Pottharst Blog::Time For A New Voice

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 .

Ballard Food Bank visit

Yesterday morning I visited the Ballard Food Bank to learn about its operation.  Kitchen cook Phyllis Delorme gave me a great tour.  Ballard Food Bank provides food, meals, and clothing to several hundred families.  For nearly 30 years, it has been an important safety net for children, families, individuals, and seniors.  Its dining area is very small, and the food bank is working on getting a larger space for the meal program at a nearby church.  I talked with Phyllis about other services that people who come to the food bank need, such as referrals for health care and employment.  Phyllis said that a problem is that although there are so many community programs and resources, it is hard to find out about them and connect with them.  I believe government staff who represent districts, whether elected, such as County Council members, or unelected, such as City Neighborhood District Coordinators, can be a tremendous resource to the community by helping connect people with community groups and government.  As a Neighborhood Coordinator for the past 6 years, I know the value of having such a resource.  If elected as a County Council member, I will work to establish more of a County presence in District 4—Northwest and Center City Seattle.  For more information about the Ballard Food Bank, or if you would like to donate goods or volunteer there, please call director Tim McKenzie at 789-7800.

Meet and Greet at our House

This is the main event. Our meet and greet this Saturday marks one month left in our campaign!

When: Saturday, October 8 1-3pm

Where: The home of Ed Pottharst and Elizabeth Ralston
              6730 18th Ave. NW
              Seattle (Ballard)
              98117

What:  We want everyone possible to attend. For the past six years I've been going into the communities and meeting our neighbors. For the past five months, I've been showing up on your doorsteps, now it's your chance to show up on mine. Come and hear where I'm going to take the King County Council after November 8!

last night's Groundswell workshop

Last night I attended a great workshop about Salmon Bay put on by Groundswell Northwest, a Ballard-based open space group.  Salmon Bay is the part of the Ship Canal bounded by Fremont, Ballard, Queen Anne, and Magnolia.  Groundswell Northwest has launched a Salmon Bay Initiative.  This project will teach the public about the history and environment of Salmon Bay, enhance public access, and support the maritime industrial businesses that are based in the Greater Salmon Bay area.  It was great to see people from maritime businesses in the same room as people from environmental groups talking about ways to work together on this project, which has received support from the City of Seattle’s Neighborhood Matching Fund program.  This effort is an excellent example of the sort of community-business-partnering that I would promote as a County Council member.  King County has an interest in being a partner in this sort of project along with the City of Seattle.  For more information about Groundswell Northwest, see www.groundswellnw.org .   

doorbelling birders

I've had a great two days doorbelling in Magnolia and Fremont.  Word is really getting around about our campaign!  In Magnolia on Tuesday I met several people who immediately said they had heard about me, liked what they'd heard, and were planning to vote for me.  In Fremont today I came across someone who was birdwatching from his porch.  The birder in me came out, and we talked about urban birding.  I used to lead bird walks around Green Lake for Seattle Audubon.  Turns out he is also a musician.  The people I sometimes meet are fascinating!  Plus, he had encountered our campaign up on Broadway in Capitol Hill last week.  We are everywhere!

The Word is Out!!!

As I head out into our neighborhoods each day, I meet some great people. It is really exciting to know that word of our campaign is spreading! More and more, I hear from those I meet that they have heard about the campaign. Yesterday was a great example of one of these times. While Sunday was a little cold and rainy, I was determined to make my way out, and headed for North Seattle near Carkeek Park. Even in rainy weather, listening to one supporter tell me that I had been highly recommended by a friend really made my day! We are making tremendous strides.

Your support means so much. Many thanks to all of you out there spreading the word for me.We will bring the King County Council back out to Seattle neighborhoods. Let's WIN!!!

Meet Me In...

Tomorrow I'm going to be out & about. If you would like to meet up with me I'll be...

At the Free Wolfe Creek! event from 11a-Noon
Commodore Park
3330 West Commodore Way
(South of the Ballard Locks)

At the 17th Annual Fisherman's Fall Festival from 2:30p-4:00p
1900 West Nickerson St.
at the Fisherman's Terminal

See you There!

Speaking of: Community-Government partnerships at last night's meet and greet

At last night's meet and greet, one thing we talked about was community-goverment partnerships, especially ones with schools.  I gave the example of a partnership between the Northgate Chamber of Commerce and Northgate Elementary School, where over 50% of the students come from families living below the poverty line and over 21 languages are spoken.  The Chamber used a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to provide reading and arts enrichment programs at the school.  Someone at the meet and greet asked, how do we ensure that these partnerships serve as many of the schools in need as possible?  One way might be to identify these schools and then focus on finding community-government partners for them. Comment. Let me know what you think.