Primary Election Day is a month from tomorrow; your ballot will arrive in about two weeks. So we’re ramping up our close-up looks — with West Seattle-specific questions — at races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot, starting with Position 8, which Richard McIver is leaving. Six candidates are running; last night we looked at Robert Rosencrantz, who won one of the 34th District Democrats‘ “dual endorsements” in this race; tonight, the other endorsee, David Miller:

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Most people wouldn’t admit a fascination with land-use codes, but Seattle City Council Position 8 candidate David Miller, a 42-year-old Maple Leaf resident, doesn’t hesitate.

He has experienced its intricacies up close and personal as past President of the Maple Leaf Community Council, as a member of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Citizen Advisory Committee, and while working on several other environmental committees.

He helped develop the Parks and Green Spaces Levy that voters approved last fall.

Since he announced his candidacy, Miller seems to be at every possible gathering throughout the city, whether it’s an early breakfast meeting on Saturdays or waving to supporters at community events.

He was among the several candidates attending West Seattle Summer Fest last weekend.

With energy to burn, he has biked from Seattle to Portland eight times.

Miller co-founded Biotech Stock Research, and is the chief executive of the company. He grew up in Hoquiam, on the coast, and has fond childhood memories of visiting his sister in West Seattle after she moved here.

“My sister first had an apartment on California and then one on Alki. I spent a week or so every couple of summers there. I biked on Alki while I was there. I know it’s a little obvious, but I have some nice memories of Alki,” he said.

Q: How do you perceive West Seattle’s transportation challenges, and what can be done to solve them?

MILLER: West Seattle has been asked to take additional density, which it has. Like in other areas in the city, there has been no concurrent improvement in transportation infrastructure. West Seattle is particularly challenged because of a lack of good alternatives to get to commercial, industrial, entertainment, and employment centers. If the bridge is bottled up, life becomes very difficult.

We need to figure out a way to get more transit hours in the city. I’ve outlined a number of ways to try to break or go around the 40-40-20 King County rule that hinders Seattle from getting the bus hours it needs, and will work on this issue if elected to City Council. We also need to commit to some sort of dedicated right-of-way system – whether it is an extension of light rail or dedicated bus lanes – so people choosing to take transit aren’t stuck in traffic along with everyone else.

Q: A massive amount of development is planned in West Seattle. How do we keep the hometown feel, but also bring some jobs here so everyone doesn’t have to commute?

MILLER: There is also something to be said for trying to create office and other business space in West Seattle so people do not have to commute across the bridge. This is a very long-term solution, however, as most people’s jobs are not particularly portable.

The City Council has the responsibility for determining where density and concurrent infrastructure improvements will be located within the city. Neighborhoods should be empowered to determine, within broad guidelines, where the density is located and how it should look to fit into the character of the neighborhood.

Q: The jail issue touches many neighborhoods. What should we do? Is West Seattle the right place for a jail?

MILLER: The current status appears to be, King County is not going to refuse to take Seattle inmates, at least not for the near future. This means we do not need to build a new jail. I have stated many times on the campaign that if, in the future, we need to do a new jail it needs to be built downtown. It should be a structure that rethinks the jail concept, incorporating social services, healthcare, and etc.

Miller’s website is at miller4seattle.org. He is one of two candidates in the Position 8 race endorsed by West Seattle’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats. Kathy Mulady’s candidate reports continue here on WSB tomorrow (Saturday) night. Find our archived coverage of all political races and issues here, newest to oldest.