The Municipal League of King County

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224

Seattle, WA 98104

(206) 264-1070 cec@munileague.org

2007 Board of Trustees

Bruce Carter, Chair
Judge Pro Tem, Seattle Municipal Court

Robert Klein, Vice-Chair
Short Cressman & Burgess PLLC

Norma Jean Hanson, Secretary
Norma Jean Hanson Paralegal Services

Sandra Driscoll, Treasurer
City Attorney (ret.)

 

Angela Avery, Community Volunteer

Dan Berger, Municipal Attorney

Jill D. Bowman, Stoel Rives LLP

Bill Breitenstein, Financial Executive (ret.)

David Brentlinger, Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors

Steve Call, Cascade Water Alliance

Mary Gates, Consultant

Albert Israel, Mass Mutual Financial Group

Rachel Jackson, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Chris Johnson, Office of the Attorney General, WA State

Mark Koenig, Consultant

Rick Lewis, Intel

Steve Marshall

Eric B. Martin, Davis Wrigh t Tremaine

Bradley Meacham, Microsoft

Dan McDonald, MWH Americas

Kristen Peterson, Washington State Hospital Association

Kathy Putt, Comcast

Ramsey Ramerman, Foster Pepper

R. Todd Slind, CH2MHill

Will Smith, T-Mobile

John Spady, Dick’s Drive-In

Lucy Steers

Gary Strannigan, Safeco

Harold Taniguchi, King County Department of Transportation

Michael Teter, Perkins Coie, LLP

Wes Uhlman, Wes Uhlman & Associates

Jason Van Nort, Puget Sound Energy

Jen Watkins

Rodney G. Wendt, Koegen Edwards LLP

Rich White, Boeing

Nick Williamson, Encrypted Key Technologies

 

2007 CANDIDATE 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 cec@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.

We request that you return the Candidate Questionnaire

by June 22, 2007

 

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 the CEC Coordinator at the League office.

 


2007 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

Marcie

M.

Palmer

 

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

 

Renton City Council Member, Position 3

 

3.   Are you the incumbent?                  Yes              No

 

 

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

 

25 years

 

5.   How long have you resided in King County?

 

37 years

 

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

                                                                                                                       

7.   If partisan, please indicate party:       

 

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

 

 

Campaign Name:

 

Renton Citizens to Re-Elect Marcie Palmer

 

Address:

 

PO BOX 1702, Renton, WA, 98057

 

City/State/Zip:

 

Renton, WA  98057

 

Campaign Phone:

 

206-579-8804

 

 

Campaign Fax:

 

     

 

 

Campaign E-mail:

 

Info@Palmer2007.com

 

 

Campaign Website:

 

palmer2007@

 

 

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)

Renton City Council, Pos. 3

 

Elected

 

2004-07

 

     

 

Renton Airport Advisory Committee

 

Appointed

 

2001-03

 

Chair, 2002-03

 

Kennydale Neighborhood Association Board

 

Appointed

 

2002-present

 

Vice President, 2003

 

 

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

 

Office Title

Year of Run

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 


 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 running for re-election to the Renton City Council because I have found the first term to be challenging, satisfying, exciting and a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in my community.  During these past 3.5 years, I have learned a great deal, everything from what a "lift station" is, to zoning for our potential annexation areas.  Renton has a bright future, and it is exciting to be a part of that. Community leaders recruited me to run for Council in 2003, and I have learned a great deal in my 3+ years as a Council Member.  Since I am very involved in regional transportation issues, I would like to continue to represent Renton’s interests during this time of great transportation needs and potential in the future.

            My top priorities as an elected official are to represent my constituents,  keeping in close contact with the “grassroots” to best ascertain the true needs, issues and priorities of Renton’s citizens, as well as thoughtfully encouraging the type of economic growth that will sustain the City and yet provide for continuing high quality of life. 

 


 

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

 

I have an outgoing personality that serves me well as I interact with the public.  I believe I am very approachable and a good listener.  I am honest, compassionate and patient.  I work hard, learn quickly and have been  active in the community for over 20 years.  Working with diverse groups of people, I am known as a consenus builder who is flexible and open to new ideas.  I work well under pressure and keep calm in stressful situations.  I lead a balanced life, devoting many hours a week to my children, their schools and our family, as well as taking them with me to numerous events.  I take care of my health by swimming, walking, gardening and being an active member of our church, all of which keep my physical and mental well being healthy, so I have a very good attendance record in anything I participate in.  I care deeply for all children and enjoy getting to know many from all walks of life in our community.   My genuine love of people encourages those I meet to tell me their concerns, ideas and ask questions.  I am trustworthy, responsible, and fun-loving as well.

 

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. 

 

Working with a diverse group of interests on the newly formed Renton Airport Advisory Committee (RAAC), starting in Spring 2001, I, as a neighborhood rep, helped build consensus between opposing sides of neighborhood representatives and aviation interests, to accomplish the Council-mandated goal of putting together an Airport Business Plan.  This included getting voluntary noise abatement procedures in place for all aircraft using the Renton Airport, and has significantly decreased the noise problems that were so prevalent over the neighborhoods before 2001, and significantly increased the quality of life for residents.  Following the completion of the Airport Business Plan in 2002, the Committee nominated and elected me to the position of Chair.  The RAAC continues to be a very important advisory board to Council, in dealing with multiple complex and community-sensitive airport issues.  

 

In my career days, before kids, I was the first marketing rep for the Multiple Listing Service on-line system.  My employer was the vendor for the PSMLA, Moore Data.  When I began the position in 1985, my duties were to educate the real estate agents, brokers & appraisers on what an on-line system was, the value and benefits to their business, and then train them on the use.  As the real estate market became busier, and computer use more prevalent, my position grew to managing a growing department, which included 5 full-time trainers, 2 customer service reps, 2 technicians and system support.  Ours was the busiest, largest and most complex system in the country at that time.  My responsibilities included not only the supervision of my department, but dealing with unhappy agents as usage out-paced the on-line systems’ capabilities & testing new applications such as photos on-line.  I was also sent all over the country to assist with sales demos, new customer installations and hiring of new on-line departments.   It was a very demanding, time-intensive and often stressful job, but I loved it.  I proved I could juggle multiple tasks, prioritize, meet deadlines, work within shrinking budgets and provide very positive PR during trying times.  In 1993, I was offered a national sales manager job, but declined due to the requirement of moving to Minneapolis. 


 

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.

 

Renton City Council Member, 2004-2007; Kennydale Neighborhood Assoc. Board, 2002-present,Vice President 2003; Past President Kennydale Elem. PTA, 2002002-2004;  Salvation Army Food Bank Fundraising Committee, 2004-present; Member of Renton Chamber of Commerce, 2004-present; Communities In Schools Renton mentor, 2005-present; Renton rep. for SCAT Bd (South County Area Transportation Board), 2004-present; Member ETP (Eastside Transportation Partnership); Renton rep. on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corridor Advisory Committee,2004-present; Chair of the Renton Council Transportation/Aviation Committee, 2004-present; Vice-Chair of Renton Council Community Services Committee, 2004-present; Chair of the Vision House Children’s Village Capital Campaign, 2004-05; Member of Renton Council Planning & Development Committee, 2005-present; Graduate of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) with Kennydale Neighborhood Association (March & April 2006); attended  Integrated Emergency Management Training at FEMA National Training headquarters in Emmitsburg, Maryland, May 2006; taken Fire Operations 101 training through the Renton Fire Dept, 2004.; member (2001-present) & past Chair of the Renton Airport Advisory Committee (2002-03); Member of Westminster Chapel, Bellevue since 1993; Chair of Women's Retreat Committee at Westminster Chapel (WC), 1995-2001; Advisory Bd (1993-2001) & Director (1997-2001) of MOMS at WC; Single Parents Ministry Committee at WC, 1993-1995.

 

 

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

 

The seven-member City Council is the legislative forum for the City of Renton. The Council may adopt and enforce ordinances of all kinds relating to local or municipal affairs and appropriate to the good government of the City of Renton.

Elected by the citizens of Renton, members of the Council are dedicated to protecting the interests of  their constituents. 

In addition, the Renton City Council has all other powers allowed to cities under the constitution, including those related to the acquisition, sale, ownership, improvement, maintenance, protection, restoration, regulation, use, leasing, disposition, vacation, abandonment or beautification of public ways, real property of all kinds, waterways, structures, or any other improvement or use of real or personal property, and in the rendering of local social, cultural, recreational, educational, governmental, or corporate services, including operating and supplying of utilities and municipal services.  The Council also has authority over the city's powers of taxation. 

I believe the most important duties are representing the consitutuents, which means being in touch with them on an on-going and consistant basis, as well as ensuring basic services, such as fire, police and utilities, are maintained at a high level now and in the future.


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.

 

Graduate of Washington State University, and Issaquah High School.

 

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.

 

Renton City Council, 2004-07; Kennydale Neighborhood Assoc. Board, ‘02-present,VP 2003; member (‘01-present) & past Chair of the Renton Airport Advisory Committee (‘02-03); Past Pres. Kennydale Elem. PTA, ‘02-04; Renton rep. for SCAT Bd (South County Area Transportation Bd.), ‘04-present; Member ETP (Eastside Transportation Partnership)’04-; Graduate of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) with Kennydale Neighborhood Association (2006); Renton rep. On BNSF Corridor Advisory Committee, ‘04-present; Salvation Army Food Bank Fundraising Committee, ‘04-present; Chair of the Vision House Children’s Village Capital Campaign, ‘04-05; Member of Renton Chamber of Commerce, 2004-present; Communities In Schools Renton mentor, ‘05-present; Chair of the Renton Transportation/Aviation Committee, ‘04-present; Vice-Chair of Renton Community Services Committee, ‘04-present; Member of Planning & Development Committee, ‘05-present; Integrated Emergency Management Training at FEMA National Training headquarters in Emmitsburg, Maryland, May 2006; Fire Operations 101 training through the Renton Fire Dept, 2004.; Member of Westminster Chapel, Bellevue since 1993; Chair of Women's Retreat Committee at Westminster Chapel (WC), 1995-2001; Advisory Bd (1993-2001) & Director (1997-2001) of MOMS at WC; Single Parents Ministry Committee at WC, 1993-1995.

 

Finished!

If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (cec@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:  Jason Thibedeau

 

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

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