West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
For three West Seattleites, it’s a big Election Night.
Top of the list is the only one who was having an official party in West Seattle – King County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Mitzi Johanknecht. We arrived at her event at the John L. Scott building in The Junction just after King County released its first and only set of results for the night, showing her with a lead of almost 10,000 votes over incumbent Sheriff John Urquhart. The candidate and her wife Maureen were beaming:
The “for” on Mitzi For Sheriff signs and buttons was covered with stickers reading “is”:
And the candidate spoke, with messages for constituents and colleagues:
With many votes left to be counted, some candidates might not be ready to immediately look forward, but the news for the incumbent has been not so good lately, to say the least, and it’s hard to imagine late voters turning his way, but it’s not over until it’s over …
… unless you have a huge lead already, as is the case for the other West Seattleite on the ballot for countywide office. Dow Constantine has won a third 4-year term as King County Executive, the second consecutive election in which he has had only nominal opposition.
And on the city ballot, Councilmember Lorena González has won her first 4-year term, two years after being elected to citywide Position 9:
We did it! 67.68%!! #4MoreYears pic.twitter.com/yCMrNvkaRk
— M. Lorena González (@MLorenaGonzalez) November 8, 2017
West Seattle is also home to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who is midway through her first 4-year term serving District 1 (WS and South Park), and County Council Chair Joe McDermott, who is midway through his current 4-year term. He also had cause to celebrate tonight, as he advocated strongly for King County Proposition 1, which was approved by a wide margin.
The first count is in, and here’s a quick look at who’s ahead:
SEATTLE MAYOR
Jenny Durkan – 64,174 – 60.62%
Cary Moon – 41,683 – 39.38%
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 8
Teresa Mosqueda – 61,117 – 61.51%
Jon Grant – 38,241 – 38.49%
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 9
M. Lorena González* – 67,409 – 67.68%
Pat Murakami – 32,188 – 32.32%
(Added: At left, West Seattleite Mitzi Johanknecht, after first results showed her winning KC Sheriff race – separate story to come)
KING COUNTY SHERIFF
Mitzi Johanknecht – 139,644 – 51.84%
John Urquhart* – 129,725 – 48.16%
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Dow Constantine* – 204,217 – 75.4%
Bill Hirt – 66,629 – 24.6%
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 1
John Creighton* – 129,039 – 51.48%
Ryan Calkins – 121,621 – 48.52%
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 3
Stephanie Bowman* – 169,277 – 66.79%
Ahmed Abdi – 84,159 – 33.21%
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 4
Peter Steinbrueck – 159,683 – 62.88%
Preeti Shridhar – 94,284 – 37.12%
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4
Eden Mack – 81,337 – 85.97%
Herbert J. Camet, Jr. – 13,271 – 14.03%
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 5
Zachary Pullin DeWolf – 57,940 – 61.17%
Omar Vasquez – 36,775 – 38.83%
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 7
Betty Patu – 60,869 – 64.11%
Chelsea Byers – 34,074 – 35.89%
KING COUNTY PROPOSITION 1 (Levy Lid Lift for Veterans, Seniors and Vulnerable Populations)
Approved – 185,133 – 66.06%
Rejected – 95,106 – 33.94%
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY
Pete Holmes* – 72,003 – 72.81%
Scott Lindsay – 26,895 – 27.19%
Again, full list of first-night resuls here.
We found Patti, Liz, and their canine companions at the White Center Library ballot dropbox late this afternoon. Also there, volunteers from the White Center Community Development Association, cheering for everyone who brought in their ballot. That dropbox at 1409 SW 107th might be closer to you if you’re in south West Seattle; otherwise, the only dropbox in WS is at the High Point Library, 3411 SW Raymond – and note that with the 8 pm deadline approaching, it’s likely to be busy (things were picking up when we passed by around dusk), so don’t rush out of the house at 7:55 pm and think you’ll beat the deadline. Your alternative to the dropboxes is the U.S. Mail, but make sure it’ll be postmarked tonight – look for pickup times on the mailbox, or walk it into a Post Office lobby (Westwood or The Junction). Lost your ballot and/or envelope? You can print out a replacement. Looking for last-minute candidate info? Links are in the reminder we published last night. First results are due by about 8:15 pm – we’ll have an update here on WSB.
By Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
The Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s weekly meeting today wasn’t just a luncheon, it was a party – 70th-anniversary party, to be specific.
The club was chartered in November 1947.
(King County Executive Dow Constantine and West Seattle Rotary President Brian Waid)
One of the club’s most prominent members, King County Executive Dow Constantine – who’s on today’s ballot, running for a third term – read a proclamation declaring this “Rotary Club of West Seattle’s 70th Anniversary Day” in King County, and urged all in King County to thank the club for its seven decades of service:
The club currently meets at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, and according to the around-the-room introductions, today’s celebration drew guests including representatives of other Rotary Clubs around the area as well as former members.
(Clay Eals with Rotarian Gary Potter)
Featured speaker was Clay Eals, a journalist, author, historian, community advocate, and more, who recently left as executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
Never mind waiting for a developer to maybe have to be responsible for a walkway along 25th SW – the city has decided to build it after all:
We just got word from SDOT that the community-requested Chief Sealth Walkway Improvement Project is back to the original plan, along 25th SW as well as 26th SW, three months after the announcement the project would be halved.
In August, we announced that we’d be removing from our plans the paving of the walkway on 25th Ave SW between SW Trenton and SW Cloverdale streets. After further evaluation and feedback from the community, we’re happy to report that plans to pave the 25th Ave SW walkway are back on. The walkway on 26th Ave SW will also be improved, as has been the case throughout design. We’ll be finalizing the design soon and expect construction to start in mid-2018. Please see the project website to view the updated project design.
This announcement comes just a few hours before this month’s meeting of the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition, which had been pushing back against the city’s decision to cut the project. Since the city’s announcement the project would be cut, the unimproved 25th SW walkway has been the scene of incidents involving students, including this one last month.
A special event in The Admiral District this Thursday night – the grand opening of the newly expanded space for Sea-Town Real Estate (WSB sponsor). It’s also part of the West Seattle Art Walk, and Sea-Town RE will be featuring artist Ben Calhoun. 
5-9 pm Thursday (November 9th), you’re invited to stop in for beverages, snacks, art, and merriment. Sea-Town founder/owner Christian Harris (right) explains, “Along with having recently added the very visible white Sea-Town RE sign hanging off the side of our building over California Avenue, we have installed an interactive touch-screen display in our front window, highlighting the latest WS homes for sale, where passers-by can also perform their own home searches and inquiries.” You can see, and read about, the display by going here. Technology is a hallmark of Harris’s independent firm and his efforts “to provide a better experience for both his clients and his agents” – that includes other ways in which he works with the community, including producing and anchoring The Sea-Town Podcast, in which, he explains, he “interviews local business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders to help tell their stories and spread the word about these great businesses and non-profits.” (We’re among the dozens of people who have been guests so far.)
Come join the party at Sea-Town Real Estate’s new digs on Thursday night, at 2701 California SW.
While South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is known for its culinary program (among other things), there’s not much food on campus or nearby when lunchtime rolls around for its 1,000+ students and staff. So starting next week, a food truck will be on campus (near the Clock Tower) most weekdays. Lori Johnson of the Washington State Food Truck Association (WSFTA) explains that one of SSC’s sibling campuses, North Seattle College, started a food-truck program a month ago, and that caught the attention of SSC’s Administrative Services department. So they’ve been working with the WSFTA to bring food trucks to the Puget Ridge campus. Johnson says, “The new mobile dining program will begin November 13th, where vendors, who must be licensed to vend in the City of Seattle, can sign up for Mondays through Thursdays from 10 am to 1 pm.” The schedule is online and frequently updated. Interested food-truck proprietors can contact the WSFTA at 360-223-3801 or lori@wafoodtrucks.org.
The night before Veterans Day, it’s the 242nd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps – founded by an Act of Congress on November 10, 1775 – and Marine veteran Tim McConnell is organizing an informal celebration:
I am seeing if there are any other Marines in the area that want to get together this Friday for an informal celebration of the Marine Corps birthday. The usual Marine Corps birthday is a very formal ball, and is full of pomp and circumstance and formalities that I don’t have the time or energy to be a part of. I just want to put together a gathering of West Seattle Marines to toast the Corps, read the Commandant’s birthday message, and swap stories.
As you’ll see here, it’s 8-10 pm Friday (November 10th) at Poggie Tavern (4717 California SW) in The Junction. Just show up.
(WSB photo, 2016 Veterans Day dinner)
Local veterans, active-duty personnel, guard and reserve members, and their families are all invited again this year to a free Italian dinner this Veterans Day at West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160. The post’s announcement explains, “This is but a small thank you for all who have served our nation in uniform, whether in our outside our borders.” It’s a drop-in dinner, so to be part of it, just come to Post 160 – 3618 SW Alaska – between 5:30 and 7:30 pm Saturday (November 11th)
Last Saturday morning, we published Fuchi‘s report of a black 2017 Prius stolen near California/Hanford. Today, Fuchi e-mailed with word the car was found last night, “with a collection of presumably stolen goods inside, and suspected thief was arrested.” We contacted Seattle Police to find out more. Media relations Det. Mark Jamieson tells us a detective spotted the car in the Junction QFC parking lot and confirmed it was stolen; the suspect was arrested shortly thereafter “without incident.” After the car was reclaimed, that’s when items that didn’t belong to the owners were discovered; police have those items now, Det. Jamieson said. He didn’t have details about the suspect – except that he’s in his 30s – because the report is still being processed.
(Photo by Joan Miller)
Thanks for the photos! Another day off to a beautiful start. First and most important highlight:
ELECTION DAY: Everything you need to know (including links to candidate/ballot measure info) is in this reminder we published last night. 8 pm is your deadline to get your ballot to a dropbox – High Point Library is the ONLY ballot dropbox in West Seattle (SW Raymond just east of 35th SW) – no stamp required; if you are mailing it, get it to the Post Office in time to be sure it’ll have today’s postmark. One round of results is expected tonight, around 8:15 pm, and we of course will have an update here.
(Photo by Don Brubeck)
Also today/tonight:
CITY COUNCIL TALKS BUDGET: As also previewed here last night, there are items of West Seattle interest on the list of possible budget changes that councilmembers are discussing today – the meeting is under way now and you can watch live at seattlechannel.org or cable 21.
ROTARY’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY: Noon at Alki Masonic Center, the Rotary Club of West Seattle celebrates its 70th anniversary. All are welcome at its no-host buffet lunch, which will include a proclamation by King County Executive Dow Constantine and a talk by Clay Eals, local writer and historian, whose “presentation is expected to entwine the histories of our community with that of the Rotary Club of West Seattle.” (4736 40th SW)
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COALITION: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library, with an agenda including neighborhood-safety help – see our preview and calendar listing. All welcome. (9010 35th SW)
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8 pm tonight, families with prospective Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) students are invited to “explore classrooms, talk to our faculty and staff, and engage with our parents and students.” (10015 28th SW)
TOM PETTY TRIBUTE: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern:
A host of extraordinary local musicians will be gathering to pay their respects to the late Tom Petty. Featuring Julian Lorentz, Cami Voss, Kelly Van Camp, Jared Britt, Craig Corvin, Alex Barron, Joe Ross, Ryan Barber, Jessie Summa Russo, Scott M.X. Turner, Eden Greer, Tom “Bear” Hubbard, and many special guests. Donations will be collected on behalf of Mary’s Place as a way to extend his charitable contributions toward helping the homeless.
No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Photo by Peter Commons)
Have something for our calendar? Send the info as early as possible – no posters/graphics/attachments required, just write the what/when/where/who, and e-mail to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: We start with a crash response at Delridge and Oregon [map] – SFD has just sent additional units. According to scanner traffic, three vehicles are involved, one possibly on its side. We’re heading there to check.
7:08 AM: SFD reports that while there’s no serious injuries, the Delridge/Oregon intersection is blocked. If you usually travel through, find an alternative or wait a while.
7:24 AM: Thanks to Colin for the photo:
Our crew is still en route – stuck in traffic with everybody else.
7:32 AM: SFD has cleared the Delridge/Oregon scene, according to the 911 log, so it should be a bit less congested.
7:36 AM: Metro has sent an alert to catch Route 120 either south of Alaska or north of Genesee until this is cleared. Our crew has just arrived and says no one is hurt.
(WSB photo)
Police are now directing traffic through the intersection.
7:51 AM: Tow crews are reported to have arrived and Oregon will be blocked while they work to clear the scene.
8 AM: The 120 is back to its normal route, Metro says.
8:18 AM: And now the 125 is reported to have returned to normal.
8:54 AM: Just in case you haven’t left yet, the scene is clear per SPD and SDOT. No other area incidents reported – but if you see something, if/when you can use your phone safely/legally, thanks in advance for letting us know: 206-293-6302, text or voice, 24/7.
9:12 AM: California/Admiral signal is blinking red, per texter. (They asked who to report it to – we recommended 206-684-ROAD, which is the SDOT hotline; urgent problems such as debris in the road and other impediments to safely getting around also can be called to 911.)
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