguchi, King County Department of Transportation

Rashelle Tanner, CRISTA Ministries

David Tarshes, Davis Wright Tremaine

Kate Tate, Weyerhauser

Philip Thompson, Perkins Coie

Mark Troxel, City of Seattle

Wes Uhlman, Wes Uhlman & Associates

Rich White, Boeing

2005 CANDIDATE BACKGROUND QUESTIONNAIRE
FOR NON-JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

 

The Municipal League of King County requests every candidate who participates in the candidate evaluation process to submit background information prior to his/her interview with a candidate evaluation committee.  The questionnaire is the basis of the League’s research and interview process.  The League’s ratings are non-partisan; they are based on standards of Involvement, Effectiveness, Character, and Knowledge, all of which have been developed and refined over the past 90 years.

 

A printed version of the questionnaire is available for candidates who prefer to use the traditional format.  To obtain a hard copy, please contact the League office.  A copy of this questionnaire will be provided to Candidate Evaluation Committee members to help them prepare for your interview.  Candidate responses, except the confidential section, will be available to the general public at the League website. 

 

The Municipal League requests the following materials from candidates.  Please check to make certain you have sent in your:

 

      Candidate Questionnaire

          Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

      Resume (education, employment, and professional activities)

          Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

               Check here if you DO NOT want your resume posted on the Municipal

                   League website

      Campaign Materials

          Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

      Constituent Newsletters and other publications

          Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

      Photograph

          Sent by:         Email             US Mail          Fax            Not Sending

 

Note: Electronically submitted questionnaires are strongly preferred. All materials can be emailed to rebecca@munileague.org.  They can be processed and made available on-line far more rapidly than handwritten or typed submissions.

 

For non-electronic submissions, please print clearly and legibly and return the application as soon as possible in order to allow the committee the greatest amount of time to prepare a complete report on your skills and experience.

 

If you have not yet been contacted to schedule an interview, or if you have questions about the candidate evaluation program, please contact the League office at 206-264-1070.

 

If you have a disability and require accommodation to participate in the candidate evaluation process, please contact Rebecca Cooper at the League office.

2005 Candidate Questionnaire

 

SECTION I               

 

BASIC CANDIDATE INFORMATION

 

1.      Name as it will appear on the ballot

 

First Name

Middle Initial or Nick Name

Last Name

Christopher

R

Cain

 

2.   Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):

 

Port of Seattle Commissioner Posistion #3

 

3.   Are you the incumbent?                  Yes              No

 

 

4.   How long have you resided in this district/city?

 

38  Years

 

5.   How long have you resided in King County?

 

38 Years

 

6.   Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan?         Partisan      Nonpartisan         

                                                                                                                       

7.   If partisan, please indicate party:       

 

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

 

 

Campaign Name:

 

Cain For Port Leadership

 

Address:

 

18804 39th Avenue South

 

City/State/Zip:

 

SeaTac, Washington 98188

 

Campaign Phone:

 

206-431-1113

 

 

Campaign Fax:

 

206-431-1113

 

 

Campaign E-mail:

 

portobserver@yahoo.com

 

 

Campaign Website:

 

     

 

 

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

 

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)

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

 

2.   If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:

 

Office Title

Year of Run

Seattle Port Commission

 

2001

 

Seattle Port Commission

 

2003

 

     

 

     

 


 SECTION III

 

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.)

 

I am seeking the Office of Port Commissioner to serve the public interest.

 

I am a life long resident of King County, I am  a husband and father of three. I have worked for over for years writing, editing, publishing and distributing the Port Observer Newspaper to help educate myself and other about important issues I care deeply about at the Port of Seattle. No one has researched the issues like I have.

 

I, as have others, asked myself why am I running again for the third time for the same office after being beaten twice already? The only answer I have is that I really care about the people in our community and future generations of people. I want to leave behind a better world than the one we now live in. As a Port Observer for four years I don't see that happening. I see the public interest beinbg disolved by an unnaccountable Port staff and Commission. One Example,

 

The Port of Seattle's South terminal Concourse A expansion project was origianlly estimated to cost $170 million, the final Price tag was $587 million. Construction cost overruns have been serious problems for the future development of other, releted infratructure. But no one has been held accountable at the Port for these overruns. No one has been fired, let go, or termintated. Cost overruns at SeaTac Airport were sited as reasons by Southwest Airlines decision to perhaps move to King County Airport, placing critical light rail related projects in jepardy. Light rail,  could free up room on our freeways for commuters to get back and forth to work and improve freight mobility.  The Port of Seattle signed a short term contract with long term financing obligations with the airlines, Southwest among them. Leaving the "back door open" Southwest saw an exit and took refuge from huge cost overruns. The worst part is that the Port knew two years ago they had signed the short term (2year) contract but failed to inform other elected officials and the Public. in doing so, they failed to protect the public interst by placing badly needed, critical tranportaion projects in question. I asked the Airport Director Mark Reis why the Port signed such a short term contract with long term implications. He said " that’s what all the other ports are doing". That is not leadership its follow the leader. I want to lead with the publics best interst in mind.

 


 

2.      Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.

 

I don't give up easily. I have worked tirelessly for four years to restore the publics voice and confidence to the Port of Seattle. I have not been paid, I have not been compensated except for the little rewards of social, economic and environmental justice that have mostly gone unoticed by most people. One example.

 

I noticed, through using the Freedom of Information Act that the Port of Seattle had been maintaing memberships to over 250 different clubs and organizations at a staggering cost to the public. I began to tell people what the Port had been doing. Memberships to exclusive clubs and resturaunts where the Port staff could meet with, well we just don't know who with, outside of public scrutiny, where no records are kept of what is said, in exclusive and private settings. Places such as the Tower Club and the Ruins a members only club for the very rich. Additionly, the Port had memberships to most chambers of commerce and other boards and committees such as the dry pea and lentil manufacturers org. Some have legitimate functions for port related business, many do not. subsequently, in the back of the Ports budget I found a brief explantion to the public as to why they port was maintaing these memberships. Of course the came up with a justifacation sutable for public digestion. However, to my knowlegde the Port continues to abuse secretive and exlusive meberships to dine in seclusion with unkown persons.

 

I know, its not much. But a little victory such as forcing the port to explain themsleves to the public can be meanigful and rewarding after many hours of work and struggle. I don't give up easily.

 

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. 

 

I am proud to have created, for the Public and free of charge, The Port Observer Newspaper.

 

I have learned a great deal about not only Port of Seattle, but also about writng, editing and publishing. In short  I have had a glimpse of what it means to be a journelist, a writer, a publisher and delivery boy.

 

I have worked with national organizations such as the Bluewater Network and Oceana to produce Port Observers for distribution in southern California regarding cruise ship issues. I sent thousands of copies with their articles and with their help we helped changed the cruise ship industry for ever, for the public good. Cruise ship dumping bans are now law in Southern California waters. Helping pave the way for cruise ship accountablity and awarenes right here in the Puget Sound.

 

Through my creation of the Port Observer, I have seen Port Commissioner Lawrence Molloy create his own version of a newsletter called the Port Observerd an email newsletter. Others have also realized the power of community newspapers and civic involvelment. No longer do they have to wait for the local papers to print or not print letters to the editor. No longer do we have to wait to find out how they are going to spin our story. The Port Observer puts the Power of the printed word in the hand of ordinary citizens like you and me.


 

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.

 

As part of my ongoing work with the Port of Seattle I have regularly attended Citizens Against SeaTac Expansion (CASE) meetings. These meetings are and have been for over fifteen years one of the most interesting examples of community involvment our state has ever wittnessed. The shear will power and determination of this group to expose the social, ecomnomic and environmental problems of the west coasts largest earthmoving project taking place within our community is an example worthy of commendation.

 

Many regular citizens have transformed themselves into experts in various fields such as air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, government, legal and more. They are now the top tier of knowledge in their civic involvement and the education they have provided to myself and the community is priceless.

 

I am proud to have been part of CASE and to have run for public office three times now with the support, knowledge and determination that I have learned by and and through my involvment with such an outstanding organization.

 

 

  1. Please describe the duties of the office you seek.  Which are the most important duties and why?

 

Safegaurding the Public Interest. the Public interst can only be defined very broadly. From economic interdepdancy with other states and countries to safe working conditions and family wages at our working waterfront. but quite simply it is the heatlh, wealth and well being of our citizens and future generations and what legacy we decide to leave behind for them.

 

As your Port Commisioner, I will always have in the back of my mind the best interst of the public in mind. If the best public interest means strong responsible economic environment for business to thrive in then so be it. If the best public interst is defined as clean safe drinking water and air, then so be it. If the protecting the public interest means spending money to improve airport safety and seaport security then so be it. But I will lways have the best public interst in mind as your Port Commissioner.


EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

 

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.

 

My educatiuon began in preschool and continues today, I am 38 eight years old, I have never been to college, I have not yet completed Highschool and I don't regret a single minute of educating myself I look forward to my continuing education. Some day, I would like to go to college and become a lawyer, time permitting. "A life unquestioned is not worth living"

 

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT SUMMARY

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.

 

I have been involved with and in various capacities the following civic groups at one time or another. Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Oceanna, Bluewater Network, Citizens Against SeaTac Expansion, post WTO Steering Committee, the Green Party of Seattle, LELO, SeaScouts, National PTA, Cross Boarder Coalition.

 

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.

 

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAMPAIGN!

 

THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF KING COUNTY

 

Candidate Evaluation Coordinator:  Rebecca Cooper

 

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224                  Phone: 206-264-1070                Email: rebecca@munileague.org

Seattle, WA 98104-1614                        Fax: 425-671-0506                        Website: www.munileague.org