Two candidates are ready to take a seat on the Shoreline City Council, but voters will decide whether Cindy Ryu or Bonnie Mackey get comfortable.
The two newcomers will compete for Position 5 at the Nov. 8 General Election.
Bonnie Mackey
Mackey, who owns a design business, has been a Shoreline resident for more than 20 years. Mackey has been a volunteer for the Aurora Corridor Citizens Advisory Task Force, Citizens for a Safer Aurora and Shoreline Bond Advisory Committee. She currently serves on the boards of Shoreline Community College Foundation, Council of Neighborhoods and Forward Shoreline.
Mackey said she has worked to make the community as strong as the schools and advocates for “quality of life,” which she said is based on three factors: a good job, home and sense of community.
“Those are the things I am working for and have been working for since I moved to Shoreline nearly 20 years ago,” Mackey said.
Mackey would like to complete major projects in the city, such as North City, Aurora Avenue and the Interurban Trail, which she said are critical to the city’s survival. She said a new housing project in North City would not have been possible without redevelopment in the area.
“We have a wonderful new high rise going in there to accommodate people who want to live closer to a business district,” Mackey said.
The city has responsibilities for growth under the state Growth Management Act, Mackey said, but said the key is to manage growth. There needs to be a variety of housing for all types of people whether they are looking for an apartment, condo or to scale back to a smaller home, she said. It also is important to consider growth in a regional sense, Mackey said, so neighborhoods are not clogged with traffic.
Mackey favors the concept of cottage housing, as it allows smaller, often affordable, options for residents. However, she has become aware that what brought many people to Shoreline is the quality of life in a single-family neighborhood, which cottage housing may disrupt. A few poor examples of cottage housing have been completed in the city, she said.
“It is important to review cottage housing and to have it only in multiple-family zoned areas of the community,” Mackey said. “And to preserve the quality of the single-family neighborhood.”
Although there is a slight disconnect between some residents of Shoreline and the Council, Mackey said, she does not believe the majority of residents feel disconnected. Often, it is the same group of people who speak at Council meetings, she said, and it is important to figure out what the majority of citizens want.
“Most residents feel the City Council is on the right track and are doing the right job for them,” Mackey said. “There has been a high priority to make connections with the community and citizens.”
Because the council vote often does not favor the vocal minority at Council meetings, Mackey said the only way to assure residents that their concerns are heard is to get into the community and seek opinions from a broader community base. Council members are responsible for doing what they know appeals to the common good, she said.
“We are not elected to put forth our agendas,” Mackey said. “We are elected to put forth the agenda of the whole community.
The Aurora Avenue project will be a catalyst for strong business and neighborhoods, Mackey said, stressing that the construction needs to be quality work the first time. The first mile is being completed for 13 cents on the dollar, she said, and the next two miles are projected to be 17 cents on the dollar. Access to businesses during construction on the first mile has been retained, Mackey said, and in the long run, the roadway improvements will benefit everyone.
“It is one of the most significant projects that Shoreline will undertake in the next 40 years,” Mackey said. “It is the basis of everything good that will happen for Shoreline.”
One of the big differences between her and her opponent, Mackey said, is that she will ensure that Aurora Avenue is redeveloped.
“I am going to get Aurora done, and going to get it done right,” Mackey said.
Mackey said she is open, optimistic, takes people at face value and knows how to listen and learn from people. She will not side with any particular group on the Council, but is an independent thinker, she said.
“I know how to make money work,” Mackey said. “I can make limited dollars in Shoreline work for Shoreline and work for all of Shoreline.”
Cindy Ryu
Ryu, who is president of the Chamber of Commerce, is running for office a second time. Ryu, 47, lost against Council member Rich Gustafson two years ago.
An 11-year resident, Ryu is a small business owner: She and her husband own an Allstate Insurance Agency in Shoreline.
“I felt it was my civic duty to run for Council and am committed to good government,” Ryu said. “I have the desire to help Shoreline grow up as a city and be a full-service government.”
Ryu said she will keep Shoreline livable and affordable for all residents. She favors growth, but said it needs to be done carefully, so as not to promote congestion.
“The benefit of growth is that it will increase our tax base in housing and the commercial sector,” Ryu said. “It will provide jobs for the local people and as shoppers, people who do need services.”
Managing growth includes paying attention to community policing, such as enforcing traffic laws, as well as increasing the frequency of public transportation, she said.
Growth should be kept in already developed areas, Ryu said, such as Aurora Avenue. In the last 10 years, she said the Council majority has pushed growth into neighborhoods, rather than limit it to regional business districts.
Housing must be consistent with zoning and be compatible with neighborhoods, Ryu said. She does not support the present language in the cottage housing ordinance, saying it allows conditional use permits. The ordinance needs to be predictable and higher standards enforced, she said, which citizens deserve. Density needs to be increased, but only in areas that can accommodate growth and are zoned appropriately, she said.
“I do support cottage housing, but not the way it has been done in single-family zones,” Ryu said.
Regarding the public input process, Ryu said people with valid ideas have been ignored by the Council. She said not everyone is going to agree on every issue, but it is important to discuss issues and acknowledge all voices before making decisions.
“Let’s have the community voice heard first, then we can make wise decisions,” Ryu said, “which is not happening at this time.”
A mechanism is in place to survey the average citizen, Ryu said, which the city funds every few years. The survey does not select people randomly, she said, and therefore should be used by the Council when making decisions. When the survey results are referenced, she said the majority of the Council often ignores its significance.
“If there are minority voices, at least listen to what they are saying,” Ryu said. “Listen to documentation…. then have other people give input.”
Upgrades to Aurora Avenue N. are long-overdue, Ryu said, who owns property on the state highway. The first mile is funded and designed, Ryu said, but the last two miles have not been designed nor funded and could cost more than $60 million.
“I do appreciate the investments being made,” Ryu said. “However, I am concerned about the funding.”
The project also concerns her because of the reduction of access to local businesses, she said. To deal with funding problems with the next two miles of the project, Ryu said the Council may need to scale back the project with a possible redesign.
“If we need to do it by scaling it down, great,” Ryu said. “If we can still do the beautification and capacity, even better.”
She is the best candidate, Ryu said, because she has training in business administration and has a strong appreciation for democracy. She said she fully understands the obligation of representing all residents.
“I live in a regular neighborhood of Shoreline,” Ryu said. “Anybody could come walk up to my front door.”
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