| Video Voter's Guide for King County
and the Port of Seattle for the 2007 General Election
Text Transcript
Announcer:
Welcome to the video voters’ guide, your chance to hear directly
from the candidates and issues in the November general election. In this
edition, you will hear from the candidates for King County Prosecutor,
King County Assessor, Metropolitan King County Council Districts 2, 4,
6 and 8 and the Port of Seattle Commission. You will also hear pro and
con statements on King County Initiative 25, King County Proposition 1,
the Medic One Levy, and Proposition 1 from Sound Transit and the Regional
Transportation Investment District for our regional roads and transit
system. Each candidate has two minutes to speak and they will appear in
the same order, as they will on your ballot.
Prosecuting Attorney
The untimely passing of Prosecutor Norm Maleng last May leaves an unexpired
three-year term that must be filled now in this general election. The
Prosecuting Attorney prosecutes criminal cases including all felonies
committed in King County and misdemeanors from the unincorporated areas.
The office serves as legal advisor to the county, providing written opinions
and litigating cases on behalf of and in defense of the county. The Prosecutor
also oversees family and child support cases, victim witness assistance,
domestic violence protection and cases in juvenile court. All voters in
King County are eligible to vote for Prosecuting Attorney and this position
is partisan.
Bill Sherman:
Hello, I’m Bill Sherman and I am a Democrat running for King County
Prosecutor. I ask for your support because I offer the right legal and
prosecutorial experience and the strong values that I think that you are
looking for in the person who will follow in the footsteps of the late
Norm Maleng. As a deputy prosecutor most recently in the Domestic Violence
Unit, my experience is that of a front line criminal trial prosecutor.
I have successfully handled dozens of serious gun crimes, sexual assaults,
and domestic violence cases. A prosecutor’s highest responsibility
is to protect the most vulnerable and so I will prioritize elder abuse,
neglect and fraud. We need to make sure that the victims of elder abuse
are made whole and that those who would prey upon vulnerable seniors are
brought swiftly to justice. I will focus on kids as well in two ways;
first, we need to protect them from predators on the street and on the
Internet. And second, we need a juvenile justice system that doesn’t
let kids fall through the cracks. I will crack down on identity theft
and expand cost effective drug and mental health treatment. And I pledge
to lead by example, prosecuting at least one case a year personally. And
I will enforce the law with equal justice prosecuting without fear or
favor. Fundamentally, prosecuting is about fairness and good judgment
but, unfortunately, despite front-page stories in the paper last year
about extensive misconduct by some deputy sheriffs, the Prosecutor’s
Office refused to investigate. One bad cop, who stole from the elderly,
tampered with witnesses and used government computers to try to stalk
his ex-wife, had all charges against him dropped. He was even allowed
to stay on the government payroll until he qualified for a $3500 a month
tax payer funded pension for life. That set a terrible example and it
will not happen on my watch.
I am proud to be widely endorsed by community leaders like Senator Patty
Murray, Governor Gary Locke, Representatives Adam Smith and Jay Ensley
and others. I am proud to have the highest possible rating from the Municipal
League of King County.
For Prosecutor, we need a proven leader, not just an administrator. My
name is Bill Sherman and I am asking for your support. Thank you.
Dan Satterberg:
King County has one of the finest and fairest justice systems in America.
That is because for the past 28 years the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s
Office was lead by an extraordinary individual, Norm Maleng.
Hi, I’m Dan Satterberg. I am the interim King County Prosecuting
Attorney. You deserve a prosecuting attorney who has the experience and
the judgment to exercise the power of this office, to protect our families,
to protect the streets and to protect our rights. I have been a professional
prosecutor for 22 years and I had the privilege of working side by side
with Norm Maleng as his Chief of Staff for the past 17 years. After his
untimely death in May, the King County Council appointed me to be the
interim Prosecuting Attorney. I was born and raised in King County. I
attended public schools in Burien and I graduated from the University
of Washington both with undergraduate and law school degrees. Now in the
courtroom, I have tried scores of serious cases from murders to child
abuse to domestic violence and gang shootings. Yet the courtroom experience
is only a small part of this job, I will continue my work on the reform
of the criminal justice system, to build an office that is responsive
to our community and to craft state laws that are both tough and fair.
As Prosecutor, I will work to prevent domestic violence to divert mentally
ill offenders to treatment centers and to vigorously prosecute those who
would victimize women and children. We’ll be tough on car thieves,
violent gangs and on those trying to steal your financial identity. Now,
I am honored to be endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans, labor and
business leaders and the Seattle and King County Police Officers Guilds.
The Municipal League rated me outstanding. Seventeen years ago, Norm Maleng
chose me to help him lead his office. Today, I am asking for your vote
of confidence to build upon that record of excellence. I pledge to lead
a Prosecutor’s office worthy of the confidence, pride and trust
of all of our citizens. Thank you.
County Assessor
Announcer:
The King County Assessor is responsible for the fair valuation of all
real and personal property within King County and the equitable distribution
of tax liabilities. In practice, the assessor revalues all property every
year and notifies owners by mail. It’s a four-year term and the
position is partisan. All voters in King County are eligible to vote for
Assessor.
Scott Noble:
My name is Scott Noble, Democrat, running for reelection as your King
County Assessor. I ask for your vote and please check us out at scottnoble.org.
Fair, professional, accountable. I have an outstanding record for fairness.
The Assessors Office has earned international recognition winning two
national awards from the International Association of Assessing Officers.
The King County Audit said we do such a good job overall, we should let
everybody know about it. Citizens seem to agree. Our appeals are at a
10-year low. Effective, efficient, open. Assessment information in this
county is more open, accountable and accessible. With Zillow.com saying
we have the best assessor website in the United States. We have the lowest
per capita costs doubling our workload while reducing staff; the only
county agency that can say so. Responsive, responsible tax payer advocate.
I have actively pursed fairness in Olympia, writing legislation doubling
relief to seniors and requiring districts to hold annual property tax
increase public hearings. Have the courage to challenge unfair proposals,
making tough decisions, preventing over 200 million in annual tax shifts
to homeowners. My record of fairness is the subject of one of the cover
stories of the recent Fair and Equitable magazine of the International
Association sent worldwide. Retain a recognized leader. I have kept my
promise to improve the Assessors Office. I am a native of King County
and a graduate of the UW. I am proud to have served our country as a Naval
Officer, a Vietnam Veteran and recalled for Desert Storm support. I am
a retired Captain of the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Under my leadership, the Assessors Office is recognized as the best in
fairness. Again, I ask for your vote. The name is Scott Noble. Thank you.
Jim Nobles:
Hello, my name is Jim Nobles and I am running to be your next King County
Assessor. And as your assessor, I will treat every property owner fairly
and with respect. Under my leadership, the Assessors Office will be run
effectively with transparency and integrity. Those aren’t just words.
As an elected official, I have a track record of keeping my promises.
In 2005, I was elected to the Seattle Monorail Project Board on a promise
to close down a dysfunctional agency that was wasting your money. I kept
my word to the voters. I am running for King County Assessor with the
same drive to clean up the office and to make it transparent, fair and
honest. I will be an advocate for you; the taxpayer, and no taxpayer should
have to pay more than their fair share. Every taxpayer, homeowner and
commercial building owner should be assured that the Assessors Office
is run with integrity and transparency. If elected, I will accept no campaign
contributions from anyone in my office. I will not allow the Assessors
Office to be politicized and I will treat all employees as I will treat
all King County property owners with the utmost respect and equity. I
have a long record of community service in our State. I serve on the King
County Mental Health Advisory Board and share the King County Mental Health
Chemical Dependency Legislative Advocacy Committee. I am a member of the
Sierra Club and the Washington State Grange. I also serve as President
of the Washington State Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection.
I am a Rotarian, a certified Red Cross instructor and volunteer and a
Washington State emergency medical technician and an emergency medical
technician instructor. I respectfully ask for your vote. Thank you.
County Council
Announcer:
The Metropolitan and King County council is your voice in county government
setting the priorities and budgets for all county services while providing
a regional leadership, oversight and accountability. This year, four of
the nine council seats are up for election. Council members are elected
to four-year terms and these positions are partisan.
County Council District No. 2
Larry Gossett:
I have served as a member of the King County Council for 14 years and
I am looking forward to representing the people of District 2 for another
4 years. I believe I have been a visible, hard working and effective lawmaker
and political leader on behalf of the 1.8 million people who reside here
in Martin Luther King, Jr. County. I represent the most ethnically and
economically diverse district in our community. I have built broad based
coalitions of citizen activists who have come together to solve a wide
array of problems over the years I have served ranging from slowing the
growth of funds needed to operate our criminal justice system to expanding
programs helping inner-city youth to supporting the critical areas ordinance
needed to protect farm lands and open space in our rural area. And to
sponsoring legislation which has brought new family ways jobs to our county.
As Chair of the King County Council during this year, I have provided
meaningful leadership positions to all our members regardless of party
affiliation. As a result of my collaborative style, the council’s
productivity has improved significantly. This is why I will be honored
to receive your vote for re-election to the King County Council this November.
Thank you.
County Council District No. 4
Larry Phillips:
As a citizen of King County my entire life, I know how blessed we are
to call this region “home”. From spectacular natural resources
to a dynamic and involved public, our quality of life is the envy of many.
I am Larry Phillips running for re-election to the Metropolitan King County
Council and I would like your vote on election day. For the past decade
I have represented the Ballard, Magnolia and Queen Anne communities on
the county council, as well as Capitol Hill, downtown Seattle and Eastlake
more recently. Day to day we deliver services key to our quality of life
be it our Metro Bus system, restaurant inspections, domestic violence
and sexual assault investigations, treating waste water before it returns
to Puget Sound or maintaining access to our justice system. But these
days we face serious questions about what government services we want
and how to pay for them. As a county council member, I have worked with
my colleagues to make tough decisions about how to continue basic county
services in the face of shrinking revenues. Previous generations took
on monumental regional challenges such as cleaning up pollution in Lake
Washington so we could swim and fish there again. I believe like those
previous generations, we are able to rise to the challenge and make the
difficult decisions to maintain our public legacy keeping our county parks
and trails open, our criminal justice system fair and efficient and services
available to seniors and our most vulnerable citizens.
King County is vital to maintaining our regional goals of improving mobility
through increased transit service, protecting our waterways and open space,
containing sprawl and providing core government services in a consistent
and efficient manner for all 1.8 million county residents. I hope you
will show your confidence in me again by reelecting me as your representative
on the King County Council. Thank you.
County Council District No. 6
Richard Pope:
Hello, I am Richard Pope, the Democratic candidate for King County Council
District 6. District 6 includes Bellevue, Mercer Island, Kirkland, Medina,
Clyde Hill, parts of Redmond and a portion of unincorporated King County
north of Kirkland. As your next council person, I will provide leadership,
responsibility, vision and planning for King County’s future. I
promise to bring honesty, integrity, common sense values and real accountability
to King County government. Transportation is our most frustrating problem.
We need decisive solutions. We must improve roads and highways. We have
to eliminate freeway logjams; we need to modernize State Route 520 and
replace the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Our Metro Bus service should
be user friendly with more park and ride capacity. We need a sensible
and effective mass transit system that will serve the Eastside for decades
to come. We must plan for and invest in our future. Too many people are
priced out of today’s housing market. We must increase the supply
of affordable housing both to renters and homeowners. We must also protect
the environment and preserve open space. We must use our tax dollars wisely
and avoid wasteful spending. We must preserve critical human services
especially for the elderly, the disabled and others who are less fortunate.
Our public safety needs require adequate funding and innovative approaches.
I am a homeowner in East Bellevue and have strong roots in our community.
My daughter attends Bellevue Public Schools. I am active in my church
and my daughter’s school and civic and charitable organizations.
I have a law degree from the University of Washington and with an Economics
BA and graduate studies in International Trade. I worked as a teacher
and economics researcher and have served our community for 16 years as
an attorney. Please vote November 6th and choose Richard Pope for King
County Council District 6.
Jane Hague:
Hello, I am Jane Hague and I am proud to be your Representative on the
King County Council. Since I first joined the Council, I have remained
committed to the same principles. I want to make county government more
accessible, more accountable and more understandable to the people it
serves. I am proud of my work on your behalf and you have my word that
I will continue to keep the families of this region as my highest priority.
We must work to improve transportation, control spending and enhance our
environment, if we hope to leave this region a better place for our children
and future generations. To accomplish those goals, I’ve worked to
secure an additional $300 million for the 520 bridge replacement and funding
for 6 road projects along with new and expanded transit service. I have
also insisted on audits to make sure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely
and I helped craft a budget with no general property tax increase. I am
proud that after years of working with community volunteers to restore
salmon runs, salmon have finally returned to Denney Creek. I was honored
to be named the Elected Official of the Year by the Alliance of Eastside
Agencies, who are all dedicated to helping eastside families and at risk
youth. And I am proud to be supported by both Democratic and Republican
state and local elected leaders, who recognize my determination to put
aside divisive partisan rhetoric and to serve all those I am elected to
represent. I was rated “outstanding” by the Municipal League
as a reflection of my effectiveness and leadership for the 6th District
and I was also endorsed by the Mercer Island, Kirkland and Bellevue Fire
Fighters for my commitment to first responders and public safety. There
is much to be done and I am eager to continue my work on behalf of this
vibrant, dynamic community. I am Jane Hague and I am asking for your vote.
Thank you.
County Council District No. 8
Dow Constantine:
I am Dow Constantine and it is an honor to serve you on the King County
Council. My district includes my life-long home of West Seattle and more
than 200,000 people from Beacon Hill to Vashon Island, Normandy Park to
downtown Seattle. My values are the values of the tight-knit West Seattle
neighborhood in which I was raised and my priorities reflect the concerns
of our communities and the needs of our region. I have always been an
advocate for an efficient government. During my service in the State House
and the State Senate and now at the County, I have been a leader in demanding
greater accountability, efficiently and fairness. From streamlined permitting
to auditing county agencies, we must constantly innovate to get the most
value for each taxpayer dollar.
Like you, I spend too much time sitting in traffic. It is critical to
fix our aging roads while building for the future through high-capacity
rail, improved buses, passenger ferries and improved ability of people
to live near where they work. Much of my time in office has been devoted
to protecting the qualities that make our county and our region special.
Natural environment, parks, wildlife, our endangered Puget Sound, I know
that you care about these threatened treasures too. I have also been fighting
for the historic buildings, the wonderful places that make our neighborhoods
unique. Recently, we were able to announce that the century old First
United Methodist Church has been saved from the wrecking ball. We can
grow and progress as a region without obliterating the best of what has
come before. Recently, I introduced legislation to prohibit the use in
King County of bar codes or unique identifier on your ballot. Some counties
were using software, which allowed votes to be tracked. This is wrong.
We can preserve our privacy while maintaining our legacy of clean elections.
I have lived right here my entire life and like you, I want to leave this
place better than I found it. I work hard every day to be a good representative
for you, my friends and neighbors. I thank you for your support. I would
appreciate your vote.
Port of Seattle
Announcer:
The Port of Seattle is a county wide municipal corporation that operations
the marine terminals and Sea Tac Airport. This year 2 of the 5 commissioned
positions are up for election. These positions are non-partisan. Commissioners
are elected at large to 4 year terms by all voters in King County.
Gael Tarleton:
Hello, I am Gael Tarleton. The recent “backroom” deal to give
the former Port of Seattle CEO a nearly $300,000 golden parachute and
failed financial audits have caused voters to lose confidence in our Port.
I am running to be your Port Commissioner because this public agency is
failing King County citizens. I have the experience, the integrity and
the vision to reform the Port of Seattle. I bring 25 years of expertise
on ports, national security and environmental stewardship. During 10 years
at the Pentagon, I developed strategies to prevent attacks on US Ports
and create a disaster preparedness and emergency response plans. I later
helped design US Coast Guard plans for oil spill response and cleanup
and reported to Al Gore’s global climate change commission. The
Port of Seattle is your public institution. When you spend the public’s
money, you should spend it in public. We must decrease the Port’s
dependence on tax dollars and I would explore taking the Port’s
tax levy to a vote so that the citizens of King County have a final say
on how their tax dollars are spent. I will change the way the Seattle
Port does business. I will use the “open meetings” law to
bring the public’s voice back to our Port. As Vice President of
a large science and engineering firm, I implemented independent audits
and ethics codes to create accountability. I will do the same for our
Port. I have been a respected leader and financial manager in government,
industry and at the University of Washington and it will be a privilege
to serve you. I am honored to have endorsements from the Washington Conservation
Voters, Sierra Club, Women’s Political Caucus, 9 Washington State
representatives and senators, as well as the recommendation from the Alkai
Foundation for my candidacy. Thank you for voting Gael Tarleton for Seattle
Port Commissioner.
Bob Edwards:
Hello, I am Bob Edwards and I want to thank you for the opportunity to
serve on the Port Commission. Over the last 8 years I have been leading
the way in cleaning up our Port and keeping our region moving. Global
trade should not equal global warming. We need to create jobs and economic
opportunity by being the cleanest, greenest port in the world. That is
why I voted to put nearly $20 million in the Puget Sound clean-up efforts
and sponsored a landmark agreement between the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma
and Vancouver to dramatically reduce air emissions throughout the Northwest.
Under my watch, we completed transportation improvements near Safeco Field
and south of our seaport so trucks won’t be stalled while belching
diesel on our waterfront. I voted to fund light rail all the way to the
airport because we need a transportation system that doesn’t just
rely on cars and I was against contributing $200 million of Port money
towards Seattle’s shrunken waterfront tunnel. Since I became a commissioner,
over 30,000 new Port related jobs have been created including hundreds
of new family ways jobs on our docks and 2,000 new tourism jobs in the
cruise ship industry. I was the loan vote against the record rise in the
Port’s property tax because it would have hurt our economy. Our
success depends on mobility. As a member of the I-405 and 520 advisory
boards, I have been working to come up with solutions to some of our worst
traffic choke points. As a pilot, I take special pride that we created
peace with Sea-Tac’s neighbors and will be landing airplanes on
the third runway within a year. I am running for reelection because I
bring a proven track record of working with regional leaders to keep our
economy moving and to protect our environment for generations to come.
If you would like to learn more about my record, please visit my website
at edwardsforport.com. I hope I can count on you to join with Ron Simms,
Larry Gossett, Ed Murray, Suzette Cook, Fred Jerrett and the mayors of
Bellevue, Renton, Sea-Tac, Federal Way, Tukwila and Shoreline in supporting
me for reelection to the Port Commission.
Commissioner - Position 5
Alec Fisken:
Hello, my name is Alec Fisken. I’m asking for your support in my
bid for reelection to the Seattle Port Commission. I am proud to be the
only candidate in the race for Position 5 who has received an outstanding
rating from the Municipal League of King County. I have the sole endorsement
of the Sierra Club, Washington Conservation Voters, former governors Locke
and Lowry, the King County Labor Council and numerous other individuals
and organizations. But these endorsements are not from people who think
the Port is necessarily in the right course. They are from thoughtful
and knowledgeable individuals and organizations who believe that the Seattle
Port Commission needs to provide some common sense oversight. That the
Port can grow, solve it’s environmental problems, become a consistent
advocate for the Maritime Industrial segment of our economy and stop squandering
your tax money on wasteful projects. We have made some progress in the
last few years. The commission has generally stopped having discussions
in Executive Session that State law says should be held in public. There
is a new emphasis on responsible management of the Port’s assets
and new concern with the environmental impact of Port operations. So we
can move forward, we can start work with other ports and solve the environmental
problems that will otherwise threaten the growth of trade. We can stop
the tax dollar hemorrhage, phase out the levy and begin to generate a
profit for the citizens of King County. We can grow, we can solve the
environmental issues and we can operate responsibly. I don’t have
an ax to grind; I don’t have a business that will profit from my
role on the Commission. I care about the port. My father and grandfather
both worked for the Port of Seattle. I know we can make it a great asset
in our region. To get there, I need your support. Thank you very much.
Bill Bryant:
I am Bill Bryant and I am running to bring effective leadership to the
Seattle Port Commission. For me, effective leadership involves listening,
setting priorities and proposing solutions. That leadership is needed
on the Seattle Port Commission now more than ever. Let me share with you
a little bit about my background and about my priorities. I was born here
and I have dedicated my career to increasing trade for our state’s
apple, cherry and pear growers. As a trade negotiator, I have learned
that you get results by working with all parties, not by creating deep
divisions. I have continued that philosophy as a volunteer environmental
leader listening to differing views and then proposing solutions that
preserve open space and restore habitat. My trade and environmental experiences
have shaped the three priorities I want to take to the Seattle Port Commission.
First, cleaning up Puget Sound. Since the Port of Seattle is the largest
owner-operator on the waterfront, it should be a partner in identifying
and funding projects that can clean up our corner of Puget Sound. Second,
cleaning up our traffic mess. Tens of thousands of King County’s
family wage jobs depend on our Port being able to move cargo faster than
other West Coast ports and nothing undermines that more than traffic gridlock.
The Port of Seattle needs to help fix our freight related traffic bottlenecks.
And third, cleaning up the Port. The current commission is dysfunctional.
It focuses on Christmas decorations at the airport instead of working
together to increase trade and jobs. It is also secretive. Last year the
Port Commission met behind closed doors, out of public view, almost 40%
of the time. It’s time to elect Port Commissioners who can work
together, who can focus on creating jobs and who can reform the way the
Port does business. I am Bill Bryant and I am asking for your vote so
that I may clean up Puget Sound, clean up our traffic mess and clean up
the Port of Seattle.
King County Initiative 25
Announcer:
King County Initiative 25 is a proposed ordinance. If approved by voters,
it would place an amendment to the King County charter on next year’s
ballot. That proposed charter amendment would create the position of County
Director of Elections as a non-partisan elective office. If Initiative
25 is adopted, the proposed charter amendment will be placed before voters
in November 2008.
Susan Hutchinson:
Hello, I am Susan Hutchinson and I urge your “yes” vote on
Initiative 25 because we need to restore trust and confidence in King
County elections. Right now the person in charge of conducting King County’s
elections is appointed not elected. Our Elections Director should be accountable
to the voters not beholden to politicians. However, in order to make that
happen, we need to change the King County Charter and that change requires
you to vote “yes” twice. Your first “yes” vote
this November will confirm that we want to change the Charter and officially
place the election’s director question on the ballot next year.
It is a long process but well worth it. Remember the problems this department
has had recently, all the errors and mistakes in the King County election’s
process? In 2005, people finally demanded solutions. I was appointed the
King County independent task force on elections. We unanimously recommended
that voters should elect an Elections Director. Another bi-partisan committee
came to the same conclusion but the County Council has refused to act.
Frustrated by this political log-jam, over 74,000 voters signed Initiative
25 to demand the final voice in this key decision. King County is the
only county in the State which does not elect it’s Director of Elections.
Your “yes” vote this November will bring us one step closer
to joining every other county in Washington state. Only with your “yes”
vote can we begin the process to restore voters’ trust in this most
important function of government, the counting of our votes. Initiative
25 is supported by Secretary of State, Sam Reed, a Republican and State
Auditor, Brian Sontag, a Democrat. Join me and thousands of your neighbors,
vote “yes” on Initiative 25. Thank you.
Virginia Gundby:
Hello, I am Virginia Gundby, a former King County freeholder.
Our committee, including the League of Women Voters, urges rejection of
the County Initiative 25. County voters approved our county home rule
charter in 1967. A successful grassroots campaign, helped remove the archaic
three commissioner form and modernized King County with new checks and
balances. An executive council forum has oversight, transparency and fiscal
accountability. With nearly 1 million voters, metro King County, like
Los Angeles and San Diego, has an appointed Election’s Director.
We do support elections for positions when representation is the primary
importance. An appointed elections director is accountable to the elected
county executive, confirmed by the County Council and can be immediately
replaced for poor job performance. An elected one can fail and voters
must wait up to four years to remove. The County Council regularly reviews
the elections department’s performance through their oversight of
elections as part of their approval of the executive budget too. The head
of elections must be immune from campaigning and fundraising to gain the
office. A reminder: you too can propose charter changes now to the 2007,
2008 Charter Review Commission’s 10 year review. Check out their
website. The County Freeholders and the League of Women Voters agree that
in home rural counties number one policy makers should be elected by their
people whose interest they represent. Professional, experienced public
managers should be appointed and accountable to an elected official. Vote
“no” Initiative 25 and continue moving King County into the
21st century.
King County Proposition No. 1
Announcer:
King County Proposition #1 is for Medic One and emergency medical services.
This measure would fund Medic One in King County for 6 years. It replaces
an expiring property tax levy to continue funding of Medic One. It would
authorize a rate of $.30 or less per thousand of assessed valuation.
Greg Markley:
Hi, my name is Greg Markley and I am a fire fighter here in King
County. I am proud to support King County Proposition #1 and the Yes Medic
One campaign. I am joined by thousands of fire fighters, paramedics, elected
officials and community activists who ask for your support of King County
Proposition #1 and Medic One. The Medic One system provides an internationally
renowned regional service to the citizens of Seattle and King County.
Responding in an area of 2,134 square miles and serving a population of
nearly 1.8 million residents. The Medic One system operates in a coordinated
partnership between King County, cities, fire departments and others providing
the highest quality pre-hospital medical care. King County voters have
supported Medic One by passing levies for nearly 30 years. Medic One saves
lives. Medic One is recognized as one of the best emergency medical services
in the world. Because of Medic One, cardiac arrest victims here in King
County are three times more likely to survive, the highest survival rate
anywhere in the world. The Medic One levy is not a new tax. It is the
renewal of an existing program that provides critical emergency services
for all of King County, responding to a call for help every three minutes.
If Proposition #1 fails, Medic One may loose it’s regional coordination,
coverage and effectiveness. Consider the coordination of 31 different
fire departments and 26 different paramedic units that participate as
emergency service providers. We all depend on Medic One to be there when
we need it. Now it is our turn to be there for Medic One. Renew our commitment,
vote “yes” for Medic One. Vote “yes” for King
County Proposition #1. Thank you.
Sound Transit and RTID Proposition No.
1
Announcer:
The Regional Roads and Transit System Proposition is from Sound Transit
and the Regional Transportation Investment District Planning Committee.
Sound Transit is a regional transit authority that currently provides
a regional system of commuter rail, express bus and light rail service.
The proposed Regional Transportation Investment District or RTID would
provide regional road and bridge improvements. The map on your screen
shows the areas of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties served by Sound
Transit and the proposed RTID. Proposition #1 asks voters for approval
of a regional rail and transit system linking Lynnwood, Shoreline, Northgate,
Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Sea-Tac airport, Kent, Federal Way and Tacoma
as described in the Sound Transit 2 plan. This system would be financed
through existing taxes approved by voters in 1996 and an additional sales
and use tax of up to 5 tenths of 1 percent imposed by Sound Transit. Proposition
#1 also asks voters for approval to form and authorize a regional transportation
investment district to implement and invest in improving the regional
transportation system. It would do this by replacing vulnerable bridges,
improving safety and increasing capacity on state and local roads as described
in the RTID plan titled, “Moving Forward Together, a Blueprint for
Progress - King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.” This work would
be financed by a sales and use tax of 1 tenth of 1 percent and a motor
vehicle excise tax of 8 tenths of 1 percent. You can find the map detailing
the proposed roads and transit projects in your printed voter’s
pamphlet. The State Legislature required both proposals to appear in this
single ballot proposition.
Mary McCumber:
Yes on Roads and Transit. Traffic problems in the Puget Sound region are
bad and getting worse. It’s time to act. Roads and Transit is a
comprehensive balanced approach to solving the problem. Addressing major
choke points and building a fast, safe and reliable light rail system
across the region will help lift people out of congestion and make it
easier to live and do business here. Roads and Transit will build 50 miles
of light rail connecting Seattle to Tacoma, Lynwood and the Eastside through
Federal Way, Des Moines, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Redmond, Northgate,
Shoreline and Mountlake Terrace. The package also provides funding for
more bus service, 12,000 new Park & Ride spaces, the 1st Hill Street
Car and new bike lanes and new HOV lanes throughout the region. Funding
is also provided to replace vulnerable bridges, including the 520 bridge,
Spokane Street viaduct and South Park bridge. By passing the Roads and
Transit proposition we will address road improvements that includes the
Mercer mess in Seattle, the 405/I-67 interchange in Renton and the Federal
Way triangle at I-5/Highway 18.
I also funded our new lanes on I-5 in South King County and along 405
between Renton and Bellevue. Roads and Transit will keep our economy moving
by allowing goods and services to move more freely throughout the region.
Less congestion also allows first responders to get to emergencies more
quickly.
Join a broad coalition of business, labor and environmental leaders
from across the region in voting “yes.” For more information
and a full listing of projects in your area visit www.yesonroadsandtransits.org.
Mike O'Brien:
The Sierra Club opposes Proposition #1 because it will make global
warming worse. Billions of dollars spent on 150 miles of new highways
and roads will swamp any benefits of transit. We know we need to reduce
greenhouse gases 80% by the year 2050. Not to stop global warming, but
to minimize the catastrophic effects of it. Is this really the right time
to be building all these new roads and locking us into years and years
of pollution?
Proposition #1 also relies on increasing regressive taxes. The sales
tax will increase to 10% in areas, and the car tab tax nearly triples.
Is it fair that someone who doesn’t even own a car is being taxed
to expand our highway system? We know we can’t build our way out
of congestion. It just does not work. Climate change demands smarter solutions,
like congestion pricing, not massive new taxes for new roads. The Sierra
Club urges you to vote “now” on Proposition #1. Tell our leaders
to come up with transportation solutions that will reduce greenhouse gasses,
not make things worse. Thanks.
Will Knedlik:
While Sound Transit appointed me to oppose primarily the Light Rail portion
of this package, I agree with virtually everything the Sierra Club said.
At $157 billion over 50 years, this is the largest local option tax increase
in the history of the United States. It will cost each family about $2,000
a year as opposed to the $150 that Sound Transit misleadingly suggests,
by backdating its costs into $2,006. At $111,000 per family in tax liability
it will be the most expensive light rail ride of all time. Global warming
will be made worse because tunneling for the light rail tunnel will have
a 50-80 year payback and we will have reached the tipping point before
this becomes carbon neutral. This is a highly regressive tax and furthermore
that leaves unfixed 33 of 34 unsafe bridges. This is a disaster in every
way. Listen to the Sierra Club. Vote “no.”
Announcer:
Thanks for joining us for this Video Voter’s Guide for the November
general election. These candidates’ statements were taped at the
studios of the Seattle Channel with post production services by King County
Television. Thanks for watching. And remember to vote on November 6th.
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