Showing posts with label candidates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candidates. Show all posts

Shoreline City Council candidate statement: Betsy Robertson Pos #6

Friday, November 3, 2023

Betsy Robertson, Pos #6
Shoreline City Council
Betsy Robertson, incumbent, is running unopposed for Position #6 on the Shoreline City Council.
Serving on the Shoreline City Council has been one of the most important responsibilities of my life. Challenging and rewarding in (almost) equal measures. 

I want to thank the voters who elected me four years ago and the previous council members who appointed me prior to that. 

I ran as an advocate for our Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, and on that measure alone I am overwhelmingly proud of what we have accomplished together. I helmed the campaign to pass our Parks Bond in 2021 with the help of friends and fellow community leaders. 

This fall, the first of those projects began and by Summer of 2024, most should be complete. I look forward to walking and playing in the new spaces, loving and sharing them with you.
 
I am also proud of the direction Shoreline is heading, creating neighborhoods with amenities you can walk or bike to safely. We're working hard to create a community where everyone is welcome, invited to participate and appreciated for the diversity of thought and experience they bring. There will always be more work to do, but I remain one of the many public servants in our city committed to that goal.

And to everyone who has wondered why none of this is in the voters' pamphlet? I sincerely apologize. I have been teased six ways from Sunday by those who know me. Criticized by those who don't. I deserve it all. It certainly was not my intention. I missed the deadline. It's as simple as that. I got distracted by life and my day job - and missed it! BIG mistake.

Thank you for this opportunity to share a few thoughts - and however you vote, the most important thing is TO vote. Participation in the process is so important. Please return your ballot by Tuesday!


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Shoreline City Council candidate for Position 6: Betsy Robertson Q/A

Betsy Robertson, Shoreline City Council Pos #6
Oliver Moffat sent the same questions to all candidates for the Shoreline City Council. 

Betsy Robertson, incumbent, is running unopposed for Position 6. Her candidate statement is published separately here.

Fatal drug and alcohol overdoses are at an all time high in our city. What will you do about this public health crisis?

Continue to support programs that make services and programs available to individuals and families throughout the city. I believe social services and community building programs can make a big difference when we reach/support people at all stages of life and development, especially early on. I also will continue to support our police and RACR programs to ensure they have resources to tackle their work and these challenges appropriately.
 
Shoreline lacks a walkable downtown and gathering area. What can be done?

Instead of a single, centralized space, I support the idea of multiple neighborhoods having thriving, walkable business districts. North City and Ridgecrest are two of the best examples. 

How do you plan to involve all of Shorelines residents in decision making? Name specific actions you will take to ensure equity, inclusion and social justice in our city?

The city is actively working to become anti-racist in all of its operational facets. Training and conversations are ongoing and I will continue to be part of them. CityWise and CityLearn are two programs that are available to members of the community and I strongly encourage individuals to attend. De-mystifying the work and processes involved with governing is an important step. 

How will you help our unhoused neighbors? How will you improve housing affordability?

I was an advocate for and continue to support the Oaks facility in Shoreline. I am the council representative on the North King County Coalition on Homelessness, actively working on short and long-term solutions, including a cold-weather shelter for the upcoming season. I am co-sponsoring a council discussion on increasing tenant protections in Shoreline and will also continue to support programs that help people on the edge of homelessness, stay housed. 

Some residents are concerned about traffic, parking and transportation in Shoreline. What will you do?

I share those concerns! I believe we are at a point where traffic cameras should be considered in school zones near major intersections. So far, I don't have enough support from fellow councilmembers to have that conversation, but I will keep asking. In the meantime, we are working to make our community more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly so that more people feel comfortable getting out of their cars.

Our climate is getting warmer and dryer. What does the city need to do to prepare for the future in the face of a changing climate?

Stick to the goals laid out in the Climate Action Plan. And continue to encourage individuals to do be informed and do their part as well. 

Some Shoreline residents are concerned about gun violence and crime in our city. What will you do to help our neighbors feel safe?

I have heard this as well, particularly from business owners along the Aurora corridor, and immediately connected with our police chief and economic development program manager to discuss the steps available/possible to support. I also asked for the Council goals to be amended to include safety concerns as one of our challenges with business retention. 

How will you improve arts and culture in Shoreline?

I led the campaign to pass our most recent Parks Bond, which included $1 million specifically for public art. 

What questions have I forgotten to ask you?

Why didn't I have a statement in the Voters' Pamphlet?  (UGH!) I was consumed by life and my day-job and completely missed the deadline. I sincerely apologize to the voters. 


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Q/A with candidate for Shoreline Council Pos #4: Doris McConnell

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Doris McConnell
On behalf of the Shoreline Area News, Oliver Moffat sent a set of questions to both candidates for Shoreline City Council Pos. #4. 

Here are the responses from incumbent Doris McConnell:

Fatal drug and alcohol overdoses are at an all-time high in our city. What will you do about this public health crisis?

The city council did not support clinics in our city that users could go to for their fix. This was a result of the strong public criticisms received. However, short of that, our city heavily funds Human Services and equips our police force to deal with these situations immediately.

Shoreline lacks a walkable downtown and gathering area. What can be done?

Since Shoreline doesn’t have just one walkable area with businesses/shops/residents, I have been a part of and sometimes an early proponent of redesigning or rezoning an area to increase walkability and gathering:

As part of the city council, and particularly because I believe we need to be able to get out of our cars and use more sustainable modes of transportation, I was an early proponent of the Sears/Central Market site to be better utilized for shopping and a gathering place. I worked with many past Economic Development Directors to encourage them to look at ways we can improve what is on that site. The city needed to think outside the box to make this large acreage more desirable to its citizens. I am proud of these conversations as they eventually started conversations which then started the process of changes for that large site. The first move was for the city council to declare it an “economic blight” and that started all the work that eventually has new housing and businesses coming soon, 
Shoreline Place: https://www.shorelinewa.gov/business/aurora-square-community-renewal-area

The improvements in the Town Center increases walkability and a gathering area (park/sidewalks/art pieces along the trail) which was a result of all the city council action on zoning and approving budget to improve that open space.

Another recent sidewalk project to increase safety walk to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park which was reassessed for the final design based on input from the neighbors as well as myself: https://www.shorelinewa.gov/government/projects-initiatives/sidewalks/new-sidewalks-project-20th-avenue-nw-nw-190th-nw-195th-street

The common thread in all these improvements is that I am a collaborative member of the past 16 years of city councils and therefore since my time on the council, the city has activated and completed many projects that have had huge public support. The final decisions are made as a result of collaboration amongst all of us and with the number of incumbents on the council, there is a wealth of experience and knowledge we bring to every discussion. With three seats in 2021 that were vacated, there was a large turnover and therefore if you look to our neighboring jurisdictions, when you have a majority of a governing body that are all inexperienced, often decisions made by that body are decisions regretted by the public.

How do you plan to involve all of Shorelines residents in decision making? Name specific actions you will take to ensure equity, inclusion and social justice in our city?

Our council supports the annual survey which reaches out to random people over the broad categories in our population. Also, as a woman of a minority group, I have actively and behind the scenes helped to promote and groom future leadership in our region as well as nationally. We need to have all groups at the table where there are decisions to be made. Our council is a good reflection of the diversity in our city but individually, we can all do our part to engage people in decision making. This starts at our smaller organizations in our communities as this is often where public servants develop their skills.

How will you help our unhoused neighbors? How will you improve housing affordability?

The city has done more than our adjoining cities in housing vulnerable people. Although I voted to not move on approving the Oaks Shelter, it was because the council was not thinking about guardrails/requirements for the Shelter which would calm fears in the surrounding neighborhoods. Change is difficult for those who see a possible threat. I knew the Shelter would pass and was ok with this outcome, but two councilmembers (CM Chang and myself) submitted amendments for the shelter in order for it be accountable to the public and the neighborhood. Most of those amendments were passed by the city council. Since the vote, I have been very supportive of the shelter’s continued success.

Finally, I volunteered last winter for the Severe Weather Shelter which has been in existence for several years. This is a necessary program for the homeless. This coming winter NUHSA and the city will have a more permanent solution for this situation. The council also permitted the construction of housing for our vulnerable population (being constructed on Aurora Ave near Costco). I was on the Hopelink Board of Directors as well as the unhoused and vulnerable population has always been something I have been involved with.

Some residents are concerned about traffic, parking and transportation in Shoreline. What will you do?

The coming of two light rail stations will significantly help traffic along our streets and freeways. As a councilmember, I was involved in all the early discussions and work getting two stations in our city. This is one of my proudest accomplishments but individually, as a member of Seashore Transportation Forum, I have fought for more garage parking at those stations while Sound Transit reduces spots for budgetary reasons. My goal was to get people out of their cars and using light rail which will reduce their carbon footprint. I am also acutely aware and concerned that higher density developments may increase parking off the street and have asked a staff member to come to us when the problem first arises so we can institute change in reaction to the growing problem. We are putting more bike lanes throughout our city roads as well as adding or repairing sidewalks as we have funding which will improve the flow of people and cars. These are significant expenses that we must consider funding as we inherited a horrible and aging infrastructure for roads when we voted to become a city from unincorporated King County, which never addressed bicyclists and pedestrians.

Our climate is getting warmer and dryer. What does the city need to do to prepare for the future in the face of a changing climate?

This city council has unanimously declared Climate Change as a crisis for our region, as well as in our world. Increasing density of housing to prepare for increased population in our region, planting more trees and at the same time saving trees where possible will help control heat. Sidewalk trees that are destroying the walk tragically are being removed but need to for walkable sidewalks. The city has numerous program to encourage better storm water infiltration and continue to create more programs such as these: https://www.shorelinewa.gov/government/projects-initiatives/ne-148th-street-infiltration-facilities-project

Individually, I have supported supporting the use of alternative vehicle which will reduce fossil fuel consumption as I have owned several generations of hybrid vehicles. As a councilmember, we supported building a new city hall that used sustainable resources as well as making it more energy efficient. At both levels of our city hall garages, we have EV charging stations and at the time, it was a relatively new concept.

Some Shoreline residents are concerned about gun violence and crime in our city. What will you do to help our neighbors feel safe?

We have a healthy police force budget but recruiting all over the country has been dismal. We have been told by our Police Chief that officers want to work in Shoreline, however the pipeline of recruitment is small because of years of the public/police relationships have taken a beating and many chose to go into a different line of work. Cities are initiating hiring incentives as well as better pay.

The number of guns in our country is an American problem…

How will you improve arts and culture in Shoreline?

I and the city council continue to support the arts by keeping a 1% budget for the creation of art projects with a new city project. We are fully supported by our citizens although often have a robust discussion on the choices that are put in place. Shoreline also support ShoreLake Arts in their budget, and I personally attend as many of their auctions as possible.

What questions have I forgotten to ask you?

When I decided to challenge the incumbent in position 4 back in 2007, it was because the city council was divisive and often disrespectful of the city manager and staff. It was an embarrassment to our citizens, but no one wanted to run against this person. I am of the personality that when something needs to be improved, I do not criticize but join in to assist in making needed improvements. I also spend more time than any other city councilmembers in grooming new leadership. I will be doing this at an intense capacity as I am planning to retire after this term. A healthy organization always needs to spend a quantity of time bringing in qualified new leadership.

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Q/A with candidate for Shoreline Council Pos #4: Annette Ademasu

Annette Ademasu
On behalf of the Shoreline Area News, Oliver Moffat sent a set of questions to both candidates for Shoreline City Council Pos. #4. 

Here are the responses from challenger Annette Ademasu:

Fatal drug and alcohol overdoses are at an all-time high in our city. What will you do about this public health crisis? 

From my understanding and life experience I know drug overdoses are part of a bigger problem which affects all in our community, that is our healthcare crisis. The opioid crisis and substance use disorder requires not just isolated targeted interventions but a holistic interprofessional collaboration with integrated coordinated care. Access to quality care services and resources benefits all, not the few. The health care crisis should not be seen as an individual problem but a community problem. Addressing overdoses involves collaboration between professionals, agencies, and regions. The medically underserved populations in Shoreline rely on the public health system which has been suffering from budget cuts over the years, and decisions will be made whether or not to close some of the public health clinics in King County by 2025. I will fight for individuals who rely on public health by advocating for equity in a public health system that cares for all. I support increased funding for our integrated public health clinics and programs, to both treat and prevent the overdose crisis.

Shoreline lacks a walkable downtown and gathering area. What can be done? 

While door knocking for my campaign, residents have spoken about a need for Shoreline to have gathering spaces with restaurants, retail, and activities. City planners have mentioned over the years that Shoreline Place might act as a “downtown” on the west side. New ground floor commercial space in North City could be a hub on the east side. Another area to increase walkability would be to create a pocket park on Firlands (N 185th to 192nd) in Shoreline's "pioneer district" with historical significance. I will ensure our Economic Development Program Mgr. Nathan Daum and staff have the tools to achieve agreed upon goals. I support the new building ground floor amendments that recently passed, this is a positive step for future retail spaces. I will work to ensure small business access to space is a priority in order to have a thriving community for residents and small businesses. 

How do you plan to involve all of Shorelines residents in decision making? Name specific actions you will take to ensure equity, inclusion and social justice in our city?

I am approachable, a patient listener, and I care about people. Kindness goes a long way in people feeling welcome and stepping forward with concerns. Most of my professional work has been spent in public service and I work to ensure the spaces and systems I work in are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. I am a member of an anti-racist organization in Shoreline and will continue to be engaged in community outreach efforts. To be responsive as a Council member I will respond within 3 business days to emails and phone calls. I will go to gatherings organized by social justice leaders in our community, build relationships, and keep lines of communication open.

How will you help our unhoused neighbors? How will you improve housing affordability? 

I became a single parent when our twins were two years old. We lived in a small 1-bedroom duplex on a limited income for 4 years and later bought a home in Shoreline. Housing issues are close to my heart and I made the choice to be an affordable housing landlord. For our houseless neighbors, I am excited to see partnerships like St Margaret’s Place to open at Aurora and 198th which will help. Shoreline has limited affordable housing and the new apartment rental rates are very high; too much for our seniors, not large enough and expensive for young families. Shoreline has many 1- and 2-bedroom apartments in the works. Residents are asking for more 3-bedroom options with green space. I will explore options for first time home buyer programs with experienced affordable housing entities like non-profit developers, Habitat for Humanity, Land Trusts, etc. Another possibility I am exploring, is utilizing monies in green building from the federal Inflation Reduction Act to lessen the cost of affordable homes and remodels (green affordable housing). I will work with the expanding King County affordable housing program within Shoreline and help residents know how this program works. I agree, too many people need affordable housing and I will work towards more options. 

Some residents are concerned about traffic, parking and transportation in Shoreline. What will you do? 

Keeping lines of communication open and building relationships between Sound Transit, Shoreline planners, and residents is paramount, when deciding parking code requirements in new buildings. I am listening to neighbors who are concerned about large apartment residents parking along residential streets, and not having access in front of their homes. With our changing climate, we need to move toward more transit, car sharing, etc. to lessen the impact on our environment. New large apartments could provide incentives for their residents with ORCA cards and discounts on car sharing to lessen the need for everyone to have a vehicle.
 
Our climate is getting warmer and dryer. What does the city need to do to prepare for the future in the face of a changing climate? 

I have a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology with over 40 years of critical thinking and scientific analysis. My goal is to see Shoreline’s infrastructure resilient to our changing climate. Addressing climate change intersects housing, health, and transportation. Taking action on protection of urban tree canopy ecosystems, our aquifer, and critical areas like salmon streams. High intensity rain events with flooding are becoming more frequent, our tree ecosystems and more green spaces will lessen this impact. More building and less tree canopy are causing a heat island effect. When we cut our tree canopy and create more impervious surfaces, we need large expensive stormwater infrastructure to handle all the rainwater, which then goes to the sea, instead of replenishing our aquifer. Will we have enough snowmelt into our watersheds for drinking water 20 years from now? I am forward thinking; I will engage with experts to explore solutions. 

Some Shoreline residents are concerned about gun violence and crime in our city. What will you do to help our neighbors feel safe?

My Elect Annette campaign has been awarded the 2023 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. Preventing gun deaths is a public health emergency. It is the second leading cause of death for children, both by homicide and suicide. I will partner with programs in King Co., such as firearm return programs, education on extreme risk protection orders, etc. to prevent gun deaths. Gun violence is now a national epidemic and in King County it is responsible for the murder and suicide of over 40,000 lives per year; let’s work together for a safe environment. 

How will you improve arts and culture in Shoreline?

I am a science nerd. To have balance, I envelope the arts into my life. Where would I be without the musicians, artists, writers, poets, playwrights, actors, etc. Let’s ensure the arts are spread equally around Shoreline. How do artists find affordable living here in Shoreline? Is Shoreline a welcoming place for the arts? Let’s get to work.

What questions have I forgotten to ask you?

During the last 5 months, I have knocked on thousands of doors, spoken with Shoreline residents, and listened to their issues. I share the same concerns. I am concerned by all of the issues addressed above. I am concerned by threats to small business, the health of our seniors, and racial inequity. I have the energy and the capability to work with the existing Council as we improve the life of residents in Shoreline. 


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Paula Goode Candidate for LFP Council Position #6

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Paula Goode, candidate for LFP
Council Position #6
I’m Paula Goode, running for LFP Council. My family moved here for the community and beauty. We renovated the historic Sheridan Market as a labor of love, turning it into a music/community space. 

We updated the connected apartments, providing affordable, below market rentals. We love living along a stream among old growth trees and have become environmental advocates in our neighborhood.

I am deeply committed to preserving LFP’s special quality of life. As a cofounder of Citizens Organized to Rethink Expansion of 522, we turned out two of the most attended citizen comment sessions in LFP history. 

I will reach out, listen, and be an effective, active Council member representing you and your concerns.

I know how to work collaboratively to get things done. My background, knowledge, and experience is in business, working with city codes and managing budgets. 

I have attended many Council, Planning Commission, and other public meetings, so I understand the issues that impact our city.

Sound Transit Plans

ST’s current design would forever alter our environment and over 100 residences. I am advocating BRT design changes and mitigation for a less destructive, costly design.

Housing Affordability

Growth requires strategic thinking and innovative approaches that encourage young families to move here and long-time citizens to stay. I will advocate for practical affordability and housing diversity that fits our LFP.

Tree, Streams, Ravines

Our tree canopy provides climate change benefits, cooling in summer and warmth in winter, and preserving city infrastructure. I will work to protect our tree canopy and streams, and encourage conservation by our residents.

Smart Budgeting

I will ensure sure our budget is sound and provides for public safety and other essential services. I support securing grant funds for the new Lakefront Park and other opportunities.

I ask for your vote!

Paula Goode 

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Stephanie Angelis Candidate for LFP Council Position #6

Stephanie Angelis, candidate for
LFP council position 6
My name is Stephanie Angelis, I moved to Lake Forest Park to be surrounded by the vibrant, healthy ecosystem. With coming changes, Lake Forest Park can still retain its character for decades to come. 

With my background in environmental sciences and community outreach programs, I am uniquely qualified to ensure our community voice is prioritized through meaningful outreach.

I am here to listen, and represent the diverse needs of all of our residents, from Ballinger to Brier, and Kenmore to Seattle. I plan to engage everyone with the goal of reaching equitable outcomes where no one feels their voice is left unheard. 

If I am elected for Lake Forest Park city council position 6, I will prioritize the implementation of the waterfront park.

I believe this park will invigorate our waterfront, invite residents and visitors to join together and support a thriving town center. On city council, I will advocate for a small business incubator to increase outreach to potential business owners, and help to build future revenue sources.

I would like LFP to encourage university capstone and graduate projects to capture valuable semi-professional volunteer hours. Students would be largely autonomous and require college faculty management partners; the City staff would provide resident and municipal requests for volunteer research, hard-work and documentation. These Research Projects can run multiple years if future students take up the mantle, but they often have a planned deliverable at a one-year conclusion.

I will always strive to think outside of the box and bring in outside assistance wherever possible. Vote for me to be represented by a measured, Democrat voice who will stand up for a practical future vision of Lake Forest Park. I am happy to work with my colleagues, negotiate with all parties and demonstrate a willingness to listen and continuously learn.
THANK YOU!

Best Regards,
Stephanie Angelis
206-353-0614
StephanieAngelisforLFP@gmail.com


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Briarcrest candidate forum focused on the only contested Shoreline City Council position

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

By Pam Cross

November 7, 2023, Election Day, is just two weeks away.

Voters Pamphlets have been mailed and ballots are ready to be completed and deposited in a ballot drop box or put in the mail (no postage required). 

There is only one contested seat on the Shoreline City Council. The other candidates - Keith Scully and Betsy Robertson - are unopposed.

At the recent Candidate Forum sponsored by the Briarcrest Neighborhood Association, we had the opportunity to hear from Councilmember Doris Fujioka McConnell, who is running for the seat that she has held since 2007, and the challenger, Annette Ademasu, who hopes to bring a new perspective to the council.

Both Annette and Doris are well educated, intelligent women who have a passion for Shoreline. They appear to share similar goals for the city and both feel strongly about a Council that will exchange ideas and work together to accomplish those goals.

Each candidate gave a one-minute introductory comment. You can read similar statements they prepared for the Voters Pamphlet.

Then each individually answered questions proposed by the Neighborhood Association members. Annette was scheduled to go first.

Annette Ademasu
Screenshot from video

Annette
is eager to contribute her knowledge of the environment and ecosystems to address how to retain climate resilience while partnering with developers to work with nature rather than against it. She realizes not every tree can be saved. But she would like to see more effort towards alternative methods of building design and sidewalk materials so we can avoid cutting down healthy trees.

Annette believes that all housing, whether subsidized, multifamily or  cottage homes should be livable, humane and attractive. All people need fresh air, light, and access to adjacent outside space. If an occupant just wants to sit outside for a few minutes they don’t want to walk to a park or a green area at the end of the complex. We used to build in a “U” shape that made that possible. But current multifamily housing is built in squares or rectangles with diminished access to a windows and adjacent outside space. 

Doris McConnell
Screenshot from BNA video
Doris emphasized her experience as a long time member of the Shoreline Council and her institutional/historical value as a mentor to new councilmembers. She offers her time to provide them with background on issues they may be somewhat unfamiliar with. 

Doris talked about how intertwined some topics of discussion are. Needing access to light rail, for example, required nearby housing. That also included rezoning, building heights, first story retail, recognizing city growth that is coming whether we like it or not. She believes we have achieved the growth goals they established and now it’s “build out” time.

Video of BNA meeting here - candidate forum begins about 27 minutes in, after the BNA business meeting.

Learn about the candidates and make your vote count.

Doris McConnell
206.940.1365
doris.yumi.mcconnell@gmail.com
www.DorisMcConnell.com

Annette Ademasu
206.271.6103
ElectAnnette2023@gmail.com
www.ElectAnnette.org

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Ellyn Saunders Candidate for LFP Council position #4

Monday, October 23, 2023

Ellyn Saunders and family

Hello, I’m Ellyn Saunders and I’ve lived in Lake Forest Park for 17 years, with my husband Brian. We raised our twins here, who attended Brookside, Kellogg and Shorecrest.

This is my first time running for a political position and although I don’t have the experience as a politician, I DO have 25 years’ experience as a registered nurse, playing a key role as advocate, voice and representative for my patients.

I decided to run for city council because I am now in a position in my life to be a voice and advocate for the people of Lake Forest Park. There are several issues that need to be addressed and I would very much like to be part of that decision making process, to be involved and present in the community and help to build a bridge to inclusiveness. 

The main issues that are important to myself and to many citizens I’ve spoken to are:
  • affordable and equitable housing,
  • safer streets for pedestrians and bicyclists,
  • mental health awareness and services
  • protect our trees and environment
I am an active community volunteer with the arts, education, Stewardship Foundation, and have served on the PTA Board of Directors.

I was raised by parents who believed in the value of integrity, dependability and responsibility. I strive to live each day by these principles. If elected to be your city council member, I will bring with me these values and use these principles as your community voice, representing each and every one of the citizens of Lake Forest Park and this wonderful city I feel honored to be a part of.

I welcome you to visit my website to learn more about me: Ellyn4LFPcity.com

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Tom French Candidate for Mayor of Lake Forest Park

Tom French and family
Greetings all.

I am Tom French, candidate for Mayor of LFP. I am an active Councilmember, now serving as Deputy Mayor, Council Chair, and Chair of Budget Committee. I am a lifelong community member and supporter of our schools, now raising my young daughter here.

For years, I have been a leader advocating for our community, environment, and quality of life. When Town Center faced active proposals for 700-1000 housing units, threatening LFP’s community hub and small businesses, I listened to you and took action. 

I spearheaded and established a moratorium for that development. The result was a balanced plan instead, preserving our community and green spaces while allowing reasonable density.

I’ve advocated for other successful environmental efforts, including conservation of our tree canopy and streams, and facilitated funding for our new lakefront park. 

I managed LFP finances through the turbulent pandemic period, channeling federal funds to community partners/businesses. 

I am a passionate advocate for sidewalks and pedestrian safety. I am currently overseeing efforts for lower SR522 speed limits and challenging Sound Transit to listen and downscale their massive concrete and asphalt designs.

I want to step up and provide fresh, active leadership as your Mayor. It’s time for a change, as LFP faces new challenges: equity and tolerance, affordable housing, climate action, transit development, public safety, and fiscal stability.

I will be a leader who reaches out to you, listens to you, and takes meaningful action for our community and quality of life. I will be a leader with skill and vision, dedicated to positioning LFP for the future that my daughter and your children will see.

I’m endorsed by King County and 1st District Democrats, LFP community leaders, current and former council members, and many neighbors. Please vote for me by November 7.

Sincerely,
Tom French

www.electtomfrench.com
electtomfrench@gmail.com


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Candidates for Shoreline School Board answer questions at public forum October 16, 2023

Thursday, October 19, 2023

School board candidates
Photo by Mike Remarcke

By Mike Remarcke

The Shoreline PTA Council, representing 15 PTA’s in the Shoreline School District, hosted a candidate forum for those running for the Shoreline School Board.

The event was held at the Shoreline Center on Monday night, October 16, 2023. The moderator was from the League of Women Voters, volunteers manned the timers and approximately 40 concerned citizens attended.

Candidates running for board positions participated in the forum.
  • District No. 1 Meghan Jernigan - Unopposed incumbent
  • District No. 5 Sara Betnel - Unopposed incumbent
  • District No. 4 Sylvia Gil versus Hazim Ghanim (open seat)

Mehgan Jernigan began by introducing herself as an active board member since 2019. As a Native American mother of two in the school system, she sees firsthand some of the gaps in opportunities. She believes we need diverse voices to unlock the district’s full potential and meet the educational needs of all our students. She is running unopposed.

Sara Betnel was also sworn in to office in 2019. Her goal is to listen, learn, and work to improve student experience, engagement, and outcomes in every Shoreline school. She is also unopposed.

Hazim Ghanim lives in Shoreline and has a daughter in the second grade. He believes in the power of a diverse and inclusive school environment. He believes he can infuse a fresh perspective into the board and elevate the voices of those who are underrepresented. He is an Engineering Manager at Boeing.

Silvia Gil stated that equity is very important in the school district and must not be overshadowed by budget issues causing disparities within the community. She also has a child in the school system, is a former teacher, and now is the Director of Integrated Programs, Community Health Plans of Washington.

Candidates responded to a set of predetermined questions as well as a few spontaneous questions from the audience. 

Note: We will focus on the District No.4 race between Hazim Ghanim and Silvia Gil, as the other two candidates are running unopposed.

QUESTION: What experience do you have which prepares you to be an effective leader that values equity and social justice?
  • HG- He is involved in the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) at the Boeing Co. which spearheads programs that promote these concepts.
  • SG – She is involved with the data gathering and analysis of programs that value the sense of belonging and equity and has roles in advocacy, strategy and leadership at CHPW.  
QUESTION: How do you see easing the issues of mental health in the school system?
  • All of the candidates agreed that this is an issue that needs to be closely monitored. It is an issue that teachers need training in spotting troubles, along with families, with ways to communicate with each other. More counselors are needed and more outside resources that can be called on. Once again, the issue of inclusion and having a healthy environment at the school level can reduce the issues of mental health. When kids feel accepted and safe, mental health issues can be held in check.
QUESTION: What is your view of the current budget challenges? Is increasing enrollment an option?
  • SG - She would like to learn and understand the budget process, learn and review the costs, understand the unintended consequences of cuts and do deep reviews at the end of each year.
  • HG – From his budgeting experience at work, he would deeply scrutinize the budget, review and fully fund the reserves, and make sure all monies from other sources, such as state and federal are received and utilized.
  • MJ and SB – They both fully understand the sources of funding and want to maximize potential and also find and maximize other sources to enhance income to the district. They both appreciate the Budget Advisory Team work on budget issues.
The question of increasing enrollment to get more state funds came up for discussion. 
  • The group agreed that there is no need to go recruiting more students, but to provide the best education and school experience for the students and that in itself will potentially draw other students into the district.
QUESTION: How would you deal with social issues such as bullying and physical/sexual violence?
  • Once again, all of the candidates were aware of and concerned with deviant behavior. All felt that teachers and staff need to be aware of the issues and trained on how to handle events, as with the counseling staff. Parents and the community in large had major roles in minimizing issues and events. Again, providing a safe environment is of utmost importance.
QUESTION: How do you intend to remain current?
  • The two incumbent board members had experience with this subject; the two vying for the position will learn this as they begin to participate on the board. 
  • There are resources in the school system itself including experts in the field. There are plenty of outside educational sources, association sources and agencies that can enhance a board member's understanding of a wide variety of subjects. (This reporter recently heard presentations by two Shoreline School District educators, one on multilingual learners, the other on literacy, at a seminar for the Power of One Volunteers. Both were excellent.)
QUESTION: How will you ensure that the board is accountable and open to the public?
  • First of all, the candidates all called for as much transparency and community involvement as possible. The four candidates discussed all the variety of communication options open to the public. 
  • There is a board website, and school websites. 
  • There is a highly regarded PTA organization at each of the schools. 
  • Board meetings are open to the public including the budget meetings and the Budget Advisory Team meetings. 
  • A weekly newsletter is open to the public by simply signing up. 
  • There are media outlets that report on school events, such as the Shoreline Area News.
QUESTIONS from the audience: Book banning? Free breakfasts? Edwin Pratt?
  • All of the candidates were totally against restriction of learning and diversity by banning books. The concept of banning learning tools is abhorrent. 
  • All the candidates would love to see free breakfasts and lunches, for they all know that good nutrition is most important for learning. The issue is funding. The school district has a couple of schools that have free lunch, but money is needed from the state and the feds.
  • Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center has been a godsend for parents over the years and all the candidates have used the after school care and gave it high marks. It looks like the operation may be turned over to an outside operation. This is an issue that is outside the realm of the schools and the school board and all they can do is support the decision of those that operate the after school center.
A video of the entire forum is posted online HERE

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Reminder: Shoreline School Board candidate forum Monday, October 16, 2023 at the Shoreline Center

Saturday, October 14, 2023

L-R Sara Betnel, Hazim Ghanim, Sylvia Gil, Meghan Jernigan Candidates for Shoreline School Board

Shoreline, WA – September 2023 – Shoreline PTA Council, which represents 15 PTAs at schools throughout the Shoreline School District, will host a Candidate Forum for candidates in the Shoreline School Board election. 

The forum will be held on Monday October 16, 2023 from 7pm to 9pm in the Shoreline Room at the north end of the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

The following candidates have been invited to participate in the forum:
  • Sara Betnel
  • Hazim Ghanim
  • Sylvia Gil
  • Meghan Jernigan

We respectfully request the audience be seated and ready to begin at 7:00pm. The structured forum will be moderated by the League of Women Voters. 

Each set of candidates will be asked the same question. Some questions will be provided to candidates in advance based on input from the community. 

Questions will also be selected from audience members during the event. The forum will be recorded and shared through public posting following the event.

Hosting this Candidate Forum demonstrates Shoreline PTA Council’s commitment to the PTA mission of being a strong advocate for the health, safety, well-being and education of every child. The goal of the forum is to ensure that all voters can make informed choices in November.

The forum is free and community attendance is encouraged. However, distribution of campaign materials, including the carrying of signs, in the building by candidates, volunteers or members of the public is prohibited.

PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. 

Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information about Shoreline PTA Council, visit www.shorelinepta.org

North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) advocates for human services in North King County (NKC) on behalf of its residents and the agencies that serve them through the promotion of partnerships between communities and providers. For more information about North Urban Human Services Alliance, visit https://www.nuhsa.org


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Candidate forum in Lake Forest Park brings a few fireworks

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Story and photo by Mike Remarcke

Monday night, October 9, 2023 at the Lake Forest Park Third Place Commons, the two candidates running for Mayor and several other city council candidates vying for open council positions participated in a well-attended candidate forum event.

The League of Women’s Voters sponsored the event and moderated the proceedings. The event started with a series of set questions, followed by a couple of questions from the audience.

Running for Mayor is the incumbent, Jeff Johnson, who has been Mayor for the last eight years and is looking for a final four to close out his career. Competing against Jeff is Tom French, a recent councilmember who resigned to challenge the existing Mayor.

Other candidates included Ellyn Saunders and Nigel Keiffer running for Council Position #4, Paula Goode and Stephanie Angelis for Council Position #6 and Councilmember Lorri Bodi running unopposed in Council Position #2.

In a nutshell, starting with the Mayor’s race, Jeff Johnson touted his record as Mayor over the eight years, mentioning the upstream culverts project, the waterfront park, his support for the police department diversity and issues dealing with Sound Transit.

He sees safety issues as a continuing challenge as well as budget issues, but sees LFP on a good path. He feels throughout his terms as mayor, the citizens of LFP all feel included and safe in the city. 

Tom French also touted his experience on the council over the years (Deputy Mayor). Some of his key issues are the environment and tree cover, which he sees as an important component of equity. He has expanded the park system in the city. He would like to oversee the actions of mass transit and sees safety on the streets of LFP are a major concern.

If there is a need for more money he would support camera use on highways in the city as a form of city income. He has championed programs to help seniors who want to downsize and yet remain in LFP and for a modest change in zoning to allow for more affordable housing.

Lorri Bodi, running unopposed for Position #4 participated in the form. She is currently on the council and has been deeply involved in the Sound Transit issues, a climate action plan and other pressing issues of the day in the city.

The Position #6 is the most interesting of the races, with Stephanie Angelis running against Paula Goode. Both have similar views on inclusion and diversity. Stephanie supports a program of business incubation to allow for more companies to do business in LFP. She also has ideas regarding options with the single family zoning rules. 

Paula is one of the founders of CORE and has proposed changes to Sound Transit’s route through LFP.  She is opposed to the ST retaining wall and loss of tree cover.

Position #4 has Ellyn Saunders running against Nigel Keiffer. Ellyn has no experience in city government but is looking forward to learning and speaking to residents to find what their ideas and concerns are. She supports safe parks, clean water and air and cheaper housing. 

Her opponent, Nigel Keiffer was the surprise of the event. He attacked city government and taxes at every chance. He called the folks at the table all communists and social engineers. He was against everything. It should be an easy win for Ellyn.

Some of the overall questions concerned the waterfront park. The joke was that Lake Forest Park had lots of Parks and Trees, but no Lake (front). Now they do and the need to develop the property will be the focus. But the biggest problem is there are no places to park! The city is working on that issue. 

Another issue, and all candidates support the concept, is affordable housing and diversity in the city. That is another tough issue in that LFP was developed as a bedroom community years back. With the tree cover, hills and streams, more development will bring other issues. 

A big issue is what can the city do to keep taxes from soaring? All candidates were aware of the issue but had no clear path to solutions, except for one candidate who said taxes should be eliminated!

Finally a 13 year old girl asked what they foresaw LFP looking like in 30 years. All the candidates talked of parks, bike lanes, traffic circles etc. Tom French then used his extra time to answer more in line with his environmental focus, that he hoped to see deer in his yard, fish in the streams and eagles soaring with an occasional bear sighting. That seemed to please the young woman!


Correction: Tom French said he would support cameras on the highways in the city, not city streets. LFP has three highways: SR 104 / Ballinger Way; SR 522 / Bothell Way; NE 145th

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Shoreline School Board Candidate Forum Monday October 16 - questions due by October 6

Thursday, October 5, 2023

School board candidates
l-r Sara Betnel. Hazim Ghanim, Sylvia Gil, Meghan Jernigan

Shoreline PTA Council, which represents 15 PTAs at schools throughout the Shoreline School District, will host a Candidate Forum for candidates in the Shoreline School Board election. 

The forum will be held on Monday October 16, 2023 from 7pm to 9pm in the Shoreline Room at Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

The following candidates have been invited to participate in the forum:

We respectfully request the audience be seated and ready to begin at 7:00pm. The structured forum will be moderated by the League of Women Voters. 

Each set of candidates will be asked the same question. Some questions will be provided to candidates in advance based on input from the community. 

To submit questions for consideration, fill out the online Google Form by 9pm Friday October 6th.

Questions will also be selected from audience members during the event. The forum will be recorded and shared through public posting following the event.

Hosting this Candidate Forum demonstrates Shoreline PTA Council commitment to the PTA mission of being a strong advocate for the health, safety, well-being and education of every child. The goal of the forum is to ensure that all voters can make informed choices in November.

The forum is free and community attendance is encouraged. However, distribution of campaign materials, including the carrying of signs, in the building by candidates, volunteers or members of the public is prohibited.

PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. 

Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. More information about Shoreline PTA Council here. 

North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) advocates for human services in North King County (NKC) on behalf of its residents and the agencies that serve them through the promotion of partnerships between communities and providers. Information about North Urban Human Services Alliance here

Shoreline PTA Council has created a landing page for the event with updates, links to candidate information, and the opportunity to submit your questions in advance.


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Lake Forest Park Mayor and City Council Candidate Forum Monday at Third Place Commons

Lake Forest Park Mayor and City Council Candidate Forum

Monday October 9, 2023 from 7 - 8:30pm in-person at LFP Commons
upper level Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, LFP

l-r Tom French, Jeff Johnson

City of Lake Forest Park, Mayor


Lorri Bodi

City of Lake Forest Park, Council Position No. 2


l-r Nigel Keiffer, Ellyn Saunders

City of Lake Forest Park, Council Position No. 4


l-r Paula Goode, Stephanie Angelis

City of Lake Forest Park, Council Position No. 6

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Briarcrest Neighborhood introduces candidates for Shoreline Council Position 4 on Tuesday October 10, 2023 online meeting

(l-r) Annette Ademasu, Doris McConnell
for Shoreline Council Position 4

All are welcome: join the Briarcrest Neighborhood Association (BNA) on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 to meet Annette Ademasu, challenger for Shoreline City Council Position 4, and incumbent Doris McConnell.

The meeting will be held via Zoom at 7:30pm. Candidates will make statements and answer questions.

For the link and further information, go to their Facebook page (NO LOGIN NEEDED) or write to jmhilde61@gmail.com.

Position 4 is the only contested race on the Shoreline Council.

The Briarcrest Neighborhood is located in the southeast corner of Shoreline




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Politics: Former U.S. Attorney Nick Brown to run for office of State Attorney General

Saturday, July 15, 2023

Nick Brown announces run for State Attorney General

Nick Brown, a former U.S. attorney and past general counsel to Gov. Jay Inslee, will run as a Democrat in the 2024 election to be Washington's next attorney general. 

He announced his candidacy this week. Bob Ferguson, the current AG, is stepping aside to run for governor. 

"Keeping Washington families safe,” advancing gun policy, preserving a healthy environment, and preventing discrimination in housing are some of the areas Brown says he'd prioritize if elected. 

Democratic state Sen. Manka Dhingra is also running. 



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Primary for Shoreline School Board Position #4

Monday, July 10, 2023

School board meeting where budget cuts were announced.
Photo by Tanner Phillips

By Diane Hettrick

There are three candidates for the open seat on the Shoreline School Board, which means this race will be in the August 2023 election.

The two candidates with the most number of votes will advance to the November election.

Voter pamphlets will be mailed out on Tuesday, ballots on Wednesday. Ballots must be returned by Election Day, August 1, 2023, either mailed in with the postmark of August 1 or before, or deposited in a drop box by 8pm (not one minute later!)

They have submitted statements which include responses to questions we submitted to them. Their statements can be viewed by clicking the embedded link in each name.

They are listed in the order they appear on the ballot.

Shoreline School District No. 412, Director District No. 4


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Candidate for Shoreline School Board Position #4: Sylvia Gil

Sylvia Gil, School Board Candidate
Candidate for Shoreline School Board Position #4: Sylvia Gil

My name is Sylvia Gil and I am running for Shoreline School Board Director (District #4) to ensure all children in our District have access to high-quality education.

I am concerned that our current budget challenges, due to declining enrollment and state funding, will reduce critical support for students. 

While declining enrollment does not have a short-term solution, I think we can support efforts to ensure state funding covers the broad range of student needs. 

This is critical as the lack of funding can impact school budgets, reducing staff and programs that positively impact student experiences. 

Programs that support students should be retained, including family advocate staff that work with students and families to address critical needs.

As a Board member, I would value community engagement and support efforts to gather feedback and share information through school board meetings, forums, and direct conversations. 

I think it is important for the district to have a variety of opportunities for feedback to connect community considerations with policy and communications. Further, to align our priorities and increase transparency I would focus on developing a district strategic plan. A comprehensive plan would serve to guide and focus engagement on district-wide goals and needs.

In terms of my background, I have previous experience as a teacher, and have worked in health care administration and advocacy. Personally, I have lived in Shoreline for over 10 years, and I have a child in the district. I would bring a high level of commitment to serving on the Board to ensure that all children have high-quality education.



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Candidate for Shoreline School Board Position #4: Zack Stallings

Zack Stallings,
School Board Candidate
Candidate for Shoreline School Board Position #4: Zack Stallings

My name is Zack Stallings. I am a Shoreline native and a graduate of the Shoreline School District. I am running for the Shoreline School Board.

Shoreline School’s current budget crisis was brought on by a myriad of problems, but the solution is not to cut positions and programs like Family Advocates and Credit Recovery. 

These and other programs bring in students from out-of-district and keep students from leaving the district. With the implosion of Seattle Schools we can not afford to miss this opportunity to bring more students in. 

The most important position to maintain is Family Advocates, not only because this provides the most baseline support for families in crisis, but also because Shoreline and Lake Forest Park taxpayers willingly gave up their hard-earned money on the promise this program would be expanded and fully funded. 

Shoreline and LFP residents understand that children experiencing hardships cannot learn, and children who cannot learn here will learn somewhere else. I will never vote for a budget which so drastically reduces programs that help disadvantaged students.

As an employee of the Shoreline School District I am intimately aware of how this budget will affect our most vulnerable students. What I am not acutely aware of is: how exactly did we end up here? I know the community at-large feels blindsided by this deficit, and I know parents feel like they were left out of the loop on the Reduced Educational Plan. 

Far too often decisions are decreed from the top without community involvement; the anger and desperation of parents at the meeting where the Reduced Educational Plan was approved was palpable. 

Many felt like this was their only chance to say something. I will find ways to proactively include the community’s feedback before we get to that point.

A vote for me means a vote against educational plans that target our most disadvantaged students. I will not endlessly pontificate about achieving equitable outcomes for students, I will achieve them.

Thank you for your time, and for your vote.


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Candidate for Shoreline School Board Position #4: Hazim Ghanim

Hazim Ghanim,
School Board Candidate
Candidate for Shoreline School Board Position #4: Hazim Ghanim

  • Question: Funding is based on the student population. Considering that current conditions have resulted in reduced student numbers, do you think it’s possible to increase the student population in the short-term? What would be your suggestions to increase enrollment? 

While increasing the student population in the short-term may be challenging, it is achievable. To boost enrollment, I suggest implementing targeted outreach campaigns to highlight the unique strengths and opportunities our schools offer. 

We will need to collaborate with local community organizations, host open houses to attract potential students, and explore partnerships with nearby school districts. 

Offering specialized programs such as vocational training, arts programs, or STEM initiatives can attract students seeking unique educational opportunities. 

Adapting to changing educational needs, promoting a safe and inclusive environment, and enhancing extracurricular offerings are essential to attract new students and ensure their long-term success.

  • Question: What is your understanding of and experience with school budgets? 

With my experience as the treasurer of our school’s PTSA, I have developed a strong understanding of school budgets. In my role, I have been intimately involved in reviewing and creating the annual budget. I have also taken responsibility for closely monitoring and comprehending the cash flow. 

In my professional experience as a manager, I have gained experience in maintaining and proposing budgets for my team, navigating the fluctuations and changes that come with it. This firsthand involvement has provided me with practical knowledge of budgeting processes and the significance of financial management in both educational and professional contexts.

  • Question: If programs need to be reduced or cut, what are your priorities for programs to retain? Be as specific as possible. 

When faced with program reductions or cuts, my priorities for retention would be core academic programs, special education and support services, advanced placement and honors courses, career and technical education programs, extracurricular activities promoting student engagement, and social-emotional learning initiatives, including mental health support. These programs ensure a well-rounded education, address diverse student needs, and foster academic, social, and emotional growth.

  • Question: How would you as a member of the Board best share information with the community? 

As a board member I would leverage utilizing an array of communication channels. This includes regular updates and newsletters, community meetings, social media platforms, and the district website. 

Additionally, I would establish open lines of communication with PTA leadership across our community, collaborating closely with them to disseminate important information to parents and engage in two-way communication. By creating a network of communication, we can ensure transparent and timely sharing of information with the community, fostering trust and active involvement.

  • Question: How important is gathering information and feedback from the community? Why? And how would you go about that? 

Gathering information and feedback from the community is one of the most critical aspects of serving as a school board member. It is essential because the board's purpose is to represent and address the needs and desires of the community. By actively seeking input, we can ensure that decisions align with community expectations, enhancing transparency and accountability.

To gather community information and feedback, there are several approaches. This includes hosting regular town hall meetings where community members can voice their concerns and ideas. 

Establishing open lines of communication through surveys, online platforms, and dedicated email addresses to facilitate ongoing feedback. Collaborating closely with PTAs and other community organizations would also be valuable, as they can serve as conduits for collecting input and disseminating information. 

By actively engaging with the community through these channels, I would ensure that their voices are heard, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach to decision-making.


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