Election 2015: One month until City Council District 1 forum

2015 is here, and its elections (August 4th primary/November 3rd general) will bring Seattle voters’ first chance to choose 7 of 9 City Councilmembers by district. The field of candidates for District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) has remained at four for some weeks now – in reverse-alphabetical order this time, they are:

*Chas Redmond
*Tom Rasmussen
*Amanda Kay Helmick
*George Capestany

Today, we’re exactly one month away from what will likely be your first chance to see and hear from all four in one place. As announced last month, WSB is presenting the campaign season’s first announced District 1 Candidates Forum, on Thursday, February 5th (6:30 pm mingle/7 pm forum), at Highland Park Improvement Club. We hope you’ll be there, and we’re hoping you’ll participate in the preparation too. For starters: Which issue(s) do you think matter most in this race? Comment here when you have a moment, or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

14 Replies to "Election 2015: One month until City Council District 1 forum"

  • skeeter January 5, 2015 (1:49 pm)

    This is gonna be exciting!

  • clark5080 January 5, 2015 (2:45 pm)

    Are these races going to be top two runoff in the general election?

  • Melissa Westbrook January 5, 2015 (3:31 pm)

    I think every single candidate in every race for City Council should be asked about public education. What do they know about Seattle schools, what have they heard in their community and, most importantly, would they support the Mayor in his bid to take over the majority of the Seattle School Board?

    (Note to WS editor: give them a pop quiz on how many students SPS has; the Times editorial board even got this wrong recently.)

    Please understand, the Mayor can deny it until the cows come home, but there are legislators who have been told of planning for the Mayor to be able to control the Board (and, de facto, control the district). (The Mayor would have to go thru the Legislature to accomplish this.)

    For me, I will not vote for any candidate who even marginally agrees with this idea. Because if I am not smart enough to vote good people onto the School Board, then the question becomes, how am I smart enough to vote for candidates for City Council or for Mayor?

  • KT January 5, 2015 (6:53 pm)

    Specifically I want to see where Tom Rasmussen stands on the Viaduct debacle as it seems like every newspaper article says he was unavailable or did not respond to questions.

  • RayK January 5, 2015 (7:12 pm)

    Issues close to my heart for candidates’ viewpoints:
    1. What will you do to have SDOT build a dedicated transit guideway from Avalon across the West Seattle Bridge to merge with SR99 (and / or 4th Ave) exit to reach the planned C-line route after the Alaska Way Viaduct is removed?
    2. How will you encourage the Sound Transit Board to propose their highest level of light rail service through West Seattle for voter consideration?
    3. What will you do to have towing companies on call from SPD for immediate response to remove disabled vehicles from the West Seattle Bridge and SR99 north through the central district?
    4. Given that the ordinance that allows new multifamily housing to NOT provide parking for all units near transit service is more permanent than transit services, will you oppose continuing this accommodation as it is under review by the city?
    5. How will you encourage White Center to accept annexation to the City of Seattle?
    6. Will you personally invite the Seahawks and Mariners to visit West Seattleā€™s largest venue after their respective championships to receive our adulation?

  • Marcee January 5, 2015 (9:26 pm)

    Great questions, RayK!

  • dark irish January 6, 2015 (12:22 am)

    What Marcee said.

    Also, I am kind of curious how this debate is going to be structured? Or are WSB debate formats closely held until show time? Will WSB entertain suggested questions from community members or will it be a closed topics?

    Perhaps more people like RayK would contribute well considered inquiries and questions if they thought they would actually be included and credited, of course.

    • WSB January 6, 2015 (12:26 am)

      We haven’t finalized the format yet. This isn’t a debate, it’s a forum, and we’ve never presented one before; I’ve produced a lot of this type of TV coverage, though, including a “Town Meeting” with then-Presidential candidate Bill Clinton. Only one thing we’ve decided for sure – that the third and final half-hour will be audience open-mike questions.

  • dark irish January 6, 2015 (12:28 am)

    perfect. that will definitely be more fun :)

  • Ms. Sparkles January 6, 2015 (11:22 am)

    Everything RayK said except I want confirmation that the SeaHawks / Paul Allen have finally reimbursed the city for the cost of last years parade, and if they / he hasn’t, what steps will the candidate take to ensure those bill are paid (not left to us taxpayers).
    .

    I’d also like to hear their thoughts on SPS district audits concluding with “qualified opinions” (qualified isn’t good- it means the auditor can’t attest to the accuracy of the records without qualifiers) and how they plan to address these failings by the district.

  • jwright January 6, 2015 (6:29 pm)

    Ms. Sparkles, You are a party pooper! Considering the turnout, I think it was something a healthy number of citizens were on board with. Hope another parade in a few weeks doesn’t get you even more agitated.

  • Dis January 7, 2015 (12:32 am)

    what kind of professional experience do any of them bring to job? What skills, expertise? background? What makes them think they are best suited to represent me? (there is only one on that list I would even think of voting for)

  • CASS Turnbull January 7, 2015 (2:05 pm)

    Given the runaway development, and the environmental problems that high density causes, I’d like to know how o the candidates would meet our open space goals, and how they would fund them.

    I’m thinking of openspace for its utilitarian values such as mitigating stormwater run off, the heat island effect, the causes and results of global climate change, smog, water quality, air quality, noise pollution, etc. Not for their amenity values.

  • Karen Lyons January 7, 2015 (4:03 pm)

    Cass, yes! I believe it’s very vital that we protect our natural green open spaces, as much as possible. I’m working with the Seattle Green Space Coalition and Tom Rasmussen has shown great support and knowledge of our cause.

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