Dear District 2 Friends and Neighbors:

It is an honor to represent you on the King County Council. My approach is to emphasize regional cooperation and to work with my colleagues in a bi-partisan way.

During the first two weeks of August, the Council recessed and no committees met. My new wife, Colleen Cooper, and I spent that time on our honeymoon in Hungary and Eastern Europe. We married on August 1st at Parsons Garden on Queen Anne Hill, just down the street from where I grew up.

SAVE THE DATE: Please join me on Saturday, October 2, 2004, for the next District 2 Town Meeting focused on the Human Services Funding Crisis. Our meeting will be held 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Hearthstone Retirement Community, 6720 E. Green Lake Way N. More details will follow in the next e-newsletter and print newsletter.

I hope you enjoy District 2 E-News. Please contact me with any questions or comments. To unsubscribe, please see directions at the end of this message.

Election Reform

In response to previous election errors, the King County Council formed the King County Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee (pdf, 335KB), which recently released a Report on King County Elections. I am working with King County Records and Elections and Council staff to implement many of the suggestions made by the committee. One of the areas that the report addresses is a move to an exclusive Vote-by-Mail system, as the State of Oregon successfully implemented four years ago. Oregon’s voter turn-out increased significantly and saved over a million taxpayer dollars after shifting to an exclusive vote-by-mail system. I wrote a guest editorial on this issue that appeared in The Seattle Times.

Read my op-ed in The Seattle Times:

When it comes to voting, there’s no place like home (requires free sign in)-- August 12, 2004

The Seattle P.I. came out with an editorial shortly after my piece was published:

Vote by and for mail -- August 18, 2004

Critical Areas Ordinance

The Washington State Growth Management Act requires King County to protect critical areas, vital groundwater, and natural habitat, including wetlands. The Growth Management and Unincorporated Committee (GMAUC) is still carefully deliberating the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), which is expected to pass out of Committee by the end of September. As the most controversial issue this summer, I have received over 2,000 emails regarding the CAO and I have met with groups on both sides of this contentious issue. Although I do not serve on the GMAUC, I look forward to hearing the recommendations of the Committee when the full Council reviews the CAO in October. For more information, please contact my office or visit the “CAO Question & Answer” website.

Human Services Funding Crisis

The King County Task Force on Regional Human Services released their report on August 26. The Task Force examined improvements to our Regional Human Services system. The report emphasizes finding a dedicated revenue source for Human Services due to dramatic cuts in human service programs by local governments due to budget shortfalls. Funding human services is a priority for me. As Chair of the Regional Policy Committee, finding solutions to the Human Services funding crisis is one of our main concerns.

New Primary Ballot

Many of you received your absentee primary ballot in the mail with the new primary format. To participate in this election, you must select a party and then vote only in that party’s designated portion of the ballot. If you do not select a party, your votes in the partisan races (e.g. Governor or Congress) will not count, although your votes the non-partisan races and initiatives at the end of the ballot will still be valid.

There are two aspects of this new ballot that are creating confusion. First, this new format only applies to the primary election— in November, you may vote for any candidate of either party. Second, your choice of political party will be kept confidential and not recorded. If you have questions, please contact King County Elections at (206) 296-VOTE (8683).

In the Community

King County Properties on North Lake Union

On August 25, the North Lake Union Stakeholder Working Group presented their recommendations to the Council’s Transportation Committee on the future use of three County-owned parcels in the North Lake Union area. The Council will review the recommendations over the next few weeks. My staff and I have personally toured the properties, met with the Stakeholders, and attended multiple meetings. I want to thank the Stakeholders for their hard work and creativity: Bruce Agnew, Suzie Burke, Karen Buschow, Norm Davis, Greg Hill, Peter Kelly, Lee Raaen, Betty Richardson, Nancy Rottle, and Geo Tamblyn.

Neighborhood Walks: King County Council to Your Door

My staff and I have personally visited over 1,600 homes this summer to visit with neighbors and bring the King County Council to Your Door. As your representative to the Council, it is my job to listen to you and make decisions on your behalf. Sometimes it can be difficult to stay in touch with elected officials. That is why I formed the King County Council to Your Door program so I can meet you and hear your concerns. I’ve enjoyed discussing issues important to you and the county. Throughout the fall, I will continue knocking on doors typically on Friday afternoons. I am committed to being the most accessible elected official in King County.

Coffee with Bob

Every Friday, I meet constituents for one-on-one coffees at one of the local coffee shops in the district. If you have an issue or question to discuss, please join me. To set-up a thirty minute coffee, please contact my office at bob.ferguson@metrokc.gov or at (206) 296-1002.

Arts & Heritage Organization Highlight: Seattle Public Theater

The Seattle Public Theater is the resident company at the historic Green Lake Bathhouse Theater located at 7312 W. Green Lake Drive N. This is the theater you pass when walking around Green Lake. Beginning October 8, Seattle Public Theater will open their 2004-2005 season with “Proof,” winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play. Here’s a summary:

“Proof is a work that explores the unknowing traits of love as much as it does the mysteries of science. In the heart of South Chicago, Catherine, the troubled daughter of a genius mathematician, must wrestle with her own genius, and her capacity for love and trust. For those who loved “A Beautiful Mind,” David Auburn's brilliant, intimate, touching ode to the mysteries of life, family, love and identity offers proof that contemporary playwrights are indeed creating brilliant works of art.”

In addition to their professional main stage season, Seattle Public Theater also offers a year-round youth theater program for young people to learn theater skills and perform. Courses begin in mid-September.

For ticket and class information, please call (206) 524-1300 or visit their website at: www.seattlepublictheater.org

To subscribe/unsubscribe/change email address/make comments: simply reply to this message.

Phone: (206) 296-1002 | Fax: (206) 296-0198 | TTY/TDD: (206) 296-1024 | Toll Free: (800) 325-6165
Mailing Address: King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room 1200, Seattle, WA 98104-3272