ELECTION 2019: First City Council candidate campaigning for West Seattle/South Park District 1

8:05 PM TUESDAY: We’ve been watching the city’s Ethics and Elections Commission website for first indication of who’ll be running next year in City Council District 1, West Seattle and South Park, and tonight the first name is on the Campaigns page: Phillip Tavel. He is a lawyer who finished third in the 2015 primary.

We have a request out to him for comment, as well as an inquiry to incumbent Councilmember Lisa Herbold as to whether she’s yet decided on running for re-election. (2015 WSB photo)

ADDED 9:39 AM WEDNESDAY: Councilmember Herbold’s response to our question: “I’ll be answering this question soon. In the meantime, because I sincerely enjoyed campaigning with Phillip in 2015, it’s fun to think about a campaign trail reunion in 2019.”

ADDED 4:44 PM WEDNESDAY: The newly announced candidate’s statement:

First of all, thanks to the West Seattle Blog for diligently looking out for the news impacting our District.

Secondly, everyone’s focus right now, should really be on the election in 2 weeks. Remember that every vote does matter. There is no better way to give power to your voice than casting your vote. Complete your ballot today and mail it or swing by a DropBox, but PLEASE make sure you vote.

Regarding my campaign, I will be having several kick-off events throughout District 1 in late January (stay tuned for that) and my website will launch in mid-November. In the interim, if you want to talk to me you can come find me before, during or after the Trivia Night that I’ve been hosting for the past 10 years at Talarico’s from 830 – 10:30 every Wednesday night.

After the election in two weeks, I will present a full vision for D1. Some key points are a focus on restoring trust and respect between the city and the people of Seattle, working with businesses (large and small) to cooperatively tackle our most significant issues, and ensuring accessibility to city government. It’s vital to have open and inclusive processes so D1 residents know their voice is truly being heard.

Phil Tavel

Gatewood October 23, 2018 (9:02 pm)

I am excited to see a level headed, evidence based solutions individual step up to bring some common sense back to the council. I voted for Phil before because he has great vision, community focused, a giving heart but also actual small business experience. Let me know how I can help! I have been mostly disappointed in the current D1 leadership. Too much outside influence and not enough outreach to include all of her constituents.

A October 23, 2018 (9:10 pm)

My first question to this candidate is what are you going to do to fix this homeless crises? Our current council including Herbold are a bunch of enablers. Are you going to be a part of the solution and allow the police to do their jobs and enforce our laws? Are you going to put an end to the illegal camping and illegal parking by the rvs? Are you going to let the police enforce drug laws and prosecute people for shooting up in public and possessing drugs? Our city has been overrun by drug addicted vagrants and our current council is to blame. I want my city back and you will have my vote if you pledge to fix this mess

ACG October 23, 2018 (10:12 pm)

A-
I’m interested to hear the answers to your questions, too.
The King October 24, 2018 (2:05 am)

You will see enforcement on the homeless when the waterfront utopia is complete. The homeless will be herded away from that area so the new expensive view can be viewed without obstruction.
- Rick Cook October 24, 2018 (10:40 am)
  
  The answers seem to be throwing hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars at it, since we’re just a big piggy bank.

ExileGuy October 23, 2018 (9:45 pm)

Phil makes great sense for WS in so many ways. I just wish we could vote today. Get rid of the lying Herbold and the rest of the bums that ruined my beloved hometown #MagnificentSeven2019

Richard Ehrsam October 23, 2018 (9:47 pm)

I’m with A . Tell us, please.

K&E October 23, 2018 (11:35 pm)

We had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Tavel a couple weeks ago and we’re impressed with his vision for West Seattle, the Seattle Council and how he will represent District 1. Not only is he smart but he is tough and extremely level headed. I can’t wait for everyone in West Seattle and South Park to learn more about his plans. Plus, he used to be a small business owner and understands what it means to be a small business owner. I think Phil will make a great City Council representative and he actually lives in West Seattle!

CatLady October 23, 2018 (11:39 pm)

All of these comments make me ashamed to live in West Seattle. Houseless people aren’t “drug addicted vagrants”, they’re human beings who’ve been dealt really sh–ty hands in life. This city, like the country as a whole, is absolutely swimming in money, but it’s all concentrated at the very top.

Being houseless is a reality that’s closer than many people want to admit. The poorest people in Seattle pay far more taxes than the richest do. Yes, many of them have mental health and substance abuse issues, but it’s far more ethical (and cheaper) to HELP them with those issues than it is to consistently throw them in jail.

Housing is a human right. I’m disappointed more people in WS don’t understand that.

The truth October 24, 2018 (12:04 am)

I think most people are upset because we throw 50-80 million annually at this problem with no results. There is a criminal element hiding in the homeless population. They need to be rooted out. Drug addicted need detox and counciling. The state needs to pull its head out of its ass and fund mental health.

What we need is leadership that is willing to keep the community safe and help those in need. I feel Lisa is trying hard (but failing) to help people in need but she isn’t even trying to keep the community safe! Needles, crime, illegal dumping of hazardous substances, dumping of raw sewage in our streets from RV’s that washes untreated into streams and the PS.

What we are currently doing isn’t helping these folks, keeping us safe and is wasting an astonishing amount of money. Time for a change! Maybe this guy running will bring that. For the sake of D1 and all those homeless folks not getting the help they need due to the mismanagement by this council, I hope so!
- Mike October 24, 2018 (1:26 am)
  
  We (state wide) spend over $1B annually. You can literally hand each homeless person $40K and it’s the same impact for the same amount of money.
  https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/11/16/price-of-homelessness-seattle-king-county-costs.html
- delridge72 October 24, 2018 (7:45 am)
  
  Agree. The more we have spent, the worse the results have been. Time for new leadership and bold action to pull our most vulnerable up (as opposing to giving mere hand-outs that do not help in any meaningful, life-changing ways).
Huck October 24, 2018 (5:52 pm)

@Catlady: “The poorest people in Seattle pay far more taxes than the richest do.”
This is categorically false! You’ve been drinking too much of the Sawant Kool-aid. In terms of dollars, the rich pay a MAJORITY of the taxes. Perhaps you meant to talk about percent of income going toward taxes??
- delridge72 October 25, 2018 (7:39 am)
  
  @Huck: Math is hard for some people.

WS Guy October 24, 2018 (12:55 am)

Phil is a good person. I’m very pleased that he is running.

CAM October 24, 2018 (2:12 am)

We haven’t even made it through this election and we are already talking about who is registered for one a year away. It’s no wonder people have voter fatigue and become unengaged.

delridge72 October 24, 2018 (7:46 am)

If people are already talking about the next election, then that means voters are engaged and are looking ahead.
- CAM October 24, 2018 (10:25 am)
  
  Voter fatigue is generally defined as “the apathy that the electorate can experience under certain circumstances, one of which could be that they are required to vote too often, or that they feel disengaged.” If people were truly that engaged our voter turnout wouldn’t be so abysmal. And before you ask, I vote in every election. I’d just like a 30 second break from the constant campaigning and negativity to allow people to actually get their work done.
Eric1 October 24, 2018 (9:08 am)

Cam. It isn’t that people find most elections exciting and are foaming at the mouth to vote. But the city clowncil has been such a failure that many people just dream of replacing them with anyone that is even half-way decent. This is the first opportunity for people to fantasize about an actual functioning city goverment where even electing a lawyer seems like a better answer than the status quo (sorry Phil).

56bricks October 24, 2018 (2:17 am)

That’s a yo!

ALD October 24, 2018 (5:01 am)

I also had an opportunity to hear Phil a few weeks ago and I was very impressed and look forward to supporting him.

Concerned Citizen October 24, 2018 (5:34 am)

I’m glad we have someone running opposite Herbold. She’s been a massive failure. Wish we could vote her out now.

delridge72 October 25, 2018 (7:40 am)

#RecallHerbold

pdid October 24, 2018 (7:49 am)

Phil is a really great guy, I’m glad to see him running. I had the pleasure of talking with him at a fundraiser for homelessness prevention recently, and his passion for service, and enthusiasm for this community was very evident.

m October 24, 2018 (8:20 am)

When can I give the guy my democracy voucher? Finally someone that might have the gull to stand up to Sawant.

Rick Cook October 24, 2018 (10:44 am)

Can I give him 10,000.00 now?

ALF October 26, 2018 (3:08 pm)

YES!

Jac October 24, 2018 (10:53 am)

Phil will be a great change for District 1! Between homelessness, affordable and low-income housing, transit and traffic issues, and lacking childcare availability/accessibility, it’s clear this council and Herbold are out of touch with our needs as a community. Looking forward to supporting him!

Peter October 24, 2018 (12:11 pm)

I couldn’t find any campaign site or any other current information. What’s policies/issues/legislation is he running on?

WSB October 24, 2018 (12:12 pm)

He promised to comment today. Will add when received.

Jack Miller October 24, 2018 (2:47 pm)

Phil is exactly what we need. A solid guy with a Level head. Only wish he was in there already Totally support this man Small businesses are barely hangin on. We need him and hopefully more like him before the council runs us all outa the city

WSB October 24, 2018 (4:46 pm)

Just received and added Phil Tavel’s statement.

Peter October 24, 2018 (6:10 pm)

That’s the lamest non statement I’ve ever seen from a politician. I’m suspicious of someone seeking public office who is clearly unwilling to say why.

Dan October 24, 2018 (7:55 pm)

I don’t see anything wrong with encouraging folks to focus on the election in 13 days. This clearly wasn’t his campaign announcement. This was the WSB finding a filed document and publishing it. I don’t think he is unwilling as much as being very respectful by not taking attention away from all of the very important issues being voted on in 13 days.

Creighton October 24, 2018 (6:25 pm)

He’s a good guy and able to listen as well as talk, both from a stance of empathy and outcome. He’d be a good solution for the problems we have.

Michelle October 24, 2018 (8:13 pm)

Very excited for this man to be District 1 representative!!!!!! Great guy with common sense ideas and solutions. Finally.

PangolinPie October 25, 2018 (8:17 am)

I’m interested in hearing more about Mr Tavel. We do need a change, that much I’m sure of. And I also want more than anything to know his position on the mental illness and drug addiction crisis that’s causing much of the vagrancy problem here in our area. I notice that one of his first (of two, so far) donors is Daniel Austin who owns Peel and Press. That to me is a very positive endorsement since Austin, and the restaurant, have been positive influences in the community.

Peel & Press October 25, 2018 (9:58 am)

Thanks you for the kind words! That really means a lot. After having a boycott called against my restaurant from followers of Sawant on her facebook page because I stood against the head tax, I knew the whole council had lost it and needed to go. One of the things I love about Phil is he is looking to include business in the solutions and not as the cause of all the cities’ issues. Think about your favorite places in WS and their owners. They donate so much time and energy back to the community, we obviously care and are engaged. We feel completely left out by the council when it comes to problem solving. We have some really well thoughout ideas but can’t get an audience with our council. When we do get them in a room it is discouraging how little they know about our businesses, our margins, our realities and our passion to make this area better. Phil listens, he owned a small business in Pioneer Square. He gets the struggle and the ways the city discounts everything you do, especially the giving back to the community. I will proudly support Phil as has Jack Miller above. The small businesses of WS/SP are not the one percent. We deeply care for our communities and want to see the best leadership possible. I am excited for people to learn more about Phil Tavel.

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