ELECTION 2019: Talking with City Council District 1 candidate Phil Tavel

(WSB photo)

Two weeks from today, the county will mail primary-election ballots. So this week we’ve been presenting a series of new interviews checking in with the City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) candidates. Tonight we conclude with Phil Tavel, one of two challengers aiming to make Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s first term her only term. Your WSB co-publishers sat down with him last week; video of our wide-ranging conversation is below, unedited:

If you can’t or don’t want to watch/listen, we have text toplines below – but note that they do not represent a full transcript, nor are they direct quotes except where signified by quotation marks, just (in some cases very) brief summaries of the questions/responses:

He also ran in 2015 (finishing third in the primary). What’s been different about this campaign compared to last time?
He feels like this time he has a better chance, more support, and “on the flip side” more expectation. People want change. Also: Campaigning as parent of a 7-year-old is a little easier than campaigning as the parent of a 3-year-old.

What does the CASE endorsement meant to him?
“They want someone who understand what it means to run a business … supporting them so they can grow … and give back o the community.” He says local business owners want someone who will support them and listen to them. He wants to see “more public-private partherships” and says those aren’t possible if a councilmember is “antagonistic.”

Councilmember Herbold often refers to business owners in other areas, such as the U-District, having asked for her help. Since Tavel touts his connections with local businesses, what can he say about Herbold’s meetings with local business owners?
He says they “don’t feel that they really get heard.” He says last year a group of restaurant owners met with her and asked what she had done for them and the reply was that the council hadn’t raised their taxes. He says she should have intervened sooner to help the Avalon business owners being affected by the road work there. He says the city charter says the council is supposed to “promote prosperity” but is not doing that.

Any laws the council has passed affecting businesses that he wants to roll back?
He isn’t advocating for any rollbacks at this point but cites some examples of what he sees as the city overstepping its bounds in making some rules affecting operations, such as hiring changes. “The business license fee was another one” – no outreach ahead of time, and while the council says “only the top 15 percent of businesses” are affected, “any bar or restaurant” will hit that revenue limit “(without making) a lot of profit.” He thinks the minimum-wage law should have included a training wage, usable for example by small businesses hiring teens for summer help.

What should the city do to help business?
Reach out “to a wide range of business” before pursuing a change in law, to find out about the potential impact and “does it help?”. He’d like to see more supportive action for businesses that are following the rules, not always warning/negative messaging (and cites the example of the Office of Labor Standards coming out and posting information about wage theft), but also supports “coming down like a ton of bricks” if a business DOES break the rules.

Back to the CASE endorsement – how will you deal with potential criticism that he’d be “the business candidate”?
He feels that’s a “fantastic” label and is “proud” to be supported by businesses and business groups. But “if a group (supported me) that I disagree with, I would disavow them.”

If the main imperative is change – and if it’s you and Brendan Kolding in the general – why should it not be him?
“My background for the past 15 years – being a public defender and a pro tem judge – I have a full understanding of the criminal justice system, while Brendan’s experience is all (with SPD).” He also thinks his being 10 years older than Kolding, and other life experience, is a plus.

Would you keep Camp Second Chance in operation?
He has visited the encampment and admires the work volunteers are doing there as well as camp residents “trying to be good stewards” of the property via being watchful in the neighborhood. He also understands the concerns voiced by community groups such as Highland Park Action Committee after years of having encampments in their neighborhood. He thinks the city could do more to “help and support and be a better partner to Camp Second Chance.”

HALA MHA – where do you stand?
“The in-lieu-of fees are too low.”

What else should we be doing regarding affordable housing?
Need to do more regarding preserving existing affordable-housing stock and keeping elders, communities of color and others from being displaced.

End single-family zoning?
“I don’t see a need to just end it.” But “we need to do more to plan for greater density in the hearts of our urban villages.” Single-family zoning “further out” should be OK – we should be able to still have “more suburban areas.”

Name one thing the current council has done right.
“Declaring an emergency over homelessness was the right thing to do.”

The council might be majority newcomers. How will you get things done while learning on the job?
He’s already met many other candidate and thinks the desire to see the city “do better” will bind them and help facilitate action. “I think it’s doable.”

Besides, as previously discussed, along with business owners and unhoused people, who else can the city help?
Substance abusers, mentally ill people, everybody living on the streets. “We have too much money in the city for” people to be living on the street. Also, elderly people – helping them age in place. The city “needs to be … kinder and more understanding” with them.

Any specific city taxes you would want to roll back or scale back?
The soda tax. “The way they went about that – it’s a regressive tax – it ended up generating $2 million more than expected,” and it’s been a burden on restaurants. “I want to do a bigger look at all of the levies” to “take a look and see where our money’s being spent now” and what we’re getting for it. Not a city tax, but he also still wants to know more about where marijuana tax money is going.

Annex White Center?
Up to that area’s residents. As for whether there’s any benefit for the city, the question is whether the added tax base would outweigh the expense.

The West Seattle Golf Course’s future?
“I don’t see why it shouldn’t stay the way it is.” Maybe you could put some housing between the stadium and golf course, but otherwise he thinks it’s bringing the most value the way it’s being used now.

Aside from light rail, what’s West Seattle’s #1 transportation challenge and what does he want to do about it?
Getting off/onto the peninsula. Maybe expand the offramp from the bridge to 99. Analyze how the viaduct-closure period worked and look for ways that multiple modes could work better together on the long term.

Your vision for how Seattle will look in five years?
A community center in each district that would be more of a hub – temporary emergency housing/services there if needed, access to city services. A police force that feels supported. True accountability if something goes wrong, but not paperwork for the sake of paperwork. “Seattle can be the greenest and most technologically savvy city in the country.” Too many people are not proud of the city and the way it looks. He’d like to see people say they’ve had five years of positive change.

Pro sports’ future?
“The City Council should be a huge supporter of getting the NBA back, and in a way that’s … beneficial for all the people of Seattle.”

EARLIER IN THE SERIES: Last night, we published our interview with Brendan Kolding (see it here); Monday night, we published our interview with Lisa Herbold (see it here).

NEXT IN THE CAMPAIGN: At least two more forums are scheduled before the primary – Sunday, July 14th, at noon, the West Seattle Junction Association and WSB are co-sponsoring a forum on the final day of Summer Fest, in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska). Got a question nobody’s asked yet? Email us! Then on Wednesday, July 17th, the county mails ballots, and you can vote as soon as you get yours. The next day – Thursday, July 18th – the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents a forum at 6:30 pm in Olympic Hall on the south end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus (6000 16th SW). The deadline for voting is Tuesday night, August 6th, which is when vote-counting begins. Whichever two candidates get the most votes will advance to the November general election.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Thanks to the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse for allowing us to use its conference room for these interviews.

46 Replies to "ELECTION 2019: Talking with City Council District 1 candidate Phil Tavel"

  • Janet July 3, 2019 (6:37 pm)

    He has tangible ideas, and understands the council’s job. Let’s bring some sense back to our City. Go Phil! 

  • Hale July 3, 2019 (6:39 pm)

    I agree with his stance on MHA/HALA–if we want affordable housing in all areas of Seattle–the city needs to hold them accountable otherwise they will take the in lieu of fees and there will become displaced areas with the affordable housing. Doesn’t sound equitable to me. Phil can get it done and has the background to make a real change in the city! If Phil doesn’t win, I’m moving. 

    • John July 4, 2019 (12:08 pm)

      That is quite a commitment HALE.   To where will you move?

  • AMD July 3, 2019 (7:01 pm)

    Hard pass from me because of his affiliation with local hate group Safe Seattle.  Hate has no home in Seattle.  I’m not going to vote anyone onto the council who feels otherwise.

    • Gatewood July 3, 2019 (7:21 pm)

      This statement is such garbage.  Find me one person who has interacted with Phil and experienced hate. Lame attempt to support your candidate by making claims of hate group connections.  

      • AMD July 3, 2019 (10:33 pm)

        Failing to openly participate in their activities is not enough, in my opinion.  He should oppose the hate and reject their endorsement.  The group that endorsed him (Safe Seattle) advertised a Proud Boys event on their website.  They swatted a local blogger who posted  views contrary to theirs.  They’ve harassed and doxxed a number of local journalists and advocates that disagreed with them (all women), the site run by one of their founders is rife with misogynist and racist memes, and Tavel has no problem taking a picture with his arm around the other founder and accepting their endorsement.  I really don’t care if he doesn’t partake in their specific, daily acts of hatred and harassment, if he is not against that kind of behavior HE IS STILL PART OF THE PROBLEM and 100% unfit to be anywhere near city leadership.  I hope that clarifies my opposition to his candidacy.  You are welcome to whatever standards of decency you personally apply to candidates.

        • Dan July 3, 2019 (11:11 pm)

          So I put in some quality time on the google machine trying to find any “Endorsement” from Safe Seattle.  As far as I can tell trey don’t or haven’t endorsed at all.  They clearly like Ari Hoffman but I can’t find anything about endorsing Phil.  Is this something you heard or you have seen?   Also, the photo you are talking about his arm around the other founder.  Are you again talking about Hoffman?  I don’t think he is a founder of Safe Seattle but I could be wrong.  Ari and Phil got coffee and someone posted a photo of them.  I am not sure that is a smoking gun of endorsements and support of Safe Seattle.  You do you buddy but I think some of your statements are wildly miss accurate or you listened to a friend, who heard from a friend, who heard from another friend that Phil love hate groups and is endorsed by them.   Or …you are just taking wild swings at a good guy because you feverishly support another candidate.  

          • AMD July 4, 2019 (12:58 am)

            At one point they had a list of recommended candidates based on answers to the survey they sent out, but I can’t find it at this time.  The SS website is full of promotions for Tavel as well (in addition to their picks for other districts).  Scrolling through that site is one big heap of awful, but if you can stomach it their support for him is clear.  He has been asked to denounce their endorsement on social media , but so far has refused to do so.  My feeling is that someone who is running to be a leader in our city should be aware of hate groups like Safe Seattle, so him saying he didn’t know Hoffman has close ties to a known hate group doesn’t hold water with me.  And knowing Hoffman’s part of a hate group and still putting your arm around him and posing for a picture (regardless of who posted it) makes my stomach churn.  In other threads I’ve voiced that I’m not in love with any of the D1 candidates, but this is a thread about Tavel so I’m focusing on my issue with Tavel.  I will absolutely vote for a mediocre candidate over putting someone who won’t stand up to hate in office.

        • WW Resident July 4, 2019 (7:07 am)

          AMD,  what local blogger are you referring to? What local journalists are you referring to? What are your sources for your doxing claim? It seems to me that Safe Seattle is a group of people/business owners who are tired of the status quo, tired of the problems facing Seattle not being addressed, tired of inept so called Seattle leaders, etc. Their Facebook page states that there is no liberal or conservative bashing and no hate speech and that violators will be removed. So what you’re saying is that people who do not share your ultra leftist views are hateful racists? 

          • AMD July 4, 2019 (10:55 am)

            I’m trying not to stray too far from my issue with Tavel (that he associates with a hate group) while still answering the questions posed.  You can google these incidents (along with corroborating police reports, etc.).  If it’s hard sorting through the results that way, many of them have been compiled by various posters on twitter under the #safeseattleisahategroup hashtag.  You only need to look at SS’s Facebook page to see the racism, homophobia, and other vitriol they encourage (alongside their unwavering support for Tavel).  Again, everyone is allowed to have their own standards by which they judge candidates.  This is a red line for me personally , which is what I expressed in my comment.  There really isn’t anything else for me to add to this discussion beyond stating my piece and encouraging you to look up the facts.

        • D Del Rio July 5, 2019 (10:09 am)

          Safe Seattle a hate group? Please!! I follow them on Facebook and I have many friends and family members who do too. I have never seen anything on their site that I would consider hate speech. I also happen to be gay, and a ethnic minority. Trust me, if there was anything on their page that was hate, I would have reported it along time ago. To me they are a breath of fresh air. To me it seems if the so called progressives of Seattle don’t agree with something, they just call it hate speech from a hate group. 

    • M July 3, 2019 (7:32 pm)

      I fully support Phil Travel and his affiliation to business owners and his constituents that are concerned about the unsafe conditions allowed by the current council. 

    • Mike July 3, 2019 (7:48 pm)

      So he’s opposed to the hate fueled Sawant socialist agenda that capitalizes on addicts and those in need?  Sounds like somebody that will actually represent his constituents rather than himself.  More than can be said for Herbold.

    • walt stawicki July 3, 2019 (9:51 pm)

      having boundaries and being upset over valid problems is not hate.  now, perhaps hate finds its way into Safe Seattle via individuals.  Do you have a censorship solution to fix that?  Do you judge large groups by their worst?  I approve camps and safe injection.  but until its not a thorn for others, there can not be a negotiation of the nimby fears and issues.  assertions of hate do not get people to the table.

    • delridge72 July 5, 2019 (7:58 am)

      Gatewood: So everybody you don’t agree with is a Nazi? Got it. Hard pass on that nonsense.

    • JVP July 5, 2019 (4:24 pm)

      I had to look up Safe Seattle after this discussion, as I’d never heard of them. What I discovered makes me concerned. I discovered that they are a group made up of some conservatives and some liberals that share a common agenda around a law-and-order approach to homelessness and crime. The guy who runs it is certainly a bit conservative, and I don’t share his views on some things. But he makes some reasoned arguments.  Many of the prominent posters are liberals.  They have discussions and certainly don’t always agree with each other. . What makes me concerned are the comments calling them a hate group on this thread. I just can’t figure out where that came from. What has happened to our ability to respectfully disagree with each other?  Where have the pragmatists, the moderates and the middle gone? Can’t one agree with some policies of her party, and not others? This bums me out.  Democracy requires two sides, it requires ideas to be challenged, and it requires respectful debate.

  • Gini Johnson July 3, 2019 (7:23 pm)

    Phil Tavel is the real deal. I supported Phil in the last election and was one of the first to step up and support Phil this time with a campaign donation, a yard sign and verbally to all that will listen to me. Vote Phil Tavel. “Phil, Phil, Phil”

  • TJ July 3, 2019 (8:10 pm)

    That’s what they do Gatewood. Use progressive trigger words and try to associate people with “hate groups” or Trump on an attempt to smear them. Cheap smears that mistake people sniff out and are tired of hearing without hard proof. 

  • lyonskaren67@gmail.com July 3, 2019 (8:11 pm)

    I, at first, didn’t know what to think about Phil Tavel. I was a member of SGSC and other green  organizations.  Phil answered any of our inquiries. Very few politicians even acknowledge us in a real sense. Phil talked to us.  I have to give him that.

  • TJ July 3, 2019 (8:14 pm)

    That’s what they do Gatewood. Use progressive trigger words and try to associate people with “hate groups” or Trump on an attempt to smear them. Cheap smears that most people sniff out and are tired of hearing without hard proof. 

  • Pete July 3, 2019 (8:18 pm)

    Tavel for Seattle!!!! Level headed, listens to both sides, willing to be flexible and wants to see change for everyone in our city. Are these novel concepts? No these traits belong to a natural leader. PhilTavel is well versed in most policy issues that are facing us today. He is willing to do the hard work to make the right decision for District 1 and Seattle. It seems like our present council is determined to do so many things so quickly that they have lost sight of taking care of the basics. If if you are still undecided after watching all three of these District 1 Candidate interviews you should make the effort to attend one of the upcoming forums or reach out to the individual campaign to get answers on the issues that are the most concerning to you. But one of the most important thing is for you to get involved. Have you donated your Democracy vouchers yet? Are you registered to vote? Above all else make sure that you vote before August 6th. Remember that 4 years ago the District 1 race was won by 39 votes. So don’t think your vote can’t make a difference. 

  • Quora July 3, 2019 (8:23 pm)

    Strong candidate. Will be a tough decision for me.

  • Voting July 3, 2019 (9:36 pm)

    I don’t hear any real tangible policy ideas from him at this point. In regard to MHA/HALA, the fact that the fees to developers are too low is something that most everyone agrees with including a position that Ms. Herbold has also taken. Mr. Tavel seems to be long on criticism of the way things are right now but short on tangible solutions. What we need is real problem-solving and listening to all sides, not just complaining.

  • DJL July 3, 2019 (10:08 pm)

    Phil has a collaborative attitude and solid ideas for change. He isn’t afraid to stand up and ask questions. His support of local business is key. If our businesses thrive, we all thrive. 

  • j July 3, 2019 (10:22 pm)

    Tavel is interesting, I think he may be my candidate. Fairly liberal while being pro-small biz. Nice broad range of experience. I Just read about Kolding, and the focus on law and order could bring good balance  to our city council. Boy oh boy we need a change in this regard. Our city is getting ugly, dirty, and feels unsafe.My big reservation on Kolding are his views on zoning and development. He doesn’t seem to understand supply and demand. His policies would price us all out, and send our rents or property taxes even higher.  I sincerely hope Herbold doesn’t make it out of the primary. She comes across as  a Sawant groupie at this point. So weird how our city council is thick with groupthink and lacks any dissenting views.P.S. I’m quite liberal (by national standards), and I feel this way.  We need a change. We need some balance and some folks on the city council who challenge each other. 

  • DH July 4, 2019 (5:37 am)

    He supports sprawl and leaving the golf course. I’ll pass. 

    • JVP July 4, 2019 (12:57 pm)

      How does he support sprawl? His statements on zoning and supporting  increased density in the urban hubs in the exact opposite. Kolding is the one who supports sprawl, which is one reason I think I’m leaning toward Tavel. Herbold is hard to figure out on sprawl, I think she just goes for the furthest left talking point at all times without critical thinking.  She doesn’t seem to understand supply and demand (I’m a liberal, a realist-liberal if that’s a thing, but the Sawant wing of the council is way too much for me – Herbold seems aligned with them).Fair enough on the golf course. I’m not a golfer (actually can’t stand playing golf), but I’d be dead set against development of our open spaces. It’s fine as a municipal golf course. Non-rich people should be able to play that sport. Finally watched the interviews of him and Kolding. Hopefully Herbold does one. Thank you for these WSB!!!  I’m now pretty sure that Tavel is my candidate.

  • Mike July 4, 2019 (8:18 am)

    The Chamber of Commerce’s PAC has just spent $77,750 promoting Phil Tavel. Do you really think this money is to support mom and pop shops in West Seattle? It’s for Amazon, the company that took its ball and went across the lake.With that kind of money at stake, how likely do you think he is to “disavow” their interests, even if they happen to clash with West Seattleites’ needs? 

    • Victoria July 4, 2019 (12:43 pm)

      Seriously – if you know Phil you would know he is West Seattle heart and soul and has been for years.

  • dhg July 4, 2019 (8:37 am)

    I strongly oppose anything like “a training wage” for teens.  I worked in restaurants as a teen and I’ve never worked so hard.  It doesn’t take much training to scrub floors and scrub fry pots.  The place I worked in was run like a military camp with a work load that was possible to meet only if you moved fast and pressed hard.    They did pay substandard wages and they got much more than what they were paying for. 

    • Fry cook July 4, 2019 (10:04 am)

      I am for it.  My boss shouldn’t have to pay me (trainer) to teach a 16 year old not to snap chat during a shift, stop texting during your shift, it’s inappropriate to try and take selfies with the cooks in the middle of the dinner rush….. The fact that I have to explain that showing up on time or at all is part of your job blows my mind.  We stopped hiring minors last year.  Too much training with too little return. Not worth the cost unfortunately.   

    • Mike July 4, 2019 (10:15 am)

      I worked in restaurants too as a teenager.  Wasn’t even close to a military camp, never needed to train for  my life and others being at risk while at the restaurant.  I did a summer in 90 degree heat manual labor for 8 hours a day at an auto salvage yard for a few dollars more per hour than minimum wage, was hard work but still not a military camp.  Drank a few gallons of water each day and lost weight due to the physical labor involved.  Now I get paid a nice salary for using my brain and I’m fat for sitting at a desk. 😀  Stay in school kids, get an education, use the training working at other jobs to inspire you to explore opportunities.  Work hard, play harder.

  • West Seattle Hipster July 4, 2019 (10:20 am)

    Going to be a tough choice between Tavel and Kolding,  it will be nice to see West Seattle with new representation.I hope the other city districts also have some moderate common sense candidates opposing the incumbents.

  • WSB July 4, 2019 (10:55 am)

    Reminder: While we don’t require registration to comment, we DO require one screen name per person per discussion. If your first comment in any story thread is as X, that’s what you need to keep to, and attempts for one person to appear to be multiple commenters will not be published.

  • Lagartija Nick July 4, 2019 (11:29 am)

    WSB thank you for asking him specifically which regulations on small businesses he would rescind. I find it telling that he couldn’t/wouldn’t directly answer your question. Like most people who decry “regulation” as some sort of job-killing Boogeyman, he deflected and moved the goal posts to “process”. These guys can never come up with a response because a) they know it’s hogwash and b) they know that most people actually support regulations that promote fair wages, secure scheduling, and work place safety, etc.

  • TJ July 4, 2019 (11:44 am)

    “He supports sprawl”? That is such a bewildering statement. Sprawl has allowed for our way of life and for people to realize the American dream of home ownership. Sprawl is continuing as it should. If you really think the population of the Seattle area will continue to grow at the rate it has the last 10 years (which it won’t and shouldn’t), should they all be expected to cram into the city in boxes? If you do, then it sounds like you are a disciple of the United Nations. Most newcomers are going to want to own houses, that won’t change no matter what some want, and we can’t build more here in the city. What do you expect?

    • John July 4, 2019 (12:28 pm)

      TJ,  although sprawl may have been the course in the past, that does not make it the way for the future.   Support of sprawl in our day and age of enlightenment regarding the world not being flat and our environment changing catastrophically.  I hope and invite new comers to Seattle to appreciate our unique environment and protect and enjoy it through thoughtful living in what some call “crammed into boxes”.A candidate’s support of sprawl is enough alone to be eliminated from my choice. 

  • anonyme July 4, 2019 (1:10 pm)

    I’ve scoured the Safe Seattle Facebook page for “hate” and couldn’t find any.  For those who keep trying to make that association, perhaps you should look in the mirror.  Almost without fail, the ones who use that word the most seem to be the ones filled with it.  I’m primarily a Kolding supporter at this point as I believe his approach to homelessness is different and necessary.  I like the fact that Tavel acknowledges the issues faced by seniors in this community, which range from benign neglect to outright contempt.   However, expressing support for seniors “aging in place’ while simultaneously saying that single-family zoning should be driven “further out” to the suburbs is contradictory.  Many older people are struggling to stay in their homes, and ripping them out of those homes to ship them off to senior ghettoes in the burbs so that hungry developers can build a sea of micro-pods is not the answer.   Final thought: the root of the problem is human overpopulation.   Who’s gonna deal with that?

    • Will S. July 4, 2019 (9:42 pm)

      Thanos is gonna deal with that, but he missed the candidate filing deadline

  • Michelle July 4, 2019 (1:37 pm)

    Thanks WSB for all of this coverage! I feel very spoiled to have your journalistic skill and integrity on our neighborhood. As to the comments, all of the candidates have provided some general answers and it would be nice to have specifics. My biggest hope is that our council member actually is responsive to our concerns…not just pushing constituents off to other departments. 

  • Flimflam July 4, 2019 (8:19 pm)

    Wow. Safe Seattle has nothing remotely racist, homophobic or hateful on their FB page. Frankly, while differing opinions are one thing, it’s irresponsible to just make things up because you disagree.disappointing to see such comments here go unchecked.

    • delridge72 July 5, 2019 (8:05 am)

      Safe Seattle has regular readers who are minorities, including myself. The claim that they are racists and homophobic is just baloney. The regressive left only resorts to this ridiculous name-calling because they know that the majority of Seattle dislikes their bad ideas that have failed the city.

  • Mj July 5, 2019 (9:25 am)

    A Tavel vs Kolding show down in December would be nice.  Being at a gathering Bonney Lake yesterday the vile frustration with Seattle politics is clearly apparent by people living outside the City.  

    • Tsurly July 5, 2019 (2:01 pm)

      They don’t live in Seattle, so who cares what they think.

    • Jon Wright July 5, 2019 (8:18 pm)

      I bet they’re not quite so frustrated about their net inflow of tax dollars, largely funded by Seattle/King County.

  • Grant morris July 5, 2019 (12:57 pm)

    Tavel is fine…. but Kolding is better. Phil has lost too in the past and Kolding brings a solid agenda for change with our district first. Kolding for council is my choice. Ive been to all the forums and he is best equipped to make improvements in safety, security , and accountability 

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