Dear District 2 Friends and Neighbors:

I am bringing the King County Council to our Community! Please join me on Monday, April 18, for a Council Committee of the Whole town meeting on water conservation to be held at the University of Washington. Our meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Husky Union Building (HUB) East Ballroom. Join us for a reception at 9:30 a.m. to meet members of the King County Council. I hope you can attend!

Thank you to the 80 neighbors who attended my recent town hall with Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck. There were many great community questions and I appreciate the time you took to participate. If you were unable to attend, you can view the meeting online.

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 Update

I am very concerned that King County Elections recently found 93 uncounted ballots. King County disenfranchised those voters and that is inexcusable. I am equally concerned that it took 10 days before the public was informed. That is why I am advocating for an independent audit and review of King County Elections. I am co-sponsoring a motion for an independent audit with Councilmember Julia Patterson (D).

In the News:
Support erodes for elections director
The Seattle Times – April 5, 2005

King County election chief under fire
The Seattle P-I – April 5, 2005

On April 4, the King County Council adopted bipartisan election reforms that I co-sponsored with Councilmembers Julia Paterson (D) and Kathy Lambert (R). This package reinforces safeguards for tabulating votes, consolidates election facilities, increases funding for election worker training, and directs the County to conduct a one-time vote by mail election to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of an exclusive vote by mail system. These reforms were all recommended by the King County Citizens’ Election Oversight Committee.

I’ve received over 800 Election reform surveys from my last newsletter. Thank you for your participation. Your opinions matter to me and I forwarded the results to our Washington State Legislators and shared them with my colleagues on the King County Council.

Vote by mail
59% Support moving to an exclusive vote by mail election system
41% Support keeping the current poll and mail election system
* An overwhelming majority support conducting a one-time pilot vote by mail election to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of an exclusive vote by mail system.

Ballot postmark of absentee ballots
70% Support changing the ballot postmark to the Friday before Election Day (ballots can still be dropped off at polling locations on Election Day)
30% Support keeping the postmark date to Election Day

Primary date
86% Support an earlier primary date: 53% support August and 47% support June
14% Support no change to the primary date

King County Auditor
60% Support an appointed elections director
40% Support an elected auditor

Saving the Waterfront Streetcar

I am committed to preserving the waterfront streetcar, a signature element for our vibrant waterfront.

Bob tours the site of the future Olympic Sculpture Park with Mimi Gates, Seattle Art Museum Director.

On March 23, I rode the Seattle Waterfront Streetcar and visited the King County Transit Maintenance Barn. King County operates the waterfront streetcar and holds easements for the maintenance barn, which repairs and houses the streetcar. The current maintenance barn resides on land purchased by the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) for the creation of the 8.5 acre waterfront Olympic Sculpture Park. The designs for the sculpture park include removal of the maintenance barn which currently encompasses one-third of the site, although SAM does support continuing the waterfront streetcar service.

Unfortunately, the only sites King County Metro Transit identified for replacement are expensive. The Port of Seattle recently offered waterfront land rent free to be used for a relocated maintenance barn. I am very interested in receiving the details of this proposal.

Northgate Revitalization

Bob meets with Mayor Greg Nickels at the Northgate Library and Community Center Groundbreaking.

Big changes are happening at Northgate. As someone who lives just a few blocks away from the Northgate Mall and a daily #41 bus rider from the Northgate Transit Center, I am excited to report on the recent developments taking place for the Northgate community.

On March 19, my wife Colleen and I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Northgate Public Library and Community Center, expected to open next year. I also recently met over coffee with community members that serve on the Northgate Stakeholders Group.

King County has an important role in the redevelopment project. I am pleased to have the opportunity to host in my district the King County Transit-Oriented Development project for Northgate. Two projects are particularly exciting:

• Northgate Transit Center: King County will create a major new transit center to include passenger connections to allow for potential light rail and monorail transfers. Creation of a new street, 3rd Ave. N.E., will split the current Northgate Park and Ride in half. This will ease traffic congestion between 1st and 5th Ave. N.E. by adding a new connection to the transit center and mall.

• 5th Avenue Park: A new park could be located at 5th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 112th Street near Target. This site is currently owned by King County and used as a park & ride. The land can be deemed “surplus” by the County to allow the City of Seattle to purchase the land and create an urban park. I support this great project to create more open space for Northgate residents.

For more information on other Northgate projects, please visit Seattle’s Northgate Revitalization website or contact my office.

King County Sexual Assault Awareness Week: April 11 - 15

King County Sexual Assault Awareness week is April 11 – 15. Sexual assault services are available in King County through the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, a non-profit agency supported by private and public funding. I recently attended the fundraising breakfast for this important organization.

Many victims feel it is too late to call and never get the help they need. This campaign is designed to reach out to victims of sexual assault and their families. For information or help, please call the King County Sexual Assault Resource Line at 1-888-99-VOICE (1-888-99-86423). It’s never too late to call.

Parkview Services— Affordable Housing for the Disabled

Bob meets with residents with developmental disabilities.

I recently toured affordable housing offered for people with developmental disabilities in North Seattle by Parkview Services, a King County non-profit organization. For over 35 years, Parkview Services has supported people with developmental disabilities and their families through affordable housing, group homes, Camp Parkview, and Stepping Out For Fun. The Stepping Out For Fun program is based on matches with volunteers and people with developmental disabilities to develop friendships and have fun. Please contact 206.306.0790 or email info@parkviewservices.org for more information.

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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