Pottharst Blog::Time For A New Voice

Debate Watch - Day 20

As we’ve stated in previous discussion, we sent an invitation to Council member Phillips to join us in collaboration for a community debate. We feel this would provide the residents of District 4 an opportunity to see both candidates Pottharst and Phillips in a discussion of the issues--to give voters the best possible information as they seek to select the Council representative for the next two years.

This past Friday, a message came from the Phillips campaign indicating no interest in bringing a mutually agreed-upon event to the voters.  In a letter dated 10/28 (Day 17), Phillips’ campaign manager, Travis Commodore, draws several presumptuous and incorrect conclusions.

First, Commodore dismisses the idea of a debate, stating, “It is disappointing that most public forums are poorly attended…” and, “adding another low-attendance event—I believe—is not as effective as meeting with face to face with voters on front steps and porches every night.”  In Mr. Commodore’s defense, we also believe in the value of doorbelling. Ed has canvassed thousands of homes over the last several months. However, we also believe that any solid campaign delivers its message to the voter in a variety of ways. It is mistake to write off what is normally considered an integral, important part of the political process. In doing so, Mr. Commodore, on behalf of Coucilmember Phillips, has decided for the voter that this is not a worthwhile pursuit, and is in effect writing off voters who find value in such forums.

Second, Commodore declines a forum stating there are only minor differences between the candidates. He then launches into an incorrect attack on Ed, citing what he labels Ed’s support for a now-moot-point move by Southwest Airlines to Boeing Field in a Seattle Times editorial board interview.  Although Ed has consistently stated that it is important to look at the issues raised by the SWA proposal, or that the move might have worked under specific conditions, that remains far away from expressing support. 

The SWA proposal raises the larger issue of Puget Sound regional transportation planning and both King County’s and the Port of Seattle’s roles.  Better coordination among Puget Sound government and transportation agencies will help the region come to consensus on how best to serve growing air passenger traffic, including rapid or mass transit links to any other regional airports that are developed.  Rather than going it alone separately, both King County and the Port of Seattle need to work with the Puget Sound Regional Council and other Puget Sound cities, counties, and ports on a collaborative approach to regional air service.

The SWA proposal also raises the larger issue of airplane noise over the Puget Sound region.  Councilmember Phillips has been diligent over the years in trying to get the FAA to shift a Boeing Field flight path away from over parts of Magnolia out more over Elliott Bay.  However, community groups in West Seattle and nearby areas have said that such a shift would spill aircraft noise onto their communities.  Also, Ed can attest from talking with people throughout the district that jet noise is prevalent over broad areas of Seattle, including Greenwood, Ballard, and Capitol Hill, rather than just over Magnolia.

Ed believes that a much more productive approach would be to have Puget Sound government agencies and air transit authorities work to reduce jet noise both at regional level and at the federal level with their counterparts in other metropolitan areas and with the airlines, both passenger and cargo operators, and the FAA.  Some of the ways this can be done include requiring operators to use newer, quieter aircraft in their fleets and restricting the use of older, noisier aircraft.  This approach focuses on the common good of the region, rather than any one neighborhood.

Finally, Commodore also discusses differences in each candidate’s approach to the Viaduct. We feel there are many fundamental differences, but the future of transportation spells out one of the most compelling of reasons for change.  While Councilmember Phillips seeks only to remedy the current situation (as replacement of the Viaduct would be sure to do), Ed is thinking ahead to develop long-term solutions to the problems of traffic congestion and other problems we face today and will continue to face tomorrow even with a rebuilt viaduct. His challenge has been and still remains in each resident having a voice in deciding Seattle’s transportation future.  Either we continue in the current manner, adding more highways, and fixing outdated structures at huge expense without decreasing congestion, or we make a bold stand for aggressive mass and rapid transit.  As for the claim that surface throughways or streets cannot work, we need only look at the waterfronts of cities like Chicago that serve as examples of how they can indeed work.

In a recent interview with the Ballard News Tribune, Councilmember Phillips was quoted, in his defense of the Viaduct, saying, “…that may be the best this generation can do.”  We can and should do much better.

As we have stated previously, our offer to co-host a community debate continues to stand. While forums have proven helpful, they are designed to cover a variety of candidates, and are unable to provide ample time for candidate contrast. Despite Mr. Commodore’s analysis, we feel a community event would provide some tremendous opportunities for our residents to make an informed decision in this County Council race. 


Sincerely,


Thomas Pitchford
Campaign Coordinator

Ed, Streaming

Since May, I've been out in the neighborhoods of District 4 knocking on every door and meeting as many of you as I possibly can. If by some chance I've missed you here's another chance to see me and hear about my thoughts about how each one of us matters and plans to make King County a better, more caring community.

Seattle Channel Video Voters Guide

Waiting for Larry...

 

 Debate Watch - Day 13

October 24, 2005


On October 12th, we sent an invitation to Coucilmember Larry Phillips via his campaign manager, Travis Commodore, in the interest of co-sponsoring a community event--a debate--to allow King County voters the opportunity to see both candidates talk in detail about a variety of issues. 

After the first week of no response, we began "Debate Watch." Five minutes after last Thursday's posting, Mr. Commodore called to let us know he had intended to call earlier, and that he would need to check Councilmember Phillips' schedule--as he said, "the Councilmember is very busy." After not hearing back on friday, we left a message with Mr. Commodore on Saturday, and as of Monday evening, still have yet to hear from the Phillips campaign.

We worry this is a stalling tactic meant to skirt the invitation. Councilmember Phillips speaks often of being focused on the District. This event would provide a tremendous opportunity for the candidates to connect with constituents.  In our last phone call, Mr. Commodore stated that  the two candidates have appreared at candidate's forums together, seeming to indicate the forums might somehow serve as a substitute. We respectfully disagree. Forums are designed to give a field of candidates the opportunity to address issues, with each alloted a small amount of time in the interest of being able to cover a variety of races.

We hold that a debate would provide the community a thorough view of both candidates as they seek to make the best possible choice for the future of King County. Our invitation to Councilmember Phillips remains.


Thomas Pitchford
Campaign Coordinator
Elect Ed Pottharst
206.297.5947 o
206.245.9609 c
thomas.pitchford@gmail.com

INDEPENDENCE • ACCESSIBILITY • INTEGRITY

Paid for by Elect Ed Pottharst • www.edpottharst.com
6730 18^th Avenue NW • Seattle, Washington 98117 • 206.297.5947

Underdog with bite

I would like to extend a special thank you to Neil Modie of the Seattle P-I for his article published today, "A county underdog with bite". I want to thank him for the depth of coverage he's given to the District 4 race. One of the biggest challenges I have faced while running this race for King County Council is the fact that few of my District 4 neighbors are aware of what King County Council does and how they can use the Council as a resource. In the article Mr. Modie quotes my challenger as saying, "I (Larry Phillips) am focused on this (county) government, representing 1.8 million people. Ed is still stuck on a focus on the city of Seattle". I want to expand upon my short response given in the article. District 4 is located entirely within the city of Seattle. While Councilmember Phillips' uses this statement as a criticism, it actually speaks to my main motivation to serve on the Council. Councilmember Phillips has apparently lost sight of the fact that King County Council members are the only local government resource dedicated to representing the people of King County . Serving on the Council means that Council members must make the citizens of the district a top priority. Seattle City Council is an at-large body and members are not accountable to specific districts. I am running precisely because I feel that my opponent has shifted his focus from representing our neighbors in District 4 to using his seat as a highly partisan tool that keeps King County Council from solving our transit problems, better preparing our young people for careers and community involvement, and improving our District 4 neighbors' access to the Council as a whole.

Protecting our water supply

I will work to protect our environment.  King County government wants to develop its own water supply plan.  However, the City of Seattle has long been the primary supplier of water to most of King County.  In addition, the major watersheds of King County include parts of Snohomish and Pierce Counties.  As a County Council member, I will help ensure that King County government works with Seattle and with Snohomish and Pierce Counties on water supply.  This sort of collaboration will best ensure that we can meet the challenges to our water supply posed by development, growth, and more frequent droughts (7 in the past 25 years).

Views on the Viaduct

Here are my views on the viaduct in the form of a letter to the editor of The Seattle Times newspaper:

Editor, The Times:

Your October 17 editorial about my candidacy for the King County Council says that a surface street in place of the viaduct would be impractical.  What would prove impractical, however, is replacing the viaduct with a very costly tunnel or rebuilding the current structure.  Neither a tunnel nor a replacement of the viaduct would lessen traffic congestion.  A rebuilt viaduct would continue to wall off the downtown waterfront.  Rather than resigning ourselves to the viaduct’s existing congested capacity, let’s redistribute that capacity in ways that create more sustainable communities.

By replacing the viaduct with a lower-cost, lower-speed surface throughway, we will open up the downtown waterfront.  We would spread some of the existing viaduct traffic out onto other roads, with measures to help road freight move.  We can remove the remainder of viaduct traffic by optimizing regional public transit and creating denser, more walkable neighborhoods.  The Green Line elevated rapid transit line, if built as originally conceived with dual track along its entire length, and as part of an eventual system of monorail lines connecting Seattle neighborhoods, would help remove some of the existing viaduct capacity. We also need to prioritize our region’s transportation dollars towards the network of rapid transit (commuter and light rail) that Sound Transit is putting in place. 

Let’s spend our tax dollars on transportation solutions that are rooted in the kind of sustainable region and City that we want them to be.

Sincerely,

Ed Pottharst
Independent candidate
King County Council
District 4

Check out Seattle Times editorial

Please check out today's (Monday, October 17) Seattle Times endorsements in the King County Council races.  You can read it online by going to the right-hand blog margin, looking under the heading "In & Around the Press," and clicking on the item "Seattle Times."  Although the Times endorsed Larry Phillips, the newspaper also had several great things to say about our campaign.

A debate in the works?

Five days ago my campaign extended an invitation to my opponent, Councilmember Phillips, to co-host a community forum and debate. This event is designed to inform the voters about District 4's candidates as well as provide our District 4 neighbors a forum to inform the candidates of their concerns. We would very much like Councilmember Phillips' participation. To date there has been no response. See the letter below:

 

VIA EMAIL AND USPS

October 12, 2005

Travis Commodore
Campaign Manager
Larry Phillips for County Council
2686 Magnolia Boulevard, West
Seattle, WA 98199

Dear Travis:

On behalf of Ed Pottharst, Candidate for King County Council, District Four, I am writing to extend an invitation to CouncilmemberLarry Phillips to co-host a community debate in advance of next month’s general election.

We would like to develop a community event in the interest of assisting the residents of District Four to make the best possible choice for the future of King County. We propose to have the candidates conduct a civilized debate on a mutually agreed upon neutral territory, and using simple, concise guidelines. This will also give our constituents an opportunity to know who the candidates are as well as their stands for and differences on important community issues. Furthermore, we are happy to talk about working together to have a community based organization sponsor and/or host the debate.

Finally, this debate will offer the candidates an on the record avenue to connect with the community and to talk about what the future of the King County’s fourth district holds.

Please respond at your earliest convenience, and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

 

Thomas Pitchford
Campaign Coordinator
Elect Ed Pottharst
206.297.5947 o
206.245.9609 c

Cc: local media

Why I’m running as an Independent

People have asked me why I’m running as an Independent.  I’m running as a progressive Independent because people I work with see me as a community resource and catalyst, rather than as a Democrat or a Republican.  In my six years as a Neighborhood District Coordinator for the City of Seattle, I have brought together people and groups with different views to work together for the public good.  People look to me as a network-builder, problem-solver, and community leader.  As an Independent on the King County Council, I will provide a thoughtful, open-minded voice and help bridge the partisan divide among Council members by focusing on the common good rather than on narrow or special interests.

People also sometimes have asked what would happen if an Independent became a member of the King County Council.  My goal as an Independent member on the County Council would be to ensure that the Council works as best as possible for the common good.  I will work with all Council members toward that goal.  I will caucus and build relationships with all Council members, regardless of party, while representing the residents of District 4 and bringing my progressive perspective to the table.  As a progressive, I will work for sustainable communities, excellent schools, more transportation options, and a healthy natural environment.  I will work to provide residents with greater access to King County government, and I will work to make the County an excellent partner with the resources and assets of our communities.

sportsfields and skateboard parks and spots

Last Friday I attended a dedication of the new Salmon Bay School sports field in Ballard right across the street from where I live with my wife and two daughters.  The new sports facility has a small synthetic turf soccer field with a ¼- kilometer synthetic track around it.  The field also has a basketball court, two half-courts, bleachers, and a drinking fountain.  Salmon Bay School is a kindergarten through eighth grade public alternative school at NW 67^th St. and 18^th Ave. NW. 

The school will use the field from 8 am to 5 pm on school days.  Outside of school hours, the field is open to the public.  The field is a great place for kids’ soccer, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, and track.  Come check it out!  Contact Sam Star, samstar500@yahoo.com, for more information about the field.

The sports field is an example of how King County works with the community to improve youth recreation.  The County provided a $45,000 matching grant from its Youth Sports Facility Grant program.  This grant program is funded by a tax on car rentals.  For more information on this program, see http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/ysports/ysports.htm or call 206-263-6267.

I think more youth recreational facilities are needed in Seattle and King County, especially for older youth, teens, and young adults.  We have many parks with playgrounds for toddlers and young kids.  However, I really would like to see more facilities for the older set such as outdoor skateboard parks that are open and safe for everyone.  I would also like to see more skateable features and small skateboard spots installed at parks and other public places (for example, Park-and-Ride lots, which are operated by King County).  As a City neighborhood coordinator, I have worked with groups such as Parents for Skateparks and the City’s Skateboard Park Advisory Committee.  If elected County Council member, I would continue this work to create stronger City-County-community partnerships to provide more recreational places for our older kids.

For more information about Parents for Skateparks, see www.parents4sk8parks.org .  The contact for the City of Seattle’s Skateboard Park Advisory Committee is Susan Golub, susan.golub@seattle.gov .