CAMPAIGN SEASON: City Council District 1 candidate debate Thursday; 34th District Democrats’ endorsements

Though other matters are holding the spotlight, the November election is just seven weeks away, and you’ll have a lot to decide. The coverage ramp-up has begun.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES DEBATE THURSDAY: The finalists for the City Council’s new West Seattle/South Park seat will debate in the district on Thursday (September 17th) for the first time since last month’s primary.

Shannon Braddock and Lisa Herbold will face off at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm Thursday. Your editor here is lead moderator, with community moderators including Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen. The debate is presented by Town Hall Seattle, whose website has full details – they’re also requesting you RSVP via that page (though admission is free).

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ ENDORSEMENTS: We’ve already reported on some of what happened at last Wednesday’s meeting of our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats – a resolution supporting the striking Seattle Education Association‘s contract proposals, and a speech plus Q/A with SEA’s lead bargainer. Also at the meeting Wednesday night, in addition to endorsements they made before the primary, a block of general-election endorsements was approved, including Courtney Gregoire for re-election to Port Commission Position 2, approval of Seattle I-122 “Honest Elections,” approval of King County Proposition 1 “Best Starts for Kids,” and rejection of State Initiative 1366. In separate votes, Fred Felleman was endorsed for Port Commission Position 5 and the Move Seattle transportation levy was endorsed. The full list of new 34th endorsements is here.

The group also heard from numerous candidates and candidate reps. One memorable point was made by County Elections Director candidate Zack Hudgins, who spoke disapprovingly of the 25 percent turnout for the primary and said action was needed because “to get better government we need better participation.” One of his ideas: More ballot boxes in the county. West Seattle, you might recall, doesn’t have a fixed dropoff box – the last one was removed five years ago.

(West Seattle’s last fixed-location ballot-dropoff box – WSB photo, 2009)
A ballot-dropoff van visits for three of the four days before the voting deadline. Otherwise, you have to pay postage and get your ballot into the mail, an idea that once was suggested as a turnout-booster, not reducer.

Next month’s 34th Dems meeting (7 pm October 14th, Hall at Fauntleroy) is scheduled to include a City Council candidates’ forum.

ws_suzanne September 14, 2015 (1:23 am)

I would definitely support ballot drop-off boxes to see if that increases voter participation.

That said, I wish that I had more confidence in voters actually taking the time to research the candidates in depth to know who will actually represent their districts best.

Julia September 14, 2015 (8:31 am)

Having just reserved a seat at that debate, I have to say how ridiculous it is to go through an entire order process (including name, address, etc.) for a free ticket. I almost cancelled; I think most people would have.

onion September 14, 2015 (9:27 am)

I have to agree with Julia. But I feel it is more than ridiculous, it feels like an intrusion on privacy. And does this mean that people without tickets WILL be turned away?

WSB September 14, 2015 (9:36 am)

Onion, I’m checking. Apologies as we are not organizing or even sponsoring this – I just agreed to moderate (uncompensated FWIW, Town Hall is a nonprofit, not that moderators are usually paid anyway BUT just in case anyone was wondering) – it seems to be an increasingly common practice to ask people to register/RSVP for even free events in general (since we run a comprehensive event calendar we tend to see the trends) but it is often out of a misguided sense that otherwise they’ll run out of room, when at least in the case of something like this, I have yet to see an overflow crowd – we had SRO at the forum we organized at the start of the primary campaign, at HPIC, but I don’t believe anyone was turned away. The Youngstown gallery is somewhat limited though, I’m not certain of the capacity – Tracy

onion September 14, 2015 (10:10 am)

No apology necessary, Tracy, and especially not from you. It is very thoughtful and conscientious of you to follow up.

squareeyes September 14, 2015 (12:59 pm)

Speaking of our sole ballot drop off location, what a traffic jam it creates with lines forming in both directions on 35th to enter, and then everyone trying to exit back onto 35th. Conveniently located – yes. Quick? Not so much. Bring back the Delridge drop off please.

Diane September 14, 2015 (2:15 pm)

agree, the registration process ridiculous as “requirement” to attend; it’s challenging enough to get people to show up; the last candidate forum at Youngstown was barely half-full, despite major efforts by VIEWS, who put on that excellent event; Town Hall, please make it easier for people to participate, not harder; I hope this registration requirement does not dissuade more folks from participating in this very important debate for our district

WSB September 14, 2015 (2:54 pm)

I haven’t had time to cut/paste the reply here. But people who haven’t registered who show up will NOT be turned away if there’s room and they’re not expecting a sellout either.

acemotel September 15, 2015 (11:03 am)

The 34th is out of touch if they endorsed the MOVE SEATTLE levy.

marfaun September 15, 2015 (7:10 pm)

The 34th Demos got Move Seattle wrong: maybe nobody told them it includes nothing to improve getting into & out of West Seattle, no bus service improvements (just more buses on the same crowded streets), no infrastructure improvements for WS Bridge corridor between hill & I-5, no improvements in SODO feeder streets into & out of downtown (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Aves.), no southbound access from 4th or 6th to W-bound WS bridge; no full funding of Lander St. overpass, no improvement in Chelan 5-way intersection mess, and all paid for by property taxes that already cover libraries, schools, pre-school programs, emergency programs, and other initiatives, indicating the Mayor & Council either lack imagination, or refuse to consider better funding sources than those which are driving fixed income people out of their homes.

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