King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Larry Phillips -

Times are tough, but our best days are ahead if we bring stability to our local economy and hold government accountable to our values.

I will put King County back to work, run a smarter government, and keep our communities healthy and safe.

We must get our economy moving. I will use every stimulus dollar and resource available to invest in mass transit and infrastructure to create family-wage jobs and improve our communities.

At a time when cost-cutting is at the core of King County government discussions, I have led reforms in how the county operates. When the county faced staggering deficits, I helped reduce the budget by more than $200 million. I have successfully worked with county employees to save $47 million in healthcare and labor costs. I chaired Sound Transit’s oversight committee and helped bring light rail to our region on-time and $100 million under budget.

I will bring common-sense budgeting to the executive’s office. As a father, I know the importance of protecting our communities, our environment and the health of our neighbors. I will keep sheriff’s deputies on the streets, buses running, and the doors to public health clinics open.

We need to bring every city within King County together to tell the world that we are open for business. Working with community and business leaders, I will recruit cutting-edge companies in green building and clean energy, so King County will continue to set the standard in private innovation and economic growth.

I have broad support from all across the county. Labor unions, business and environmental leaders, and elected officials from urban, suburban and rural King County have all endorsed my candidacy.

I’m asking for your vote August 18. Let’s get King County’s economy back on track and create a more efficient, effective 21st Century government.

Fred Jarrett -

I am running for King County Executive to bring change to county government. The county is on the brink of financial crisis. Facing ever growing deficits the county’s services, jobs, businesses and quality of life are at risk. Recycling the same old answers won’t get us anywhere. The county needs new leadership – leadership with a record of making the smart, tough decisions it will take to change the way King County does business. That is what I offer voters in this election.

I have 35 years of private sector management experience. I know what it takes to balance a budget and instill fiscal discipline.

I have never been locked into partisan politics and have a proven record of bipartisan independence. I don’t hesitate to stand up for what is right, regardless of the political consequences. Two years ago I made the difficult decision to change political parties because of my pro-choice and progressive views – because playing it safe would have meant compromising my convictions. I am proud that the same voters who elected me as a Republican elected me their new Democratic State Senator. Whether in the Air Force, managing complex finances at Boeing, or pioneering solutions in local and state office, I have consistently put the people above politics.

I believe that is why I have earned top honors from environmental, education and good government organizations – and the support of Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

On day one, I will take action to put King County’s financial house in order. Only then can we get to work creating the King County we all want - new jobs and a resurgent economy, a world-class and cost effective transportation system and unwavering support for our environment. 

Stan Lippmann -

We Americans are all children of Madison. He protected us from the aristocratic Congress, but his efforts have been only partially successful. He promised his fellow Virginians that if they sent him to New York, he would introduce a Bill of Rights to satisfy their objections to the document. Madison introduced his bill on June 6, 1789. His Bill is more perfect than what came out of Congress, and We should now help his efforts to finally succeed by now amending the document according to his Bill. Our past will have been just the birth pangs of freedom lasting 220 years, and we can be forgiven our youthful indiscretions. At that time, piracy ruled the seas, so it was thought wise by President Pierce not to sign the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law. Lincoln demonetized silver during the ensuing Civil War. Though as yet imperfect, the Constitution gives us enough freedom to alter our fates by sharing this message: Google Article the First. Then ask your legislator when he is going to act to pass it. Ten states have already passed it, and if We join, only 26 more will be needed to limit the size of a Congressional District to 50,000. I will forever defend the County Charter, and the State and Federal Constitutions, to ensure us a prosperous future. To start with, I will pay all County debts in Silver Coin. The Charter calls for the County to acquire useful property, so we should buy a local mine to provide our metals, to remediate our waters, and to institute a copper bank to secure Our wealth. The Charter also enables the County to acquire renewable energy resources, and these will secure our beautiful home. We can all win this year. Please join my efforts at http://www.stanforcounty.org .

Alan Lobdell -

I will apply the same high standards of excellence and fairness to the Office of King County Executive as I have in my 33 years serving the public as a Civil Engineer/Public Works Director/City Engineer/Project Engineer, and as a business owner. I have been directly responsible to oversee departments within numerous cities in King County. In so doing, I have worked closely with councils, commissioners, planners, attorneys, developers, business associations, environmental agencies and many individual citizens, where the REAL IMPACT of the decisions made by the County Executive is felt.

I will carry out the position of Executive to serve the citizens of King County. I will make logical practical decisions that uphold our constitutional rights, respect our religious freedoms, protect our environment, pursue future jobs and insure careful use of our public funds.

I am proud to have served in the United States Marine Corps and am a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans. I am a native of Washington State and have lived in King County for the past 22 years. In addition to being a Professional Civil Engineer, I studied nights to obtain a Paralegal Certificate, Bachelor of Science degree in Management along with Masters degrees in both Business and Public Administration.

My unique background in Civil Engineering and Management qualifies me to provide dynamic leadership in addressing the many complex issues now facing our County, including but not limited to: TRANSPORTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, BUDGET, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND HUMAN SERVICES.

I ask for your vote and the privilege of serving you as your King County Executive. Thank you, Alan Lobdell. See alanlobdell.com

Susan Hutchison -

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE… that’s my commitment. County government should provide public services free of partisanship. That’s why voters decided last November to make the executive position non-partisan. As the leader of an arts and science foundation, and years of service on the boards of the Seattle Symphony, Children’s Hospital and Salvation Army, I’ve established a successful record of bringing diverse people and interests together to solve complex problems.

I’m a BUDGET REFORMER, NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN. I do NOT believe the answer to every problem is a higher fee or new tax. I’ll use my leadership experience in the private and non-profit sectors to cut wasteful spending and balance the budget.

I’LL FIGHT TO: • HELP SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS… Small businesses are the engine of job creation. I’ll fight for tax incentives for small businesses to create jobs, encourage businesses to locate here, and keep existing businesses from leaving. • ESTABLISH A TRANSPORTATION “CZAR”... Traffic gridlock is killing jobs. I’ll establish a transportation “Czar” to oversee the multiple agencies – to cut costs and increase efficiency. Strong leadership and accountability is our best hope for improving transportation. • PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT… I’ll work cooperatively with environmental, labor and business groups towards goals that serve our entire community, and ensure that necessary resources are available to restore Puget Sound.

I am proud to be ENDORSED BY DEMOCRATS like State Auditor Brian Sonntag and former Congressman Don Bonker, AND REPUBLICANS like Attorney General Rob McKenna and former Secretary of State Ralph Munro. If you’re looking for meaningful change, and strong, independent leadership, then I am your candidate and I humbly ask for your support. Working together we can again make King County the best place to live and work. Thank you for your vote!

Dow Constantine -

“In King County we invented commercial air travel, revolutionized personal computing, and are leading the way on cancer research and clean energy. We deserve a county government as innovative as the people who live here.”

Elect Dow Constantine, the Candidate of Change – and Substance

Dow Constantine has an established record as a no-nonsense reformer who leads on tough issues. Dow was the first candidate to offer a plan to cut County benefit costs, praised by The Seattle Times as “a dose of economic reality.”

Instead of political sound bites, Dow offers detailed, pragmatic solutions.

A Vision for All of King County: Dow is the only candidate who represents suburban cities, rural areas and Seattle neighborhoods. Dow rejects the tired political divisions that pit communities against each other. He works across geographic and partisan divides.

A Champion for Jobs: The son of teachers and grandson of a sawmill worker, Dow has delivered job training, protected industrial lands and promoted middle class tax relief. Dow’s Vision: cut red tape; develop new jobs in clean technologies; protect manufacturing and trade.

Proven Transportation Leadership: Dow was the first regional leader to present detailed arguments for the successful 2008 light rail vote. He has proposed millions in Sound Transit cost savings. Dow’s Vision: break gridlock on 520 replacement and highway improvements; increase efficient transit investments.

Genuine Environmental Commitment: Dow introduced the state’s first climate change legislation, protected open space, and challenged a multinational mining company despoiling Puget Sound. Dow’s Vision: Action on climate and clean energy; smart development and planning.

Dow Constantine will reform King County government while staying true to our fundamental values.

Select Endorsements: 34^th, 37^th Democrats; State Sens Ed Murray, Karen Keiser, Ken Jacobsen; Reps Sharon Nelson, Tina Orwall, Geoff Simpson; ATU 587; Maritime Trades; Building Trades; WEA; and Firefighters

Ross Hunter -

It’s time for change in King County government. 

King County is a great place to live, but everything takes too long and costs too much. King County has both a spending problem and many management issues that make effective governing increasingly difficult.

I’m a 4-term Democratic state legislator from the Eastside with a strong history of fiscal responsibility and a proven record of results. My opponents have years in county and local government. I bring a new perspective, and will be an Executive for the whole county. Before the legislature I was a General Manager at Microsoft, building world class software and managing a product group.

I can get it done: - Led the fight to re-define basic education - Prime sponsor of rainy day fund bill in the House - Toxics coalition Legislator of the Year for work on public health.

While many of us are struggling in these tough economic times, King County cut services to the poor to give raises to county employees. We should set better priorities, preserving key functions, as families do. We need a county government that reflects our values: ensuring a strong social safety net, real environment stewardship and a working relationship with other regional governments.

We must get Metro’s costs under control to prevent cutbacks and expand bus service. A report by the non-partisan Municipal League found that Metro Transit has operating costs 22% higher than the national average. 

We can build a region with compact, transit-oriented development, working farms and forests, and an efficient transportation system that has service in all parts of the county, not just downtown. We can finalize the 520 bridge and viaduct replacement projects. 

Together we can fix the broken relationships the county has with our cities and bring a new regionalism to King County.

Goodspaceguy -

Goodspaceguy requests that you think of yourselves as crew members of Spaceship Earth. Goodspaceguy wants you to help solve world problems by example: How high can you help to raise knowledge and the quality of living in King County?

The unemployment rate indicates how badly our leaders have sabotaged our job market. Some people have lost jobs; some employers have closed down; but through work and the sweat of our brows, we produce our living standard.

Goodspaceguy wants to make it easier for people to access the institutions of knowledge and of government. Goodspaceguy wants you who pay gas tax to ask for an increase in free parking. Goodspaceguy wants better Sky Homes than Vancouver, Canada has built. Goodspaceguy does not want people drowning in a waterfront tunnel. Instead, Goodspaceguy wants to strengthen and beautify the waterfront Green View Viaduct of the Emerald City.

When politicians say that they are creating jobs through big projects and then get the money by the heavy taxation that helps destroy many other jobs, they are hurting society. More people end up losing their jobs than are hired in the newly “created” big project of higher-paying jobs. The economic law of demand for labor states that the higher and higher the pay, the fewer and fewer the jobs. Balance is needed.

The sabotage of our economy increases the number of homeless people. We need government employment safety nets so that unemployed people can at least find useful work at the minimum wage as helpers, helping in the useful functions of government.

Unfortunately, the voters usually vote the biggest spenders into office, and the big spenders become obligated to spend more of your tax dollars for the benefit of the special interests who finance their elections. Please, vote for the small spenders.