Got your ballots yet? Ours just arrived. As voting begins, this fall’s candidates are still making the rounds to ask for your vote, and six citywide candidates were in West Seattle last night doing just that.

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and WS Transportation Coalition hosted the mayoral and council candidates at American Legion Post 160, with more than 50 people braving the blustery weather to see and hear the forum in person.

If you couldn’t be there, we recorded it all, and have text highlights too – not full transcription, but the best we could do at capturing key points the candidates made. First, video of each faceoff:

Pete Spalding from the Chamber board moderated the forum, after brief remarks from Keith Hughes of Post 160 – who noted that the venue is an old schoolhouse gymnasium – and Deb Barker of the WSTC, reminding all that West Seattle’s bridges are the city’s busiest roads, followed Chamber board president Paul Prentice, who gave an overview of West Seattle’s business community. The peninsula is facing “serious issues” that require “serious leadership to resolve,” Prentice noted.

Now, our text highlights. Both sets of council candidates were asked the same questions. First up: City Council Position 8, the citywide position for which now-Mayor Tim Burgess was not running for re-election.

Teresa Mosqueda introduced herself as a former West Seattle resident, daughter of parents who were “public servants their entire life,” and a newlywed. She spoke about the need for the city to be affordable – including to herself and her new husband.

Jon Grant introduced himself without much biographical information but instead as someone who works primarily on housing/homelessness issues and told the story of the 2015 lawsuit involving an offer of a bribe. “Rents are going through the roof, homelessness is getting worse, and we have to do something different.”

First question was about whether they would support continuation of former Mayor Ed Murray‘s severing of official city ties with neighborhood district councils.

Mosqueda said she’s a coalition-builder – by “asking people directly impacted, what would you like to see.” She promised to ensure voices are heard, including “the voice of the neighborhood,” and to have meetings out in neighborhoods.

Grant started by saying he was one of 28 members on Mayor Murray’s HALA committee – which otherwise, he said, was half developers. “We never had the discussion about Livability,” he said, “it’s more like HAA.” He noted the ex-mayor’s cutting of ties with neighborhood councils, and his proposal for 25 percent affordable housing – with current proposals providing as little as 2 percent. “Two percent is very close to zero.”

Second question: The West Seattle business community has noted a lack of outreach on issues such as taxes. How will you interact with the business community?

Grant: He said he’s heard a request for a stakeholders’ group representing “not just businesses like Molly Moon, which is actually quite large, but microbusinesses” too. But, he said, it’s important to uphold the rights of workers too.

Mosqueda mentions existing groups that are working to help businesses get off the ground, and says needs include more capital. “I want to see us increase the amount of dollars that go to microlending programs.” She also favors a mercado like Portland “so we can sell our goods in the community.” And, she wants the city to have a liaison for small businesses. She mentions her grandparents’ business Tasty Tacos in Des Moines, Iowa – founded 62 years ago.

Then yes/no questions, with the candidates holding up their answers:

Do you support alternatives to light rail in West Seattle?
Both held up YES.

Would you be in favor of light rail coming into West Seattle via a tunnel?
Both held up YES.

Should public funds be spent for acquisition of a sports team and an arena?
Both held up NO.

Do you favor performance-based budgeting?
YES – Grant. Mosqueda didn’t commit.

Do you support CM Mike O’Brien’s proposal to allow RVs on city streets with no time limits?
Both held up YES.

Back to full answers: How do you think the city can increase greenspace given all the development?

Mosqueda started by saying her background is in public health, and greenspace is part of that. She said she wants to increase the number of greenspaces and trees. “We can create development done right when we prioritize things like setbacks … for sidewalks with a tree canopy.”

Grant says the city does not do a good job of requiring developers to replace “the trees they uproot.” And he says the city suffers by not knowing what trees are out there – “I think the city needs to start tracking the trees in our neighborhoods.” Also: “We need to keep public land in public hands,” and he mentions the utilities’ sales of land. “We should make sure our public utilities and other departments are doing everything they can to not privatize” that land.

Can the city influence the development of workforce housing and infrastructure?

Grant mentioned the city’s “incredible economic engine” which he said “gives leverage to ask for more” affordable housing, and again mentioned his proposal to require 25 percent affordable housing in projects, which he says could “make a dent” in the affordability crisis. “Development shouldn’t be done to you, development should be done for you.”

Mosqueda says the housing crisis is a “public health crisis.” She says that Grant’s 25 percent proposal is not realistic – she says San Francisco tried it and “housing did not get built … so they had to go back to the drawing board.” She said that “HALA is not going to solve all our problems” but wants to see more “public ownership models,” such as cohousing.

How will the opening of the Highway 99 tunnel in 2019 affect your thinking on West Seattle transportation decisions?

Mosqueda says she’d like to expand the number of RapidRide buses, thinks a Queen Anne to West Seattle tunnel could be innovative, and supports trying to accelerate Sound Transit’s timelines, working with the State Legislature when/if Democrats get more power.

Grant jokes “rocket packs for everyone” and says he lives in Rainier Valley and it’s hard to get to West Seattle via transit. “Rapid bus transit is one thing we need to expand and invest in.” He also mentions accelerating Sound Transit light rail, saying it’s currently 20+ years out (that’s not so – the current timeline is 2030, which is 13 years away).

Last question asks, what lessons from controversial street projects elsewhere in the city can be used to benefit West Seattle when SDOT starts the Fauntleroy Boulevard project?

Grant notes that 23rd St. was a difficult push to get mitigation money for small businesses. “Now compare that to the waterfront businesses that got millions of mitigation dollars – we have to address that there’s a real racial disparity there.” He said racial equity should be watched regarding mitigation funds “so we don’t lose some cherished small businesses.”

Mosqueda said that signage will be important so that people can be walking and will pop in, “and we have to have every transportation option available – buses, light rail – we have to recognize this is going to cause havoc in some communities.” She says she doesn’t know how to solve the trouble caused by lane closures but she was happy when stuck in traffic today to see full buses go by. “We have to ask folks what the impact of the policy changes are when we have construction.”

Closing statements:

Grant said his campaign “has put forth some pretty bold proposals,” including building 5,000 units of housing for homeless people, including the much-mentioned 25 percent MHA, including impact fees “because growth should pay for growth.” Re: impact fees, “We have left hundreds of millions of dollars on the table.” He said he’s been going to encampments and asking homeless people what they need. He says it’s important to “push back against interest groups that are holding us back.”

Mosqueda said that the earlier-mentioned search for “serious leadership” is what stuck with her, and said that’s what she hopes to bring to the City Council. “Rome is on fire – we have a Trump administration intent on going after” so many things. She mentions holding up small businesses, addressing the homelessness crisis, but says people on the council have to be “willing to work with others.”

Then to Position 9, also a citywide position. Opening statements:

Incumbent M. Lorena González: She notes that “this is my neighborhood” and that she’s lived in District 1 since 2006. She listed issues she’s been working on in recent years including police reform and “protecting immigrants and refugees.” Her work has included meeting with small business owners and workers around the city, talking about issues including paid family and medical leave, for which she advocated at the state level, with insurance access starting in 2019. She says she’s running for re-election because “I want to continue to do good work for the people of Seattle.”

Pat Murakami (who was dealing with a hoarse voice) describes herself as a small-business owner with offices in SODO and Georgetown, a 42-year Seattle resident, and a community advocate who is concerned about “unacceptable levels of gun violence in South Seattle.” Her area has 20 percent of the population but more than double that level of confirmed gunfire. The City Council currently “is doing a fabulous job of supporting outside developers,” she said. “I want to put the businesses that are here first – our small businesses.”

First question is about the cut in support for the district-council system. Will that continue?

González says “We need to continue to promote changes …to support the Department of Neighborhoods so that community action groups are truly representative of the neighborhoods they are seeking to advocate for.” The city has historically “struggled with meaningful engagement … it feels like going through a checklist,” she says.

Murakami says, “it’s too bad that the City Council didn’t stand up to the Mayor” when he cut the ties with neighborhood district councils. She says she’s also seen the creation of “false community groups” that were “just one person” whose votes could cancel the voices of thousands of other people. “Regardless of who’s at the table …” values are the same, “we can always go back to communities that don’t traditionally engage in meetings.” She says some groups just never won’t, and that’s not excuse to disengage with those who do. “I have a great set of bylaws for when we reinstate the district councils.”

Next question: Business community has noted a lack of concern for (them) .. if elected, how will you interact with the WS business community?

Murakami says it’s not just the WS Chamber, that other groups, such as the GSBA, are noticing this. “We should be more important than big corporations.” She points out that small businesses create the lion’s share of new jobs. “I will listen to the chambers and we will make more sensible decisions.” She says some regulations such as the “fixed work schedule” have negatively affected some businesses, such as restaurants.

González says, “The city has some work to do around making sre we are engaging impacted communities in a meaningful way.” She says she’s excited to support in this budget cycle Councilmember Herbold’s “legacy business” support plan and something she’s personally advancing, “a community economic fund – what that will do is provide some resources to small businesses who are struggling with commercial affordability, accessing capital loans,” and more. “Making sure we provide access to our small businesses who are struggling – technical assistance is where I’m excited about focusing.”

Then, the yes/no questions. Do you support alternatives to light rail for West Seattle?
Both YES.

Would you be in favor of light rail being in a tunnel to the Junction?
González NO, Murakami YES

Should public funds be spent for acquisition of a sports team and building an arena?
González NO, Murakami YES

Performance-based budgeting?
Both YES

Do you support CM O’Brien’s propsal to allow RVs to park on city streets with no time limits?
González YES, Murakami NO

Back to full answers: How can the city increase greenspace in light of all the development we’re experiencing?

González: Greenspaces need to be part even of affordable-housing projects. In disposition of surplus properties, she says, “I think we need to really take a hard look at the criteria we’re using for how we evaluate uses for those properties to make it a little easier to convert some of those properties to greenspaces.”

Murakami: “I want to see equitable greenspace across the city – we have to demand more of our developers,” she said, including impact fees. That would help with an “adequately staffed fire and police department” and public transportation, she said. “I think there are some creative ways we could make this happen.”

Do you think the city of Seattle can influence the developent of workforce housing and infrastructure?

Murakami – Again, we need to charge impact fees. And she says that affordable housing should be required on site, not having them pay “crumbs” for in-lieu fees elsewhere, $20,000 compared to 10x that fee in other cities. She says that people need to be gotten off the street “and it’s only going to happen if we demand more of developers.” She contends that they are making “plenty of profit.”

González: Yes, we shold be building workforce housing. Some of the city’s tools such as MHA can lead to housing that “is specifically designed for working folks” – 60 to 80 percent of area median income. The question is, “how do we balance the market to be sure we see the production of those .. housing types in our market?” She then mentioned “transit-oriented development … incredibly important and crucial,” recognizing that transit stations need to have housing “to help keep “working folks (from) being crushed by crazy rents.”

How will the opening of the tunnel in 2019 affect your thinking on West Seattle transportation decisions?

González says again that she lives in The Junction so she takes the C Line or 55 or Water Taxi shuttle – “the reality is, when we’re looking at how to get in or out of West Seattle, we are going to have to double down on multimodal options for getting folks in and out of West Seattle,” including rapid bus lanes, dedicated lanes, not just a portion of 99 but the whole way through, and be sure that those lanes are being enforced.

Murakami acknowledges that commuting on and off the peninsula is tough. “I’d like to see us think outside the bus and look at an aerial tram.” She thinks it would be a “creative solution” with a “very small footprint down on the ground.” Overall, she’s in favor of getting people out of their cars. She says she’s going to avoid the tunnel because it’s over an earthquake fault.

Last question: In construction snarls like downtown/Belltown, what lessons could have been learned when SDOT starts Fauntleroy Boulevard?

Murakami says SDOT has “done a very poor job of project management” and pledges “I will not let them do to any community what they did to ML King Boulevard,” which she said resulted in 40 business closures. She says “I’m 100 percent behind what works for the community and keeping businesses alive and vibrant” during work – which she says should be done 24 hours a day.

González says “there are a lot of lessons we’ve learned” from SDOT and utility projects downtown, “23rd and Jackson and other places.” She believes those lessons “are already being put in place.” She points out ex-Councilmember Tom Rasmussen in the audience, saying that he had told her about Fauntleroy businesses’ concerns about the project. “Luckily we heard about them early enough that we’e been able to engage with folks … (and ensure) there’s a concrete” mitigation plan. A business mitigation fund for example is one thing she said would “help businesses survive – it cannot be just a sandwich board ‘this business is still open’.”

Closing statements:

Murakami says she’s running because “we feel neglected and ignored” by city leadership, which is doing a “fabulous job” of taking care of big employers and big developers. “We have seniors forced out of their homes, businesses closing. We have got to change the direction of where this city is headed – (and) put people like you first,” including a voice in “how density goes into our neighborhoods.” She noted that many people in the audience probably participated in neighborhood plans that are now getting dissed.

González reminds everyone “I’m your neighbor living right here in West Seattle” but also that she is a citywide representative, and it’s important to have a pulse on what’s happening around the city, and says that’s what she’s done for the past two years, including protection of vulnerable communities. She said that she’s been pleased to partner with District 1 CM Lisa Herbold on “district-specific issues,” such as supporting the Highland Park roundabout. “I didn’t think that issue was too small for me” so she said she helped get the full council to sign on to it.

Finally, the mayoral candidates, for whom the questions were changed:

Cary Moon stands up for her opening statement. She said she feels energized despite having been campaigning intensely. She says she’s been working for 20 years on “how to build a great city.” She says that “what we lack is political courage” to execute “real solutions” to Seattle’s problems – homelessness housing affordability, building an economy “that works for everybody.” She also mentions transit-oriented development and “increasing transit, walking, biking facilities … so people don’t have to take their car everywhere.”

Jenny Durkan then stands up too. She says she was born and raised in Seattle and her mom was too. She says “the world started spinning a little differently for me” when President Trump was elected. “This election is not about who’s going to be mayor for four years – it’s about what will Seattle be like for that next generation,” after so much rapid growth and tens of thousands of people moving here. “Seattle wasn’t ready – we were this town built for ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and nothing was ready” for the growth. She says the homelessness problem is because the “safety net structure” wasn’t ready. She says it’s possible to “fix the issues in front of us.”

First question – In your view, what are the basics of city goverment?

Moon says “the mayor’s job is to create the vision, champion the vision, lay out an action plan so everyone in city government can be pulling toward the same solution. … We all need to understand where we’re headed and how we are going to get there together.” Clean water, safe streets, public safety are the city’s basic job of what to provide to its citizens, she adds. She said the mayor’s office suffered from “so little management experience” and has become “ineffectual” among other things, “due to poor leadership.” She said that “build(ing) collective will” is important to enable “get(ting) to work” to implement solutions.

Durkan says she announced her campaign with a platform starting with “basic city services … the mayor’s first job is to be sure those services get delivered at a reasonable price …” As an example of what shouldshe mentions Mayor Nickels’ snowstorm debacle. “Making sure that potholes are filled, streets are passable, that when you pick up the phone and call 911, a police office or firefighter actually responds … that our parks are kept up, trash picked up, utilities work … that’s the first job.” But “the job’s bigger than that for the mayor” too.

Second question – Choosing one of the basics you just listed, give us some specifics on how your administration would improve?

Durkan: She chooses police. “We have seen property crime rates increase specifically and small businesses have problems in a variety of ways, where people don’t even call police any more.” She mentions CSOs walking the beat and knowing everyone. “We’ve gone away from that model,” and she would return to more of it. In police reform, she says she’d be sure “we finish the job.”

Moon says she would hold people accountable in their jobs and brings up SDOT. “I think we are all frustrated with what’s happening with SDOT, so many projects that are difficult to navigate and wondering ‘who’s in charge here'” – such as, routing pedestrians around projects. “We have a Move Seattle levy, Transportation Benefit District, and we need to do an excellent job being sure we are prioritizing the projects delivering the most effective results for communities.”

Over the last few years, the basics of running the city have been ignored, citizens have passed tax increases, are we getting our value?

Moon says the city has more money than it used to have and we should ask what we’re getting for that, so “some belt-tightening” is in order. A friend says Seattle is known as “the land of 10,000 pilot projects” but doesn’t go back to see what worked and what needs to be ceased or continued.

Durkan says she will not talk about raising any new taxes until she believes the current revenue is being used efficiently. We’re a “generous city … so we tax ourselves .. for buses, our parks, our schools … but we’re not using all that money in the best way possible.” For example, she notes, basic services are suddenly being funded by special levy money. She brings up a fee that a developer owed and that the city “forgot to collect.”

Now the yes/no questions:

Do you support HALA in its present form?
Neither candidate commits to yes or no.

Are you willing to support alternatives to Sound Transit’s proposed alignment to WS?
Both hold up YES

Will you reconsider the prior administration’s break away from the district council system?
Both hold up YES

Will you move Office of Economic Development from reactive to proactive?
Both hold up YES

Are landlord regulations burdensome and excessive for small landlords?
Both hold up YES

Should public funds be spent on an arena/sports team?
Both hold up NO, Durkan then says, “HELL no.”

Back to full questions: Over past several years, there’s been a lack of concern and outreach to small business community. How will your administration be different?

Durkan vows it’ll be 100 percent different. She notes that she’s done walking tours in neighborhoods including at least one in West Seattle. She says she hears it’s harder and harder for businesses because rents keep going up, so she has a proposal to keep commercial rents down. She acknowledges small businesses “employing 4 to 5 times as many people as Amazon.”

Moon says, “I come from a small business family – 100 employees in Michigan” and she spent time working there. “The more big corporations take over our city, the more wealth they are extracting from our city and sending (the money) back to Wall Street.” She says the city OED has “neglected small businesses for too long.” She proposes bringing small businesses together “by sector” to find out what they need.

Next question: A large part of our community will be affected by the Fauntleroy Boulevard project. How will your administration work to lessen the impacts on our business community, and has the city learned lessons from other projects?

Moon: “I hope we’ve learned lessons because we made a lot of mistakes.” She mentions the waterfront mitigation fund $15 million while “we did zero” for the businesses on 23rd. “We’ve gotta keep communication open,” and she cites what LG said, you have to do more than put a sandwich board out. “We need to listen in advance and talk to the neighborhood about what you need to survive … and we also need to stay in constant communication – are your customers finding you? what can we do to help? We cannot afford to lose a whole street of businesses.”

Durkan tells people to go to her website because she has “specific proposals and how to pay for them on these issues.” Every neighborhood, she says, has had closed lanes, detours … “I’ve heard from small businesses everywhere in the city about how this growth is affecting them.” She says it’s important to plan with businesses “to make sure we’re mitigating” and to be sure everyone knows “how long it’s going to take.” Having departments work together is important too, and she says they’ll ensure “the program managers from each department are working together” because “too often they’re in silos.”

Next queestion: In light of rapid pace of development, what thoughts do you have to increase greenspace in what are rapidly becoming denser spaces?

Durkan: In HALA, we’ve been so focused on housing affordability, we haven’t focused on the L in HALA. She says that “we really have to go back to requiring more greenspace, more tree canopy, have more public realm where that’s available … our parks are such an important part of who we are … we’re missing that in the way we’re building our city.” She says that city lots should be considered for greenspace.

Moon mentions she has a master’s degree in landscape architecture and urban design, and started the People’s Waterfront Coalition in 2004, with an eye to “reclaiming 22 acres of civic land.” She goes on about that project and says she’s proud of awards she won for it. “Building public will for public space is mushy work” that she says is similar to what a mayor does. She says she cares deeply about parks, having raised two kids in an 800-square-foot apartment.

Next question: A key topic for the WS peninsula is the West Seattle Bridge corridor. How will you expand capacity from the bridge to 99, SODO, and I-5?

Moon mentions that she and West Seattle activist Chas Redmond (who set up and operated the forum’s audio and so was within view of the stage) were involved a long time in the effort to build the monorail. It fell apart and nothing came in to replace it. “So we had this idea of a 5-star bus rapid transit system” that also didn’t happen. “So we have Rapid Ride, but it’s really a 1-star transit system when we need so much more.” She says it’s important to raise more money. A friend of hers says she has to get on the bus by 7 am (in West Seattle) or else full buses keep going by.

Durkan says “I don’t think there’s ever been a decade where West Seattle’s been served what was needed.” ST3 is supposed to connect WS but “we also know it’s too far away.” She says speeding up ST3 is vital and “less process” will make that happen, especially if the various entities “get out of the silos.” She says that siting for the route would start “right away” but in the meantime, more bus service for getting downtown is needed immediately too. “People need help today to get downtown.”

Next question- how do you define the homeless issue?

Durkan – it’s “a heartbreaking issue … we have one of the most prosperous cities in the most prosperous country maybe in the history of the world.” People are here “inventing the future.” But we have thousands of people living on the streets. She says we have to get away from a “one-size-fits-all” solution for homeless people. For one, the city has a high population of moms with kids living in cars and there was little shelter space for families until recently. “Mary’s Place jumped into the gap” and now there are better family shelters. She might need more taxes for mental health and addiction services.

Moon – “A multisystem failure – we have an affordability risis in our housing market that we have not addressed as a city – epople need help and are simply not getting it.” The economy’s growth are raising the cost of living for everyone else. Many homeless people, she said, have jobs, but can’t afford to live in the city.” She says this has to be a #1 priority.

Followup from Spalding – the homelessness budget has increased every year recently. So how would their administration be different?

Moon: “We have some things that work, but let’s recognize, we are pushing people into homelessness faster than we are pushing them out.” She says she would “stop the sweeps, they are ineffective, they are chasing people from one encampment to another without inviting anyone to come inside. That’s not working.” She said she also believes “rapid rehousing” doesn’t work, because the voucher amounts are “not enough” and even if it is, people are right back out on the streets once the voucher money runs out.

Durkan: #1, “we can’t treat it like a one-size-fits-all.” Make sure we are incraesing shelter space while working on other housing. She has suggested that every council districct come up wtih 200 to 300 shelter beds immediately – “if we do that we would have almost 1,000 beds overnight.” Then she would have 1,000 tiny houses built immediately, insulated, with some kind of plumbing. “We have to get people out of tents, out of cars, out of doorways, out of RVs.” She says money’s been wasted on services “instead of helping people.”

Next question: At what point is the sales tax/levy burden too high for the people of Seattle?

Durkan says we are close to a tipping point. She mentioned people at the 37th Legislative District speaking against the county’s veterans/seniors/etc. levy because they just can’t take any more, not because they didn’t support the cause. She says people are likely going to be shocked when the McCleary (education funding) deal taxes hit. “I’m very much in favor of progressive taxes,” such as an income tax. But she says that “if we get that money” she will use it to pay down the regressive taxes.

Moon, “We have said yes to many tax increases because we are generous … but it’s compounded by the increases in valuation of our houses, fueled by outsider speculation.” She said she will tackle that, looking at people gaming the system to buy the housing and flip it at a higher rate. “Yes, we need to look at more progressive taxes … we need to look at (state)capital gains tax, a disincentive on speculation, inheritance taxes and state taxes, taxing the unearned wealth of wealthy people …”

Closing statements:

Durkan stands again. She says people ask what’s the difference between the two. She wants people to remember two things. They’ve identified the same problems and challenges. “But how we fix them is different, and how we can get them done is different, and the difference is experience in solving problems.” She says she has more experience running a large organization “to get people moving.” She says that Moon opposed the tunnel but she personally is in favor of the tunnel. “This comes down to experience, who can actually get it done rather than talking about plans.”

Moon stands too. She says she’s excited to talk about building the future of the city, which isn’t going to “come from a top-down bullying approach” but rather is going to come from collaboration “to implement the lasting solutions that we need.” She claims city employees have jumped out of their trucks and told her “we need you .. People know my values, know my integrity.” She also promises transparency. She says she’s “committed to share prosperity for everybody” and is “really ready to work together with all of you” in a time of “transformation” with “an action agenda that everyone can understand.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th – get your ballot postmarked by that date, or in a ballot dropbox (here are the locations) by 8 pm. If you need to vote at an accessible voting center, here’s where and when to find them.