35 Replies to "City Council District 1 candidates Lisa Herbold & Shannon Braddock face off in first local post-primary forum"

• Julia September 17, 2015 (10:13 pm)

  Great job, Tracy, and all of the moderators and candidates. Both Shannon and Lisa were impressive and I feel reassured that, whatever the outcome, West Seattle & South Park will be well represented.

• BraddockFan September 17, 2015 (10:36 pm)

  I came to the forum tonight not knowing a lot about either candidate. At the end of the hour Shannon Braddock hit it out of the park. She has a firm grasp of the issues facing our district. Her vision of the future is multi-faceted, collaborative, and not based soley on developer-bashing. Joe McDermott has big shoes to fill. Thank you to Town Hall and Seattle Channel for bringing us this debate.

• onion September 17, 2015 (10:37 pm)

  An evening well spent. Very informative and useful. I encourage everyone to attend one of the upcoming forums so you can hear the candidates unfiltered by regular or social media. In my opinion both social and regular media … especially social media … are giving a distorted view of this race. See for yourself so you can make up your own mind.

• Diane September 18, 2015 (12:48 am)

  I heard ZERO “developer-bashing” by anyone

• Ivan September 18, 2015 (6:23 am)

  If I take heat for not living in D1, then so be it. But it is a pretty pathetic stretch of the imagination — and one that will not fool very many voters — to characterize Lisa Herbold’s campaign as being “based soley (sic) on developer-bashing.”
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  For the past weeks, Lisa has churned out position paper after position paper on issue after issue, going into detail after detail, not only on what she hopes to accomplish on a wide range of subjects — but more important — HOW she hopes to do it. Her positions, and her solutions, are based on her 17 years of actually working within Seattle City government. Lisa knows what’s possible. There will be no learning curve for her.
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  None of this should be construed as an attack on Shannon. I like Shannon just fine. It’s not her fault that she is overmatched here. I hope people will do as onion suggests and watch the video from beginning to end. The choice was pretty clear for me.
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  Oh, and as for “developer-bashing,” I sure see a lot of that in the comment threads on WSB. Makes you wonder which candidate has a better reading of the public pulse, doesn’t it?

• Greg Iaterro September 18, 2015 (7:15 am)

  I have to say I was opposed to both of these people simply on the fact that I was for one of the candidates who did not advance.
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  However now that I need to choose, it’s pretty obvious: which one DIDN’T — DID NOT — get their campaign so far heavily bought and bankrolled by the dangerously powerful Downtown Seattle business Association? That’s the DSA. The Downtown Seattle businesses invested in Shannon Braddock and businessmen only invest in things they think they will financially profit from.
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  Downtown is also out of character with West Seattle values and tradition. 99 years ago West Seattle was forcibly annexed by Seattle against our will, and a vote for Shannon Braddock is a vote to endorse our continued oppression. Vote for Shannon if you want West Seattle to look like Belltown and Capitol Hill in ten years. Vote for Lisa Herbold if you want a single alternative voice who isn’t in bed with businesses.

• Jon Wright September 18, 2015 (7:23 am)

  Ivan from Vashon Island, So you’re saying Lisa’s constituency is angry Internet users?

• Neighbor September 18, 2015 (7:23 am)

  Ivan – where can we find all of these “position papers”? I haven’t seen any on her website?

• Ivan September 18, 2015 (7:33 am)

  @Neighbor, they’re all there. @Jon Wright, please try to look at the issues rather than speculating about people’s emotional states.

• No Way Jose September 18, 2015 (7:34 am)

  Every time I see photos of these ladies on social media, Lisa is surrounded by working people and normal folk. Every time I see Shannon she is surrounded by business people, Mayor Murray, Dow Constantine, and other leering insiders. Can we please stop electing people from that frat house of bros?

• onion September 18, 2015 (8:11 am)

  My perspective on the distorted value of opinions on social media has been made and reinforced over and over. I urge my intelligent neighbors to attend the forums in person, talk to the candidates yourself if given the opportunity, and make up your own minds.

  • WSB September 18, 2015 (8:27 am)

    Next open-to-the-public one in West Seattle that I know of, so far, is this one October 6th in Fauntleroy – with the at-large positions as well as D-1.
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    http://www.seattlelwv.org/node/2306
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    Then there are three in mid-October, three nights in a row – October 13, 14, 15.
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    Any others *in WS or SP* – please send us a notice ASAP so we can catch up our calendar! editor@westseattleblog.com – TR

• Todd G September 18, 2015 (8:27 am)

  I thought both candidates performed admirably. Shannon has more polish, but Lisa’s experience working under four different mayors is probably the kicker for me. I have trouble believing that Shannon will be able to step up and take a lead for D1 on the council in the same way Lisa will, just because of the steep learning curve. Lisa could have a leadership role on the council from day 1, even sooner, because of her deep institutional knowledge.

  One other thing: Can WSB or somebody really dig into the story Shannon told about a homeless kid sleeping in her car port? Struck me as a bogus story, particularly because the kid’s mom allegedly lived down the street. Why would he pick Shannon’s car port? May seem like a trivial aside, but fabricating anecdotes to seem aware of our city’s homeless issue is misrepresenting yourself to the voters, if the story was in fact false.

• Mom activist September 18, 2015 (8:42 am)

  It was clear to me that Lisa Herbold is the best candidate for the job of representing District 1. I agreed with her positions on growth and transportation. Her opponent is too cozy with sell-out politicians and the developers who own them. Look at her campaign contributions.

• JTB September 18, 2015 (9:02 am)

  There seem to be more broad similarities that sharp differences between these two.

  What struck me was that Shannon spoke in terms of values and concepts generally representative of this community while Lisa spoke from more of a nuts and bolts perspective, addressing the practical challenges in getting things done.

• Mickymse September 18, 2015 (9:12 am)

  I was struck by Shannon’s anecdote, too, which I’ve not heard her share before… but what struck me as odd was that she talked about how meeting him opened her eyes to the real problem we have, but didn’t say a word about whether her family did anything — at all — to actually help the man.

• wscommuter September 18, 2015 (9:12 am)

  It seems to me that Ms. Braddock has a more realistic view of the issues and thus, potential solutions. Knee-jerk opposition to her because she also has backing from “establishment” sources strikes me as ill-advised and irrelevant. Ms. Herbold is also a fine candidate and might do well … but for myself, I prefer to support the candidate who seems to be better equipped to approach our (W. Seattle) issues. In my mind, that means that if she also has support from the “establishment” it is not a problem for me. Not just in this string, but speaking more generally, I find the unending bashing of local politicians (most of whom are hard-working, conscientious folks) and such to be pretty ignorant.

• Ray N September 18, 2015 (9:17 am)

  Observationally the two candidates were fairly articulate but Lisa Herbold seemed to have a deeper and more nuanced grasp of the issues and a greater depth of knowledge about possible solutions backed up with published positions.
  Shannon Braddock had a somewhat more facile and plasticine presentation. She sounded good but it seemed more like rehearsed sound bites than deeply held beliefs. It was hard to distinguish her individuality.

• Julia September 18, 2015 (9:55 am)

  I felt Lisa was too one-note in tying every issue to development fees. Shannon exhibited more passion for our district yet has the regional experience to see the big picture.

• maplesyrup September 18, 2015 (10:43 am)

  Haven’t seen the video yet but I think some of you are overstating exactly how beholden Braddock will be to developers and “big business.”

  And I agree with wscommuter; let’s not bash these candidates as cronies of X or Y interests. I believe both of them genuinely have West Seattle’s best interest in mind and either way we’re going to get a really good rep for D1.

  Can’t wait to watch the video though.

• DW September 18, 2015 (11:05 am)

  All you need to know about Lisa Herbold is that she worked for Nick Licata — and that’s way, way to the left of the mainstream where I believe most of West Seattle resides.

• Ivan September 18, 2015 (11:09 am)

  @Julia, I think you’re missing an essential point here. Lisa appears to you to be “tying every issue to development fees” because Seattle is way behind the curve, even among King County cities, in assessing these fees to fund infrastructure and essential services.
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  All these projects and services have to be paid for somehow. Homeowners and renters are bearing the brunt of these payments in the various levies, while developers pay far less of their fair share to mitigate the impact that their developments have on their neighborhoods.
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  Maybe you are content for this situation to continue. I doubt that the majority of District 1 homeowners and renters are. When Lisa, quite correctly, identifies that Seattle is the only city in King County that does not collect certain development impact fees, it tells me that she has, most certainly, seen the regional big picture.
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  Lisa spoke in specifics. She offered concrete, nuts and bolts solutions. If Shannon appeared more “passionate” to you, it is no wonder. She spoke in generalities and anecdotes, which would be fine if she was up against a candidate who was as inexperienced in Seattle government as she is. But if she tries to deal with Lisa on specifics, she is in way over her head.
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  It’s not a rap on her. it’s the sheer arithmetic of 17 years at the city as opposed to 5 years at the county, for a city position. It’s a no-brainer. If Joe’s seat on the County Council came open and the same two candidates were running, I’d be supporting Shannon, for the same reasons I’m supporting Lisa for this seat.

• AceMotel September 18, 2015 (12:03 pm)

  No question, Lisa Herbold is by far the superior candidate. I want someone representing me who understands an issue WAY before it ends up in her driveway.
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  All of Herbold’s position papers are on her web site, I believe, and it’s proof she’s not just a talking head. She has concrete ideas and she knows HOW to get things done.
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  I have been listening very carefully, and I have not heard Ms. Herbold disparage anyone. Having plans to (somewhat) mitigate economic disparities is not “bashing”.
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  one thing, I am very sorry both candidates have come out in favor of the Move Seattle levy, and that position is out of touch with the majority of Seattle voters. Just watch.

• Bob C September 18, 2015 (12:14 pm)

  It’s clear that Ms. Herbold has a much deeper grasp of what can actually be done, and how to do it. Ms. Braddock talks a fine game of generalities, but her lack of details and passion for the issues only convinces me she’ll be a mail-in councilmember happy to sit on a committee and vote up or down. What we need is leadership. Ms. Herbold has proven and tested leadership at City Hall, has demonstrated true passion for the issues troubling the district, knows all the players already, and can hit the ground running with realistic solutions.

• IWasThere September 18, 2015 (12:51 pm)

  For the record, Braddock also spoke clearly in favor of development fees, similar to what has been implemented elsewhere in King County without detriment. The difference, I think, is that Braddock did not make it a pivotal point of her campaign the way Herbold has. Instead Braddock described it as one of multiple approaches that need to be used to deal with the issues of rapid urban growth and affordable housing.

• Diane September 18, 2015 (2:26 pm)

  there were a LOT of questions last night about transportation woes in West Seattle
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  excerpts from Lisa Herbold position paper, “Growth Paying for Growth”:
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  “Although I am a King County Metro bus commuter, I care deeply about improving transportation across all modes. Seattle frequently tops the lists of cities with the worst traffic congestion. Every minute spent in gridlock means more time away from our families and other pursuits. West Seattle is particularly challenged. That is why we must propose real solutions to make sure District 1 gets the transportation investment it deserves.”
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  “Without adequate investment and new sources of progressive revenue, our campaign promises to improve mobility and safety for drivers, pedestrians, bikers, and bus commuters will not be realized. On day one I will fight for a transportation impact fee so we can make the investments necessary to keep District 1 moving!”
  ~
  see the entire document here: http://district1forherbold.com/issues/growth-paying-for-growth/

• B Dahlia September 18, 2015 (3:42 pm)

  I think it’s important to remember Lisa Herbold has 20+ years of dedicated experience working on housing policy, so if she seems to get into the details rather than speaking in broader brush-strokes that’s only to be expected.
  I particularly appreciated the reframing of the “rent control” debate. The ability of Seattle, or any municipality, to control its own land use policy and, in particular, commerce policy as related to local land use policy, seems like a common-sense approach that would enable new possibilities to emerge that can’t even be considered with the state ban.

• HTB September 18, 2015 (4:27 pm)

  Obviously alot of Herbold partisans (i.e. the 34th district democrats) are going out of their way to post on these board.

  My understanding with impact fees is that, yes, most KC cities to utilize them more than Seattle. The main difference is that other cities use this fee for transit and infrastructure (which I support), whereas Herbold would restrict this fee to only low income housing

  • WSB September 18, 2015 (4:49 pm)

    HTB, data point, the 34th District Democrats endorsed both candidates. We covered the meeting where that happened: https://westseattleblog.com/2015/05/happening-now-34th-district-democrats-make-key-endorsements/

• Ivan September 18, 2015 (4:55 pm)

  @HTB, By no means does Lisa intend to restrict impact fees to low-income housing. Here is her position on transportation impact fees:

  http://district1forherbold.com/issues/growth-paying-for-growth/

  I hope this is helpful.

• Diane September 18, 2015 (6:36 pm)

  Impact fees pay for infrastructure (not transit; not low-income housing)
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  Linkage fees pay for affordable housing (often confused with impact fees)

  • WSB September 18, 2015 (6:47 pm)

    I haven’t found the video of this on Seattle Channel yet .. so I’m afraid it might not be posted until Monday … it’ll debut on the cable channel that night, with these airings scheduled, according to the SC website:

    Mon, Sep 21, 7:00 p.m.
    Tue, Sep 22, 5:00 p.m.
    Wed, Sep 23, 4:00 a.m.
    Thu, Sep 24, 12:00 a.m.
    Thu, Sep 24, 11:00 a.m.
    Thu, Sep 24, 4:00 p.m.
    Fri, Sep 25, 1:00 a.m.
    Fri, Sep 25, 7:00 a.m.
    Fri, Sep 25, 8:00 a.m.
    Sat, Sep 26, 4:00 a.m.
    Sun, Sep 27, 8:00 a.m.

• WS gal September 19, 2015 (7:46 am)

  Both candidates are out of touch with locally owned business- not a clue. Lol

• Neighbor September 19, 2015 (8:54 am)

  @Ivan – my apologies regarding what Ms. Herbold considers position papers. I was expecting a little more substance from someone with 17 years of experience. Those 2-3 paragraph (1-2 sentences per paragraph) struck me as thin on cost-benefit analysis and the impact on current residents who will ultimately foot the bill and be subject to the changes imposed to subsidize housing so that everyone who wants to buy a house here can do so.

• Ivan September 20, 2015 (12:56 pm)

  @Neighbor, you are not looking at the correct links. These are what I’m talking about:
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  Ride Sharing Bill:
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  http://district1forherbold.com/issues/ride-share-collective-bargaining/
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  Standing with SEA (teachers):
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  http://district1forherbold.com/issues/we-stand-with-seattles-teachers/
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  Equity for all workers:
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  http://district1forherbold.com/issues/supporting-equity-of-opportunity-for-all-workers/
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  Growth Paying for Growth: http://district1forherbold.com/issues/growth-paying-for-growth/
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  The idea behind the last one is that current residents should *not* be bearing the entire brunt of development. If that is not enough of a cost-benefit analysis for you, I suggest you contact Lisa directly. A campaign web site can only go into so much depth, and I suggest to you that you are getting a lot more hard information from Lisa’s website than you will ever be getting from her opponent’s.

Sorry, comment time is over.