The Municipal League of King County

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224

Seattle, WA 98104

 

2004 Board of Trustees

 

Putnam Barber, Chair

The Evergreen State Society

Rita Brogan, Vice Chair

PRR, Inc.

Beth M. Arman, Secretary

Renton Technical College

Sandra Driscoll, Treasurer

Kent and Federal Way City Attorney, retired

Tom Albro

RailSafe

Jeff Ballaine            

Home Street Bank

Vaughnetta Barton

Citizen Activist

Elma Borbe

Citizen Activist

Jill D. Bowman

Stoel Rives LLP

Patricia Bowman

Human Resources Mgr. (ret.)

Bruce Carter

Judge Pro Tem, Seattle

Kevin Carter

Safeco

Peter Coates

Building and Construction Trades Council

Chris Cooper

The Children’s Museum

Paul Demitriades

Boeing Company, retired

Keven Franklin

King County

Norma Jean Hanson

Norma Jean Hanson Paralegal Services

Rowan Hinds

Mayor of Issaquah, retired

Andee Jorgensen

Renton Technical College

Robert S. Klein

McNaul, Ebel, Nawrot, Helgren
and Vance

Tami Landburg

Kaplan Companies

Steve Marshall

Snohomish County PUD

Wendy Morgan

Consultant, retired

Robert Neate

Puget Sound Energy

Jennifer Piccolo

Citizen Activist

Bob Roberts

President Emeritus, Renton Technical College

R Todd Slind

CH2MHill

Lucy Steers

Public Participation Consultant

Harold Taniguchi

King County Department of Transportation

David Tarshes

Davis Wright Tremaine

Kate Tate

Weyerhaeuser Company

Philip Thompson

Perkins Coie, LLP

Mark Troxel

City of Seattle

Wes Uhlman

Wes Uhlman & Associates

Rich White

Boeing

2004 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 206-622-8333.

 

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

2004 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

Robert

     

Rosencrantz

 

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

 

Seattle City Council Position 8

 

3.   Are you the incumbent?                  Yes              No

 

 

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

 

44 years

 

5.   How long have you resided in King County?

 

44 years

 

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

                                                                                                                       

7.   If partisan, please indicate party:       

 

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

 

 

Campaign Name:

 

Rosencrantz for City Council

 

Address:

 

1866 East Shelby Street

 

City/State/Zip:

 

Seattle, Washington  98112

 

Campaign Phone:

 

206-726-9999

 

 

Campaign Fax:

 

206-329-7673

 

 

Campaign E-mail:

 

robert@robertrosencrantz.com

 

 

Campaign Website:

 

www.robertrosencrantz.com

 

 

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)

None

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

 

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

 

Office Title

Year of Run

Seattle City Council Position 1

 

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:

 

  • Involvement: What has the candidate done previously in family, neighborhood, community, volunteer work, employment or public life to suggest readiness to accomplish challenging objectives? How do these activities demonstrate readiness for the challenges unique to the office sought?

 

  • Effectiveness: Has the candidate demonstrated promise of being productive in the office sought?  Has the candidate shown the ability to work with other people?

 

  • Character: Do the candidate's personal traits show the ability to take on the responsibilities of campaigning for and holding the public office she or he is seeking? Is the candidate a leader, participant or observer?  Is the candidate trustworthy, reliable and candid?

 

  • Knowledge: Has the candidate demonstrated the willingness and ability to learn and adapt?  Does the candidate understand the duties and challenges of the office sought?  Does the candidate have a firm grasp of the issues important to his or her constituency and their potential effects?

 

 

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.)

 

Seattle is failing to make progress on many of its most pressing priorities.  Transportation projects are going nowhere, housing costs are skyrocketing, and the city is squandering its technological advantage by failing to position itself for the digital economy of the future.

 

I’m running for City Council to make sure Seattle’s critical needs are met, to overcome the status quo that’s making our city increasingly unaffordable, and to bring the iron will to the City Council that it currently lacks.

 

My top priorities include:

 

Making sure our multi billion dollar transportation systems actually get built and link up at places like Husky Stadium and SODO, while connecting affordable housing with transit.

 

Shrinking our alphabet soup of transportation governance in order to create a comprehensive and coordinated regional approach.

 

Building a municipal broadband system so families of all means have access to the next public utility.  We had the guts to do it with City Light a century ago; we can do it again.

 

Rebuilding the Viaduct within our means.  If we build the most expensive version of everything pretty soon there’ll be no middle class left in Seattle.

 

 

 

An affordable city requires keeping a close eye on the details. That’s why I’m running against Richard McIver.  Despite working for years on light rail and 520, his efforts would have left those multi-billion dollar systems unconnected.  And he abdicated responsibility when he said "I'm not going to lay my body across the tracks over the Monorail."

 

I’m guided by the principles I learned growing up in a family with unlimited optimism but very limited income; every   dollar   matters.  I also learned that at crunch time, you have to show up and take the heat.  I'll never walk away from my responsibilities to the people.

 


 

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

 

Courage - I learned courage from my family.  From my grandparents, who held onto their idealism, optimism and love of life after my grandfather escaped a Nazi death camp.  From my mom, who with a 7th grade education and learning English as a 3rd language raised my sister and me by herself in the Central District in the turbulent 1960's by working 2 jobs. And, I saw courage in action in the late 1960's when amidst racial strife Sam Smith would put his arm around my grandfather's shoulder and ask "How's my friend?"  

 

Character, Integrity & Judgment - My ethical habits and traits are of the highest order; people trust me because I'm trustworthy.  In public office as elsewhere, being trusted creates the basis for a high degree of effectiveness, and a climate for optimally resolving differences.

 

Imagination & Creativity - I am able to come up with novel ways of solving problems independently, and don't have to rely upon imitating or copying what others do. 

 

Goal setting & Determination - As a kindergartner with a hip disease, I was an unlikely candidate to become a championship athlete.  And yet at five years old I set a goal of doing just that.  Once I no longer had to use crutches, I began walking everywhere.  I sought out the Northwest champion in racewalking and asked him to coach me.  Little did he suspect that years later that chubby, slow kid would break all his records and make the USA National team.  Success didn't come easily, and there were many losses and disappointments along the way.  But once I set a goal, I work every day until I reach it.  My ability to set and achieve goals is well-suited to the long-term challenges Seattle faces.

 

Open-mindedness & Relentless Curiosity - I listen carefully and without pre-judging.  I'll make decisions based upon the greater good and the long-term interests of the city as a whole.  Experience has taught me that maintaining objectivity and continually asking probative questions is a necessary component to the long-term integrity and viability of any endeavor.

 

Maturity & Responsibility - Even under pressure, I give careful consideration to the consequences of my actions.  And if I mess up, I'll 'fess up and accept the consequences.

 

Experience - I have the knowledge, skill and practice that come from directly participating in many rigorous endeavors.  I've handled complex and often contentious business transactions, conducted delicate negotiations involving governmental agencies, mediated difficult neighborhood issues, grew up amidst chaos in the '60's and 70's, and have the great joy of raising four children in the city with all its attendant challenges.

 

Vision & Awareness - I have strong powers of imagination and foresight.  I see and sense what is happening and what will happen.

 

Kindness & Toughness, Compassion & Strength - I'm sympathetic to others' distress, have the desire to play a meaningful role in alleviating that distress, and approach helping people realistically and without undue sentiment.

 

Health, Energy & Drive - I am blessed with high energy, great health, and the desire to put my skills and experience to their highest and best use.

 

Tenacity & Endurance - As an athlete I competed in the 50 kilometer (31 miles) racewalk, an event that took more than 4 hours and was often held in extreme heat and humidity.  In business I put together deals that took up years to complete.  I know what it's like to confront seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and to work through adversity to overcome them.

 

Humor & the Human Touch - Warmth, smiles and laughter count for a lot.  I love to laugh, and am not afraid of doing things that may result in my being laughed at. 

 

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. 

 

1.  In 2004 I was the Executive Director of NAHA (Northwest Association for Housing Affordability) a state-wide non-profit organization providing affordable housing to people of low-incomes in the rural areas of Washington State.  My responsibilities included administering the budget and programs of an organization owning about 300 housing units, as well as creating the means by which to grow its holdings.  But the highest priority was to reorganize NAHA's tax structure, which required gaining concurrent approvals from The Internal Revenue Service, The United States Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development, The Washington Community Reinvestment Association, The Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and others.  NAHA had been trying for 7 years to accomplish this, and while it proved to be an incredibly complex challenge, after 11 months I had obtained all necessary approvals and the restructuring was completed.  This led to my Board chair sending me an e-mail that said "Congratulations on accomplishing something no one else could."  NAHA is now better positioned to provide additional housing to some of the great people I met last year while travelling the state; people who've worked hard their entire lives for not much money while living in distant and often remote areas.

 

2.  In June 2005 I completed an assemblage of contiguous properties totalling over 500 units of housing on behalf of the King County Housing Authority.  I identified this opportunity in 1992, and although it took 13 years to reach the goal I never gave up.  The properties are in a prime Eastside location, and ownership is now permanently in the hands of an agency committed to housing affordability.  This means that even while housing prices continue to soar, some people of modest incomes will still have a chance to live close to major employment centers and schools.  The initial reception from elected officials was less than enthusiastic, but the mission was important and I stuck with it.  Endeavors of this magnitude require the efforts of many people, and I am proud to say I'm one of the few who worked with everyone involved and saw this through from start to finish.

 

 

3.  Over the past 10 months I have been part of "a small but mighty band" that is making great progress in solving some of the thorniest transportation problems in our area.  The 'Better Bridge' plan (www.BetterBridge.org) moves the 520 interchange to Pacific Street and Husky Stadium via a new Union Bay bridge, so users of public transit will be able to connect seamlessly between Sound Transit's light rail and Metro and Sound Transit's bus service.

 

Regional benefits include:

     1. Fixing the Montlake Bridge bottleneck. 45% of traffic removed from the drawbridge. The legendary backups from University Village basically go away.

 

     2. Connecting the transit systems. Making a direct connection between SR 520 buses and Sound Transit light rail at UW.

 

     3. Narrowing the Portage Bay Viaduct plan by 3 lanes. Without the Pacific Street Interchange, SR 520 would likely be 9 lanes across Portage Bay instead of 6.

 

     4. Building a great new lid in Montlake with a new city park. Restoring Montlake Boulevard in the Olmsted tradition with bicycle lanes and trees in the median, all the way from Hamlin to Roanoke Street, with continuous pathways and trees where ramps run now.

 

     5. Making a direct bicycle connection from the Burke-Gilman trail to a trail on SR 520.

 

 

We're spending $5 billion on a light rail system and $3 billion on a highway project with bus transit; My opponents plans would have left them unconnected.  I'm helping correct that, and on July 25, 2005, Mr. McIver voted in favor of Resolution 30777 regarding this issue. This came about as a result of my group's efforts, and supports our goals. 


 

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.

 

In early 2004 I became a Boardmember of the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Cedar River Watershed. The Cedar River Watershed is an ecological preserve that is the source of drinking water to more than a million people in the greater Seattle area.  Its health will be a determining factor in the health of the City and the region; without enough water we're in trouble.  I'm part of a team that is balancing the priorities competing for the Watershed's resources.

 

In late 2003 I was invited to become a Boardmember of the Thornton Creek Alliance, an organization dedicated to preserving and restoring an ecological balance in the Thornton Creek watershed.   I have learned a tremendous amount about the environmental issues; just as importantly I've seen first-hand the passion many people in this area have for their in-city urban creeks and waterways.  My education about watersheds, nature and habitat is early and ongoing, and I am excited about lessons ahead.  As Treasurer. I have helped the organization navigate some tricky financial challenges to allow it to continue its core mission.

 

In 2002 I played a significant role in the passage of the Seattle Housing Levy.  I recognized the need to distribute the message beyond the usual channels, and working with the Church Council of Greater Seattle I created the position of liaison to places of faith across the City.  Over the summer on Saturdays and Sundays I spoke at churches and synagogues, making the case that the Housing Levy fit within the tradition of many religions; doing justice by serving those most in need.  The Levy passed.

 

My family's house serves as the defacto headquarters for uniform and shoe distribution for Capitol Hill Youth Soccer.  While serving initially as the place for uniform distribution, we realized that for a significant number of families, especially minority families, the costs of new soccer shoes was burdensome.  In some cases it created a barrier to their continuing to play soccer.  So we created a system by which families with extra shoes leave them on our front porch and families in need of shoes come and pick them up.  There have been 100's of pairs of shoes exchanged through this effort.

 

In 2001 and 2002 I volunteered with Aids Housing of Washington (AHW) and conducted an assessment of capital needs of the Lyon Building.  I was given unlimited access to staff and files, and subsequently made recommendations that sought to insure the long-term financial integrity of the building and AHW.

 

From 1998 to 2001 I coached baseball in the Capitol Hill youth baseball league.  Winning was important, but I made sure EVERY kid played, developed their self-confidence, knew they were an important part of the team and had fun.  I never had a child drop off my team.  At the end of the season I was pleased to present the most improved player award to James Shickich, who went from being a danger to himself on the field to a fairly good ballplayer.  Thirty years earlier on the same field, I received the same award.

 

For the past 4 years I have delivered the Montlake Flyer, the community publication in my neighborhood.  It continues to be a great way to keep in touch with neighbors and and have the front porch discussions that tell you so much about what's on people's minds.

 

In 2002 I helped audit the Montlake Elementary School PTSA, conducting both a financial review as well as recommending additional financial controls.

 

For many years I have made and served popcorn at the Montlake Carnival.  Okay I confess, I've eaten lots of popcorn on the job!  

 

 

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

 

The primary duty of a Seattle City Councilmember is to represent all the people in making decisions about how to improve their quality of life and expand available opportunities.  The City Council is a policy-making body with budget authority and oversight responsibility, and should provide a balance to the Executive side of city government, the Mayor's office.

 

A Councilmember should articulate a vision for the future the people can embrace, and then gain the public's confidence in order to allow that vision to be turned into reality.

 

A City Councilmember must:

 

Provide strong and decisive leadership in tone and in substance

 

Take their committee assignments seriously, providing rigorous oversight of the Departments and Offices under their purview

 

Relentlessly push for the highest levels of openness, transparency and accountability at all levels of government.  When necessary, they must make an example of those who would seek to deny the people their right to know what is being done in their name and with their money

 

Constantly seek the highest standards of governance as the best long-term strategy for earning and keeping the trust of the people

 

Act with foresight.  All legislation has unintended consequences, and an effective Councilmember will anticipate and plan for those consequences

 

Earn and keep the trust of the people, by making decisions in the public interest, and by subordinating their personal desires and goals to the greater good

 

Think beyond the City limits.  We're part of a region, and need to work effectively with all the other cities and counties in the region

 

Think and act beyond the next election cycle

 

Ask key questions; do Departments and Authorities have qualified directors?  Does their performance merit continued employment?  Are finances in order, clearly presented and understandable?  What are the risks and consequences of failure?

 

Be accessible to constituents, the media, and all those interested in civic affairs

 

Spend time and political capital on unpopular and easily overlooked but important issues.  It is not acceptable to simply "go with the flow."  It is a leader's duty to seek out and embrace difficult problems, and then to solve them.  Whether on homelessness or racial reconciliation, we must not avert our eyes.


 

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.

 

High School Diploma, Franklin High School, Seattle, 1973

B.A. Economics, University of Washington, 1978

 

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.

 

     

 

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: 206-622-8333                Email: rebecca@munileague.org

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