COUNTDOWN: 5 days until mayoral candidates’ West Seattle forum. Got a question?

checkbox.jpgNext week, the ballots go out and the voting begins for the August 3rd primary – including 15 candidates seeking to succeed Jenny Durkan as Seattle mayor. Dozens of organizations have hosted candidate forums on a variety of topics. This Saturday (July 10th) at noon, WSB and the West Seattle Junction Association will present the only pre-primary forum devoted entirely to West Seattle matters. We invited all 15 candidates; 9 accepted. We have roughed out a list of potential questions but are curious what’s on YOUR mind, so if you have a question to suggest – please email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com. The forum is an in-person event at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon); it’ll be streamed on multiple channels, including here on WSB, and we’ll also have a limited number of seats for those interested in being there – stand by for details on that in an update tomorrow.

27 Replies to "COUNTDOWN: 5 days until mayoral candidates' West Seattle forum. Got a question?"

  • Plf July 5, 2021 (8:38 pm)

    Very disappointed with the entire slate of candidates Don’t feel there is much difference with their approaches to issues, many already tried and implemented and failed 

  • Sunflower July 5, 2021 (8:47 pm)

    Have a two part question for Echohawk, please. Would like to know her thoughts about fireworks and environmental and community related concerns around this, while also considering tribal rights and economy.

    Also, what will she do if elected to help urgently restore salmon and to help save the southern resident orcas from extinction?Thank you!

    • heartless July 6, 2021 (8:36 am)

      That’s a good question about fireworks, Sunflower.

  • Peter July 5, 2021 (10:49 pm)

    My question for all of them: Can you say anything of substance that’s not generic poly-speak? 

  • FutureVoter July 5, 2021 (11:22 pm)

    Who are the nine candidates that accepted?

    • WSB July 5, 2021 (11:40 pm)

      Donaldson, Echohawk, Farrell, González, Harrell, Houston, Rivers, Sixkiller, Tucker.

  • Anne July 5, 2021 (11:24 pm)

    Would like to know specifically what these candidates will do to make their visions for change happen. They tell us WHAT they want to do- but never HOW they plan to do it. I’d be very surprised if any of them could give any specifics. 

  • 5th Gen July 6, 2021 (1:33 am)

    I would like to know when we can have real world answers to gun violence(not unicorns & magical fairy’s,)solutions to traffic in West Seattle, that are inclusive to everyone! Not just the neighborhoods that are “impacted” by the bridge closure, we are all impacted! Real solutions on homelessness, nothing that is currently or previously used is working and throwing more money at it, will not work either! I would like to see someone who wants more than to throw the police to civilians. There needs to be a police chief that will have and hold respect with his police force. I believe that Chief Diaz is on the right tract and he has to walk a fine line, and I feel he should be offered the full time position. With the exodus of Seattle Cops, there needs to be someone who we all can look to for leadership! Chief Barr was that but who blames her? I would want out too, just like the 200+ exodus this year. The pendulum is about to turn and where will the cops be when it was all about defund the police a minute ago??? Think Seattle…….THINK!!!!! If you want change than you need to think about how you voted previously and vote the opposite, that is the only way to save this beautiful and precious city that we get to call home! I know I am not alone in this thought process and hopefully we will all remember that when it’s time to vote!

    • bill July 6, 2021 (9:50 am)

      There is no point wasting time on local gun control as long as mad interpretations of the 2nd amendment prevail at the federal level.

      • 5th Gen July 6, 2021 (7:59 pm)

        I only mentioned gun control because the forum they had with 5 of the candidates in regards to that subject, their answers were so nonsensical. I think unicorns & magic fairy’s would show up before their answers to gun control or anything else, for that matter! None of these candidates are qualified to lead a large city as Seattle or any city, time for vote for something different!

  • Ferns July 6, 2021 (7:45 am)

    What will you do and how will you prioritize community safety, prompt police response, and economic growth while improving and developing public infrastructure for the growing population and aging infrastructure – including public transportation expansion like light rail and bus, safe roads to withstand changing climate and preemptive repair and replacement of bridges? How will you be more effective than previous mayors? It can feel like the city is falling apart. Is it time to consider a small income tax to fund maintenance needed for Seattle to live like a world class city? 

  • William Clements July 6, 2021 (8:27 am)

    Please ask them:  Are you committed to fully funding the police, reestablishing full staffing for the West Seattle precinct and permanently enforcing the law at Alki Beach, including noise ordinances, speeding, intoxicated driving and limited hours as we did on 4th July weekend?

    • Plf July 6, 2021 (11:39 am)

      Yes great question I think we need more police with reform still in placeenforce laws, individual accountability, help those who need it, make seattle a safe community for all, arrest habitual criminals and deal with gangsand provide mental health to those in need

  • Jeepney July 6, 2021 (9:00 am)

    Question for the candidates.  What will you do about rising crime rates in our city and restoring fairly applied law and order, especially to downtown?

    • zark00 July 6, 2021 (2:53 pm)

      @Jeepney -How can they answer a question about ‘rising crime rates’ when crime rates are not rising but are actually declining?We’re 1/2 way through 2021:Homicide, Rape, Aggravated Assault, Larceny, Burglary, Robbery, motor vehicle theft – are ALL less than half of the previous year, in fact they’re all less than half of the average all the way back to 2008.Rape is at 1/3 previous levels, it’s down the most of any violent crime.Only arson is up – there were 169 arson’s last year, average of 107 per year back to 2008, and we’re already at 104 for 2021 so far.Overall crime is down across the city, and that’s with the massive ‘exodus’ of officers who retired early because we paid them $280k a year in overtime. 

  • winniegirl July 6, 2021 (4:38 pm)

    why are these question for just echohawk? If these issues are important to you, shouldn’t they be asked of everyone?

    • Sunflower July 6, 2021 (10:26 pm)

      @winniegirl, questions are directed to specific candidates all the time. Regarding my questions for Echohawk, I am particularly interested in hearing the perspective of a Native American woman candidate regarding these matters. And, I am considering her for my vote, along with a couple others, and would like to hear more from her.

  • Joan McCoy July 6, 2021 (5:21 pm)

    I want the candidates to address the West Seattle bridge closure. Not just in passing but in detail. I want to hear a timeline of when repairs will happen and when they will be finished. The bridge has been closed for 16 months. I haven’t felt any urgency from any elected or city officials to make this a priority. I am convinced that anyone in a leadership position does not live in West Seattle, or if they do they have the luxury of taking to lower bridge. Since this forum is being held in West Seattle I believe that the majority of the questions should focus on the critical issues that are facing our community. 

  • J July 6, 2021 (5:27 pm)

    The bridge. The bridge. The bridge. What is the plan (if they don’t know, they won’t get my vote) when will it be done. And: what is their plan to make sure it gets done on time. 

    • allie J July 6, 2021 (6:31 pm)

      Yes. Yes. Yes. 

  • BeKind2021 July 6, 2021 (6:46 pm)

    After watching all the mayoral forums thus far, Bruce Harrell is the only candidate that is approaching the many crisis Seattle is facing with  tangible policies, plans and changes. Everyone else is mostly just talk. Am I super excited about Bruce? No, but it is time to have someone who is going to do the hard work to figure out what the root of the problems are so that there can be effective plans that actually work.  Someone who isn’t scared to be transparent with the people of Seattle to regain trust and hold the city accountable for their spending of our tax dollars.

  • Reed July 6, 2021 (7:12 pm)

    I’d like to know the status of implementing the the full bicycle master plan as originally designed.

  • anonyme July 7, 2021 (1:31 pm)

    Peter and Anne both posed good questions asking for some concrete details about how candidates will make their generic promises actually happen, although I doubt they’ll get answers.  At first I thought Langlie might be promising, but he’s kind of
    disappeared.  No point in backing a candidate who won’t engage.  Harrell would have been a second choice, but he’s adopted
    the same whacky woo-woo approach as the majority of the extremist nut jobs
    who are running.  There isn’t a single other moderate candidate, much less someone who will stand up to the City Council.  That means either not voting – or casting yet another completely meaningless
    ballot.   Despite the rocky rollout in NY, maybe it’s time to try ranked choice voting?  The all or nothing approach has left a LOT of King County voters gagging on a big nothing sandwich.

  • Sandy adams July 8, 2021 (1:52 am)

     Very disappointed that Lance Randall Is not on the list. He is practical,has good managerial skills and offfers a very viable alternative to the mess created by the current mayor and ciy council…

    • WSB July 8, 2021 (11:17 am)

      Well, good news. Though he did not respond to multiple invitations in early June, according to WSJA, which has kindly handled most of the logistics, I have just been told that he has RSVP’d at the very last minute after all. So that’s 10 candidates.

  • Reese July 9, 2021 (10:24 am)

    Could you please clarify the details about how to attend this forum in person at the Senior Center? I’m not quite tracking on the post above and do not see info on the Senior Center website. The forum is an in-person event at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon); it’ll be streamed on multiple channels, including here on WSB, and we’ll also have a limited number of seats for those interested in being there

    • WSB July 9, 2021 (11:23 am)

      This is not a Senior Center-sponsored event. It’s us and the WSJA, renting the space for the event. We mentioned this in a followup story but I will also add to the calendar listing:

      We have 20 seats, first-come first-served for vaccinated (proof required) people (the candidates and us have verified status, so it’s a maskless event unless someone chooses to wear one) – doors open at 11:30 and close at 11:50.

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