Dear District 2 Friends and Neighbors:

It’s been a busy month! Two important issues dominated my work in April. First, the Council adopted my proposal for an independent audit of our elections department. Second, the Regional Policy Committee, which I chair, adopted a resolution calling on the King County Council to place a levy before the voters to fund services for veterans and their families.

My next town meeting will focus on transportation. Please join me!

Wednesday, May 25
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Eckstein Middle School Cafeteria
3003 Northeast 75th Street

King County Councilmember Dwight Pelz, Chair of the Council’s Transportation Committee and Sound Transit Board Member, will be my guest. I hope you can attend. Please bring your questions!

It is an honor to serve you on the King County Council. Please contact me with any questions or comments. To unsubscribe, please see directions at the end of this message.

Independent Audit of King County Elections

On April 18, the King County Council unanimously passed my legislation to create an independent audit of King County Elections. I introduced this motion with Councilmember Julia Patterson (Democrat, District 13). An independent audit is the best, most important step towards cleaning up our Elections office. The outside firm we bring on board to conduct the review will be independent in fact and perception. No one will be able to argue with the results.

The audit will analyze management, organizational structure, staffing levels and competencies, training, policies, security and facilities. The consulting firm we hire will be expected to submit a preliminary report this September and a comprehensive report in October. I am working closely on this issue to ensure that we choose an independent and experienced consultant.

I had the opportunity to be a guest on KUOW Weekday with Steve Scher to discuss King County Elections. To listen to the radio show, click here. In addition, I recently taped an installment of “15 Minutes” for King County Television. To watch the interview focused on election reform, click here.

In the News:

Second review of King County elections OK’d
The Seattle P-I – April 19, 2005

King County Council calls for audit of elections office
The Seattle Times – April 19, 2005

Proposed independent audit of King election office gains allies
The Seattle P-I – April 12, 2005

Election Reform: Mechanics of democracy
The Seattle P-I – April 10, 2005

Helping our Veterans and their Families

Our service men and women need our support. Veterans are returning home in need of our help with housing assistance, trauma and mental health counseling, and financial assistance for food, transportation, and medical care. Just in the last month, 3,200 men and women in the Washington National Guard’s 81st Brigade Combat Team came home from Iraq.

King County currently supports veterans through the Veterans Relief Fund while veterans work towards qualifying for assistance by the Federal Veterans Administration, which can take up to 18 months. Unfortunately, there is not enough funding to support the number of veterans in need in King County.

The Regional Policy Committee (RPC), which I chair, is a bipartisan committee made up of elected officials from King County, Seattle, and suburban cities. Since last fall, we have analyzed how King County can better help the men and women who serve our country.

On Wednesday, May 4, the RPC passed a resolution in support of a ballot measure for a dedicated property tax increase to support our veterans and their families. This resolution received bipartisan support and encourages the King County Council to put the levy before voters for approval this November.

The Regional Policy Committee approved a plan proposed by King County Executive Ron Sims. The levy would be taxed at a rate of 4.1 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The average household in King County would pay just $10.25 to full support our veterans and their families, with roughly 40 percent of homeowners paying less than $10. Levy revenue for 2006 is estimated at $10.7 million.

The dedicated levy would provide:
• post-traumatic stress disorder treatment
• employment assistance
• domestic violence counseling
• outreach and referral housing assistance
• mental health counseling

In the News:

Regional Policy Committee Recommends Levy to Support Veterans and their Families

Veterans-levy plan splits county groups
The Seattle Times – May 4, 2005

Veterans issue drawn into politics
The Seattle Times – April 26, 2005

Farmers Markets are Back!

This month, the University District and Lake City Farmers Markets will open offering farm fresh produce to Seattle residents. Join me at the Seattle farmers markets and help support our local farms!

University District Farmers Market: Opened Saturday, May 7 and is open every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., until December 17. The University District Farmers Market is Seattle’s largest “farmers-only” market with over 50 farmers on hand selling fresh produce and goods. The market is located at Northeast 50th Street and University Way Northeast, in the parking lot of the University Heights Community Center.

Lake City Farmers Market: Opens Thursday, May 19, 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and will operate every Thursday afternoon until October 20. The Lake City Farmers Market features 30 local farmers and a great expanse of fresh produce and goods. The market is located at Northeast 127th Street and 30th Avenue Northeast, just behind the Lake City Fire Station.

For more information on both farmers markets, please visit www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.

Maple Leaf Community Garden & Dahl Playfield

On April 17, the King County Council amended the 2005 Budget Ordinance to distribute $20,000 to both the Dahl Playfield renovation project and the creation of the Maple Leaf Community Garden. As a member of the Council’s Budget & Fiscal Management Committee, I worked hard to financially support these community open space projects for everyone in our community to use and enjoy.

Dahl Playfield, located at 7700 25th Avenue Northeast, was established in 1947. Friends of Dahl Playfield formed to renovate the aged playfields and upgrade the unsafe playground equipment. In addition, walking trails, wetland restoration, and public art will be included. To get involved, contact friends@dahlplayfield.org.

The Maple Leaf Community Garden will be located at Northeast 103rd Street near Northgate Mall. The community garden will include 24 P-patch plots, a fruit orchard, and will include ADA accessible paths. To get involved, contact Barbara Maxwell, Maple Leaf Community Councilmember, at tbmax@juno.com.

Volunteering at Aegis Senior Assisted-Living in Northgate

My staff and I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at Aegis in Northgate, a senior assisted-living facility for Alzheimer’s and dementia treatment. We enjoyed a tea party with 20 residents, serving tea and baked goods. Aegis is located at 11039 - 17th Avenue Northeast. Over 40 residents are served at the Aegis facility.

If you know of a non-profit organization that can use our time, please contact my office at (206) 296-1002.

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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