County Executive race: 4 candidates show for environment forum

| Environment | West Seattle politics

Though August 18 is the official date for the primary election, voting begins in less than a month, as King County Elections will start mailing ballots four weeks from today (military/overseas ballots even sooner). Candidates in the hottest incumbentless race, King County Executive, talked environmental issues last night at Town Hall downtown, as a sizable audience looked on:

By Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Special to West Seattle Blog

The stage was set as if for a musical recital, with tall backed bar-stools and music stands. Hoping for a quintet performance by King County Executive candidates, the full audience that gathered at Town Hall for a debate on environmental leadership had to settle for the regular quartet performance by the four elected Democrats running in this officially nonpartisan race – King County Council Chair Dow Constantine of West Seattle, State Rep. Ross Hunter of Medina, County Councilmember Larry Phillips of Magnolia and State Sen. Fred Jarrett of Mercer Island. (8 candidates are running; see the full list here.)

As they climbed onto their seats for the debate, someone in the crowd shouted: “Where’s Susan?” That question seemed to be on many minds, as the audience erupted in boos when Clifford Traisman, moderator for the otherwise-orderly debate hosted by the Washington Environmental Council, gave the now-familiar explanation that candidate Susan Hutchison had declined their request, citing a prior engagement. (She did attend a forum the night before – here’s the Daily Weekly‘s account – and mentions the environment on her website’s “issues” page.)

Last night’s questions covered candidates’ future vision, the fate of Metro & the prioritization of environmental programs, acquiring an Eastside rail corridor for potential light-rail use, land-use solutions, stormwater runoff, and how to find funding for what needs to be done.

Phillips touted what he called his “green-print” environmental action agenda, saying it “builds on the successes we’ve had to date and also brings in new ideas and new programs for the future.” He voiced support for “development-oriented transit,” which would require and enforce high-density development along light-rail lines. (We’re looking at environmental endorsements, if any, for each candidate; Phillips’ endorsements, listed here, include individuals labeled as “environmentalists.”)

Jarrett cracked the only joke of the night, thanking the crowd for coming to the environment-specific forum: “As candidates it’s fun to have people interested in some of the things that we say.” His main theme for the night was the need to measure results instead of effort and a focus on getting county government to live within its current financial means, while holding people accountable. He set himself apart from the others regarding short-term solutions for stormwater runoff stating that “now is not the time to push for funding. We need to be able to demonstrate we can deliver value first …” (His endorsement list, online here, does not include anyone identified as “environmentalists” nor known environmental groups.)

Constantine said he wants to get rid of programs that aren’t working and “put the money where it will do the most good.” He stood apart from the rest in pushing for an immediate bicycle and pedestrian path, but for the most part, he focused on saying that he’s the most directly involved candidate on local environmental issues, and pushed for people to look at his record and not just his words. (His endorsements, listed here, include the Sierra Club and Cascade Bicycle Club.)

Hunter pointed out that the moderator accidentally skipped candidates multiple times throughout the debate, making sure everyone played by the rules. He emphasized that voters were electing an executive, not a lobbyist, and that producing results came before lobbying the state for support. (His endorsement list, online here, does not include major environmental groups nor does it break out “environmentalists” among the individuals listed.)

All the candidates are elected officials, and they heavily leaned on their records in office and history within the community, more than discussing details of potential programs or policy shifts. They appeared to agree the Eastside corridor should be purchased for trails and potential future use for light rail, and that stormwater runoff is an issue that can’t wait and needs to be addressed now.
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First 2 photos by Johnathon Fitzpatrick; others by Lucas Anderson.

Other accounts of Tuesday night’s forum:
seattlepi.com
Publicola
Live tweets from @EOSAlliance
Live tweets from @cascadeland

WSB coverage of same 4 candidates’ appearance at Fauntleroy Church a month ago:
See the story here

Christi S July 1, 2009 (9:30 am)

Woot! Look at that byline! Johnathon Fitzpatrick is in da house! Great article.

KCres July 1, 2009 (12:51 pm)

Of all the candidates, I can only see one that has actually put forth any thought into the future of the environment, that being Larry.

Ray July 2, 2009 (5:00 am)

That’s right, Dow has stuck his neck out and fought like hell on multiple environmental fronts for the betterment of our region for 20 years. He’s served on countless environmental, transportation and land use boards and committees. He was a land use attorney and holds a Masters in Urban Planning from the UW and was the first state congressman to introduce climate change legislation, back in about 1997, but he hasn’t put any thought into the future of the environment. Larry prints up some election year pamphlet that if you actually read it is laughable, but you’re sold.

lorax July 2, 2009 (9:08 pm)

Larry’s “greenprint” is largely a rehashed/lifted version of King County’s own greenprint, released less than a year ago. Some “thought” he has put into it.

Knock Ross \\ July 3, 2009 (11:45 pm)

Knock Rep. Ross Hunter, HB 1487 Microsoft Subsidy Bill Sponsor out of the King County Executive Race

How? Send $14.87 to an opposing candidate

Hunter, at best, shows flawed judgment sponsoring the HB 1487 Microsoft subsidy bill in the midst of an economic crisis.

He ignored taxpayers in crisis to sponsor special purpose legislation uses public dollars to fund Microsoft private interests. This bill provides uncapped funding college tuition for an unknown number of Microsoft visa workers and their families. Despite the fact that Microsoft provides tuition reimbursement benefits.

The beneficiaries of this benefit did not ask, organize or lobby for the benefit. With an average wage of $92k, twice the state average, and $22k expected family contribution, these high-income families, exceed financial hardship guidelines, and can afford non-resident tuition at every college in the state during their 3-year visa.

While Hunter fiddled with Microsoft legislation to benefit families that did not request the privilege, Washington residents burned through life savings because we’ve lost our jobs, homes, and 401k plans.

In lawmaker’s haste to pass the emergency Microsoft subsidy bill, they neglected to hear opposing testimony, fact and math check. During the same legislative session 2,500 teachers lost jobs and 110,000 people lost health insurance.

I do not understand why Rep. Hunter’s Microsoft subsidy bill was pushed through the legislature as an emergency bill. The real emergency is to help King County families in need that Ross Hunter ignored.

Hunter can’t see people in need, only corporations with hands stretched out in greed.

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