The Roads and Transit proposal is called Sound Transit and RTID Proposition 1. King County voters have another Proposition 1.
King County Prop. 1 is to renew tax support for the Medic One system.
While ST-RTID Prop. 1 is controversial, County Prop. 1 shouldn’t be.
A few weeks ago, I listed four reasons to favor ST-RTID Prop. 1 and four reasons to be against it. But, I can think of no reasons to oppose county Prop. 1. In fact, the voters’ pamphlet has no statement against the levy.
The only reason Medic One could lose is if voters confuse King County Prop. 1 with ST-RTID Prop. 1.
An impressive school board candidate
Of all the school and city candidates at the forum I attended last week, one candidate stood out.
She’s Maren Norton, a candidate for the Shoreline School Board against incumbent Dan Mann in District 4. She’s an intelligent, well-spoken woman, whom we can count on to ask the kind of probing questions that will restore the faith of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park residents in their schools.
A gutsy city council candidate
Most of the questions at the Richmond Beach candidates’ forum told us little about the candidates.
That’s because they all gave the “right” answers to questions. Every candidate was for fiscal responsibility and affordable housing, and against over-development.
We learned little about who stood where on the council’s great divide.
That all changed when candidate Doris McConnell made her closing statement.
McConnell, a candidate for Position 4 against Deputy Mayor Maggie Fimia, read from the intent section of the state Open Public Meetings Act, letting listeners know that she wouldn’t take actions that would leave an impression that council members make decisions outside normal channels.
The statement angered Fimia, but it showed audience members where the challenger stands on the great schism on the council and the council’s commitment to open government.
Most of the campaign has been about voting against candidates on one side or the other. I want to vote for someone. When McConnell was the one candidate brave enough to show where she stands, I found a candidate I could truly support.
A local legislator takes a strong stand
Engrossed Substitute SJR 8206, to create a constitutional rainy-day fund which Legislators could tap with a 60 percent majority, sounds sensible. State Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, disagrees. She tells me this:
“I oppose the rainy-day fund because I believe in majority rule, and don’t think that giving the minority control over budget decisions is a wise policy. The public elects representatives to govern.”
Evan Smith is the Enterprise Forum editor. Send comments to entopinion@heraldnet.com.
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