VIDEO: Lisa Herbold’s official City Council District 1 re-election campaign kickoff

(WSB photos/video)

Almost two months after announcing she would run for re-election, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold became the third candidate in the race to hold a campaign-kickoff event.

Supporters gathered at Highland Park Improvement Club this afternoon to hear Herbold recap her first term and explain why she wants a second:

Herbold said she had kept promises to fight for renters’ and workers’ rights as well as for small-business protection. She also vowed to keep focusing on issues including transportation and displacement – reiterating that she sees the latter as continuing to contribute to homelessness, which she said can be “economic,” not just physical. She also described taking joy in “the constituent work that my team and I do … I work for you, and together we can get things done.”

She also spoke of working with other elected leaders; the 30 people listed on the event as co-hosts included Herbold’s colleague Councilmember Lorena González – a Junction resident – and State Senator Joe Nguyen:

They didn’t take the stage to speak but a few other co-hosts did, including West Seattle entrepreneur Tana Yasu:

She lauded Herbold for being “not pretentious” and for having “an ear and a heart to listen.”

PREVIOUS KICKOFF COVERAGE: Phil Tavel‘s launch at Easy Street Records is part of our February 1st report; Jesse Greene held a kickoff event at Talarico’s in late January. Brendan Kolding hasn’t announced a kickoff event yet; we interviewed him last month. Isaiah Willoughby hasn’t had a kickoff yet either and we’re still awaiting an acceptance of our repeated interview offer. All five candidates were at the season’s first forum last Thursday; here’s our coverage, with video. The field won’t be finalized until the official filing period in May; the top two in the August 6th primary will advance to November.

Marty March 24, 2019 (8:36 pm)

She had her chance and failed to be effective. I will take my chances with whoever runs against her…

Mike March 24, 2019 (8:39 pm)

‘She lauded Herbold for being “not pretentious” and for having “an ear and a heart to listen.”’Pffffft 😂

KM March 24, 2019 (8:52 pm)

Good luck Lisa! Though our positions don’t match up exactly, you are by far the best candidate in D1 and have my support. Thanks for your help on a few issues I have brought to your attention this year and last.

Mark March 24, 2019 (8:52 pm)

Please watch SEATTLE is dying. Search it on YouTube. So powerful and so compassionately accurate.

The King March 25, 2019 (3:28 am)

I watched that the night KOMO aired it. It makes you wish Eric Johnson would run for mayor, at the very least a seat on the council. It can be depressing to watch, especially as council members laughed at the citizens, but Mr. Johnson is one of the few local news folks who will even touch the subject and offer a solution.
Peter March 25, 2019 (10:47 am)

No, it is NOT compassionate and it is NOT accurate. It’s full of completely fictional statistics and categorical demonization of the poor. It is nothing but right wing propoganda encouraging imprisoning people for being poor.
- Gatewood March 25, 2019 (2:41 pm)
  
  Stop with the putting poor people in jail line. That is false. The report was strictly focused on the homeless population that were suffering from addiction and mental health issues. And it advocated for treatment and medical intervention. This wasn’t about locking up single mothers fleeing abuse or people who lost your jobs. You are as bad as you claim KOMO to be. Your argument would be more valid if you stopped with the outrage o er your made up narrative.
  - Mickymse March 25, 2019 (3:49 pm)
    
    The majority of the homeless population, however, are not suffering from addiction or mental health issues. So, if you believe nothing else, understand that the homeless hit piece may cover the people you see every day and want the City to address but it DOES NOT cover thousands of people experiencing homelessness in King County.
    - Nat March 25, 2019 (8:29 pm)
      
      The fact that you call it a “hit piece” just shows that people here are not prepared to engage in serious and honest discussions about the issues facing Seattle. All I ever hear from the so-called “progressive” left is name-calling and dismissing of real grievances that our neighbors have about how this city is being run! Just goes to show how draconian and spiteful the activists can be!
    - TSurly March 26, 2019 (5:39 am)
      
      It is a hit piece on the homeless with the sole purpose to do nothing but make middleclass homeowners feel better about there bigotry and to stoke fear. Referring to a mentally ill human being as a retched soul? WTF? This documentary is so bias and one-sided, singling out only people who are severely mental ill, those addicted to drugs, and those who commit crimes. Where is the mention of women and children who are homeless due to fleeing domestic violence? Where is the mention of the effect of housing affordability on homelessness? The mention of deadbeat landlords? Not one interview from a social worker that has daily direct interaction with these “retched souls,” only NIMBYS and anonymous or cherrypicked cops. What’s next? Will Komo make a documentary on gun violence and only show black people?
Maria March 25, 2019 (5:08 pm)

https://youtu.be/b53uiRFq4DsHere's the link

Rick March 24, 2019 (8:54 pm)

They weren’t concentrating on their screens? Just give me their paychecks and influen$e and I’ll say whatever you want.

Huck March 24, 2019 (9:35 pm)

Lisa Herbold and the rest of her colleagues need to go! I’m not drinking the kool-aid.

E March 24, 2019 (9:50 pm)

I will not vote for her. Time for a change. Please people… let’s have a change.

1994 March 24, 2019 (9:56 pm)

Anyone know where their democracy vouchers are? There are rules (collect certain # of signatures, appear at so many public debates….) that make a candidate eligible to receive your democracy voucher. Hope all candidates are FULLY up to speed on the rules this year. Lorena Gonzalez didn’t follow the rules the last time and another candidate hopeful possibly forged documentation to collect vouchers….

WSB March 24, 2019 (10:03 pm)

There was info about vouchers at today’s event as well as at the forum last Thursday. According to this page, all candidates in D-1 are seeking to participate.
http://www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher/i-am-a-seattle-resident/2019-participating-candidates

Wsmom March 24, 2019 (10:49 pm)

Lisa lost my vote when she (thankfully) was unsuccessful in allowing homeless to set up camp at any green space. That included parks, parking strips, etc. no. Just stop.

Concerned citizen March 24, 2019 (11:21 pm)

Herbold has been incompetent, largely ignores her constituents and condescends to us when we disagree with her positions. She needs to go. Vote her out people. Do the right thing for our city and neighborhood.

delridge72 March 25, 2019 (8:51 am)

While I have never been condescending to by Ms. Herbold herself, I have been by her staff. I do have deep concerns about her prior work experience and leadership with the Transit Riders Union, which is a faux union group of activists (many of whom receive income from us taxpayers via grants from the SCC), as well as her connections with Scott Morrow of SHARE. She has also been largely silent with regards to the ongoing issues with the property damage to the West Seattle Health Club and the pollution surrounding that facility caused by the dozen or so RVs and campers that are semi-permanently parked on the public streets along that facility. Not to mention the spike of property crimes in that neighborhood, along with the car break-ins of the WSHC members who park their cars in their lot.The status quo is not working. We need change. Ms. Herbold has repeatedly shown that she is not interesting in positive, meaningful change that will promote public health and safety. She only reverts to the tired line that we taxpayers need to bear the burden of more taxes to support pet projects and activist groups beholdened to her.
Mr. J March 25, 2019 (9:35 am)

I disagree on her being incompetent, its clear you don’t like her for whatever reason you have. Have you ever tried to go to her office hours and speak to her? And by that I mean a dialogue rather than complaining about x,y,z and expecting her to take care of it? The issues that people are upset with in this City are systemic and difficult to solve, one councilwoman can’t do it all. Also the Seattle is Dying piece (that’s in other comments) is propaganda from Sinclair Media, they own KOMO. Not arguing that there’s not a problem, just use critical thinking and understand that network news stations are owned by corporations.

co-host a boycott March 25, 2019 (12:27 am)

Glad to see she is so pro-small business. One of her announced Co-hosts ( Elena Perez) called for a boycott list against local small WS businesses because they disagreed with the Head Tax and she was well aware of it. Glad to see she picks her friends over an award winning LGBTQ business and several small community based small restaurants. Anyone wants to question this several people have the screen shots. Is this really who we want repping D1?We will see you at the polls and then we will watch you walk away. Kolding, Tavel, Greene, my 20 cat would all do less harm to the city then Herbold.

delridge72 March 25, 2019 (8:45 am)

Yes, you are correct on this. Herbold, although a very pleasant person herself, has surrounded herself with some very dubious people seeks to undermine the very workers that they claim to champion. Ms. Perez is one of them, as her leadership with the Restaurant Opportunities Centers is spearheading efforts that would actually destroy the full service restaurant industry. ROC’s allies recently tried doing the same at the state level with small, independently owned hair stylists. We need change on the SCC, to restore public health and safety and to promote small businesses and good, well-paying jobs.
- Snazzles March 25, 2019 (12:12 pm)
  
  How would the ROC destroy the full service restaurant industry? Explain.

West Seattle Hipster March 25, 2019 (5:03 am)

Let’s “kick off” Herbold from public office.

Paul March 25, 2019 (6:32 am)

Stopping the proliferation of campers and derelict RVs in public places is my number one priority. Enforcing the laws and funding intervention over enablement has to happen or the city will be lost for good. Allowing this to continue is not compassionate for those involved, and robs the rest of us of quality of life. Herbold is an enabler and needs to go.

Victoria Nelson March 25, 2019 (7:26 am)

Based on the negatives comments about Lisa it appears these writers assume she alone makes the rules for the mayor, police and the courts. She is only one voice on the council. Rather than simply be critical, why not offer solutions to these problems? Not one you have offered an actual solution that can be implemented. Do I agree with Lisa on all things? No, but she does get involved, she responds to my concerns and has stood up for WS when it has come to transportation, tree canopy, affordable rents etc.

The Truth March 25, 2019 (9:33 am)

Here’s a solution, get better leaders. Unfortunately we get to vote on 3 total position on the council. The 2 city wide seats (not up for another two years) and the D1 seat. Our only chance in the next 2 years to make a difference is to remove Lisa. She is really responsive to people who are in her camp but if you are an ordinary citizen or fall outside her lockstep ideals good luck getting more than a courtesy nod followed by a blow off. She is in effective. How can I tell? Glad you asked. When she does make a vote outside of councils normal direction that vote is always 8-1 it 7-2 at best. She has no ability to garner support from fellow council members to challenge bad policy. That or she knows the policy is unpopular in her district so she votes against it for cover from voters but Puts no effort (or intentionally) gets no one else on board. If she is truly dissatisfied with legislation she should not only fight against it but have the skillset to convince others on council she is right. We can do better!
- KM March 25, 2019 (11:17 am)
  
  Why do you think she only responds to people on her side? Lisa and I have had quite the disagreement on some issues and she was respectful and responsive even when I shared my displeasure with her work on an issue. I didn’t write her terribly rude emails or call her names, and had researched my position and offered suggestions and why, so that might be part of it. I also didn’t vote for her in the primary or general election (I will this time). Other times, I have received canned responses from her and her staff–oh well. I’m not the only person emailing her and I find is insane to expect a personalized response to every email I send her. Our leaders get so many emails a day, some of them attacking and threatening. I’m just one of several thousand constituents, and an ordinary one at that–I have never met her or contributed to her campaign in any way.
  - The truth March 25, 2019 (12:07 pm)
    
    I have been told by her I was wrong in front of a large group. When I continued to question her spin she had to backdown and admit what she was selling wasn’t fully accurate. I wasn’t rude, just not the story she wasted to tell so she spun it until she could spin no more. Classic lip service legislator. Pretend to listen, deflect and spin. In her defense, she is really good at it.
WSResident March 25, 2019 (9:34 am)

You are right that Lisa is only one person on the council, but the fact that she can’t get people to vote with her on most things shows that she has no political power with her colleagues. Lisa Herbold should never have run for office, as she was and is not ready for prime time. She should have simply walked away (maybe moved back to NY?) when her job working as an aide for Licata was over. You may think that “getting involved” is sufficient for councilmembers, but most residents here in West Seattle don’t have the same low expectations. “Almost” isn’t good enough for me. West Seattle deserves better than Lisa Herbold.

Lost my vote March 25, 2019 (8:47 am)

She lost my vote for not dealing with the RVs at our gym. I cannot use the gym after dark for fear of those in the RVs. She also did not address even as recently as last week to another request to deal with the illegal camping on the very secluded bike trail between Atlantic and King street off the waterfront. This is part of her district. The campers broke through fencing and there are about 40 tents there, some sprawled out blocking the right of way bike trail. It is a biohazard with needles, garbage, feces. The smell in itself is toxic.

Mickymse March 25, 2019 (3:57 pm)

What exactly are you afraid of? People who have less than you? Are you concerned some might be criminals — as if crime doesn’t exist elsewhere in our neighborhood? Are you concerned some might be using drugs — as if rich, White people don’t use drugs in our neighborhood right now? Are you worried that they might be mentally ill — as if people living with mental illness don’t live elsewhere in our neighborhood right now? This isn’t much different from when we occasionally have folks in the neighborhood complain about someone who is drunk or mentally ill down by the Library who “must” be from the DESC Cottage Grove Commons building — and then it turns out that they aren’t and they actually live nearby instead. Maybe WE should be scared of YOU and your intolerance.
- Matt P March 25, 2019 (8:51 pm)
  
  So your suggestion is just let people camp wherever they want, destroy public property and litter non-stop?

alki98116 March 25, 2019 (8:53 am)

She has been a complete and epic failure……along with her whole clan of activist city leaders.

Susan March 25, 2019 (9:57 am)

Thank you, Victoria. It’s so easy to complain and much more difficult to offer constructive thoughts! Like you, I don’t agree with everything Lisa has done, but she has listened to and addressed several issues that concern my neighborhood. I wonder how many of the complainers have actually talked with her directly, in a forthright, respectful manner?

The Truth March 25, 2019 (11:59 am)

I have spoke to her in meetings, via email and face to face. You can try a different line now!

Huck March 25, 2019 (10:47 am)

Here’s a solution for you Victoria: No camping in parks, or any green space/sidewalk. You must go to the shelter (and we as tax payers should build more shelters). You must accept addiction treatment, or go to jail.

Mickymse March 25, 2019 (4:00 pm)

Yes, we need to build more shelters. But people don’t want to pay more in taxes. And we can’t tax businesses. And everyone wants to complain about the City Council setting up a court challenge on an income tax. So… we don’t have more money. And we can’t build more shelters, so… where exactly do you want people to go again? Just somewhere else? So we don’t have to feel guilty about our privilege and the things we have? Or our basic luck for not having lost our job or faced a serious medical issue that caused us to miss a rent or mortgage payment?
- Gatewood March 25, 2019 (6:12 pm)
  
  We would have more money for shelters if Lisa didn’t constantly keep funding her close buddy Scott Morrow, head of SHARE/WHEEL. She has protected him and his lack of results for YEARS! Even those actions make reasonable people say enough is enough. They have funded terrible service providers and wasted the publics will to continuously trust them.Most people that were not fans of the head tax would tell you they would have been more likely to support if there was an actual plan on how the money would be spent. There was none. And please don’t site the Mckinsey report that nobody accept the council has seen. Last thought, you say we need more money… we have record breaking tax revenue pouring into the city. We have money. Tell us exactly what the money will go to build and then we can have an actual debate in the merits.
- Canton March 25, 2019 (6:35 pm)
  
  With 50 million in 2015, to 90 million for this year, how many shelters has the city built, and currently run themselves? They would rather pay a multitude of non profits, with well paid administrators, to do the work. How much more in taxes, would you recommend?
  - Gatewood March 25, 2019 (8:32 pm)
    
    Preach!!!
    - Canton March 25, 2019 (10:29 pm)
      
      You hit the nail, with Morrow, even reports that the city is distancing itself with him. Then Sharon Lee with LIHI, is separating connections. Still trying to figure out, how she earns around $200,000 in salary as a non profit, when alot of small business owners, barely take a salary, with all the rising costs.

Chicago March 25, 2019 (12:20 pm)

Her “First in Time” rental law speaks volumes to me of her short-sighted viewpoints and condescending attitude. That law assumes that all landlords have evil, un/conscious bias and that only legal intervention handed down by the morally superior council can open housing to the disadvantaged. But as others have pointed out, the law would prevent a landlord from choosing, out of compassion, say, an elderly or disabled rental applicant who came second in line. I also think that the law encourages landlords to raise rents even higher to cover the extra financial risk they take in not being allowed to use their own judgement in determining who gets to live on their property. Thank goodness Herbold’s law has been declared unconstitutional for now. Let’s elect someone who does not waste taxpayer money making foolish, condescending and civil-rights-violating laws.

A March 25, 2019 (12:47 pm)

Unless you want more of the same, it is imperative that we vote her out. This city is failing us and although she is not solely responsible, she is one of nine that are responsible and she is not using her power in a way that benefits her working, tax paying community. If you are tired of the RV’S and the illegal campers that are everywhere we must vote her out! The only way to clean this city up is to get new voices on the council. If you vote for her, you will be voting for a non contributing, drug using, pile of trash leaving, crime committing, non tax paying vagrant because that is who she cares about more than us hard working tax paying citizens.

Katt March 25, 2019 (2:13 pm)

Is Lisa terrible? No. Was Lisa the worst of the Seattle city council members? No. But we deserve better. We need better. Vote for Brendan! End the insanity.

Mj March 25, 2019 (2:14 pm)

The whole Council needs to be ousted including Lisa. In theory society has laws that are to be enforced. Except the current Council seems to ignore this factor. Look at the adverse effect of not enforcing laws has wrought to the City. More crime and trash strewn all over the place. Lisa is a big part of the problem and needs to be shown the door!

Joan March 25, 2019 (3:52 pm)

Vote her out!

Vern March 25, 2019 (4:25 pm)

Where can I get a ANYONE BUT HERBOLD bumper sticker ???

Delridge80 March 25, 2019 (5:45 pm)

I will not be voting for her. I reached multiply times about and issue and never heard a response at all. Happy to see her go.

Elle Nell March 26, 2019 (8:59 am)

NO LISA HerbOLD! She is a HUGe part of The problems with our city…!

Villagegreen March 26, 2019 (1:24 pm)

Lock her up! I had no idea the abundance of complex thinkers we have right here in West Seattle. Impressive.

Sunnydays March 26, 2019 (5:02 pm)

We are merely West Seattlites who are woke to the inhumanity of policies and programs that result in severely mentally ill and drug addicted homeless populations allowed to live in squalor and commit crimes to feed their demons. Law abiding, tax paying citizens should be allowed to live in a community where their quality of life is not deteriorating by the crimes and the stench created by homeless criminals. Make no mistake, I do not demonize the economically homeless who abide the law. But we need to vote for a council member who will respect and enforce the laws.
- KM March 26, 2019 (5:32 pm)
  
  Council members don’t enforce the laws. The council is a legislative body. Take it up with the mayor.

TheGreatKate March 26, 2019 (10:53 pm)

I really can’t wait for any other qualified person to run. I haven’t voted for this woman before and I never will. She cowtows to whomever she pleases without any regard or concern for her constituents or, for that matter, logic and reason. I sincerely wish there were term limits for all positions, but especially hers. She’s had her turn. Bye Felicia!

Sorry, comment time is over.