Seattle's voters took a bold step in 2013 when they decided to begin electing seven of nine members of the city council by district rather than at-large across the entire city. The change meant that challengers with ideas and energy could win by connecting with voters rather than simply collecting enough donations to finance name recognition across a jurisdiction of 650,000 people.
Leading up to the November 2015 election, three incumbent council members have been defeated or chose to retire rather than face the new district-based challenge. I'm hopeful that regular folks get a stronger voice and it's easier for fresh perspective to make it to city hall.
Three issues are key now:
Urbanism and transit. Smarter, more dense building and higher quality transit would help make Seattle a more dynamic city, make it a more affordable place to live and lessen the contribution to climate change. Unfortunately most of the political power in Seattle has backed the single-worst transportation project in memory: the downtown tunnel. Instead of replacing the existing viaduct with dramatically improved transit and making the street grid work better, it would bypass downtown with a tunnel freeway. Today the 60-year-old viaduct remains a serious risk in an earthquake and a huge opportunity has been wasted. Politicians who supported this project despite clear alternatives should be held responsible.
Homelessness. Part of building a more vibrant, urban city is taking care of each other. It's simply immoral that thousands of residents in a place as rich as Seattle lack shelter each night. The best way to end homelessness is to provide people with a home through temporary housing and long-term programs. It's dishonest for politicians to say they support more housing and then oppose land-use changes that would create more supply.
Character. My views on this issue were reinforced by my experience running for Seattle City Council under the old city-wide system in 2011. It matters if candidates stand up for their beliefs and stay intellectually consistent as they absorb new facts. Politics is a way to make positive change in the world; it shouldn't be a game. I support candidates who stand for something.
Though I moved away from Seattle a couple years ago when I joined the U.S. Foreign Service, I still own a house in Columbia City and it's still home. Here's how I'm voting:
District 2 – Tammy Morales. This is my home district. It's an area that can benefit more than most from quality development and transit that creates healthy, walkable neighborhoods. Incumbent Bruce Harrell is a reluctant follower on these issues and doesn't work hard enough to give the people of Southeast Seattle the representation they need. The Stranger got this race exactly right in its latest endorsements.
Position 8 — Jon Grant. I'm leery of Grant's skepticism of development, but not his intent. I'm willing to take a chance in order to remove incumbent Tim Burgess. During the campaign season Burgess talks a good game about urbanism but then acts differently. For example, he waved a copy of Triumph of the City at a forum with architects in 2011 but then became the most vocal champion of the tunnel. A leader would have helped the city use limited funds wisely on improved mobility — instead he doubled-down on the foolish megaproject. Meanwhile he repeatedly failed to support basic facilities for the homeless.
Position 9 — Lorena Gonzalez appears to be thoughtful on the above issues and is by far the best option in this race. Bill Bradburd opposes development and high-quality transit, using dog-whistle language to appeal to the most conservative forces in Seattle politics.
Port Commission No. 5 — Fred Felleman. I first met Felleman, a marine biologist, when he was the professional guide for my eighth-grade Whale Camp in the San Juans sponsored by the Pacific Science Center. The Port of Seattle would benefit from his intellect, clear thinking and leadership to truly become a "green" port. We need more principled leaders like him.
City Prop. 1 — YES. The $930 million "Move Seattle" levy is a chance to dramatically improve transit and mobility infrastructure across the city. It funds improvements required to finally make Mt. Baker a transit-based urban neighborhood. I wish the measure could cover more bold projects, but this is a good step.
District 1 — Shannon Braddock is the strongest choice for better development, transit and more housing in West Seattle. I'm convinced she'll also represent those who haven't benefited from Seattle's recent boom while reinforcing it.
District 3 – Kshama Sawant. Her city-wide victory over Richard Conlin in 2013 was a watershed for a more responsive council — there's no reason to backtrack now. Sawant is a solid supporter of more housing and better transit, which makes sense for the representative of the city's densest area.
District 4 — Rob Johnson is the strongest council candidate this year on transit and land use. I expect him to build coalitions and actually be able to implement better city-building and social programs from his base in NE Seattle. Michael Maddox may be close on the issues but he insults potential allies.
District 5 — Debora Juarez shows the clearest stance in favor of smart development and transit — critical for North Seattle.
District 6 — No vote. Mike O'Brien was the council's only tunnel opponent and used to be a strong backer of smart development in the city. However he has a long streak of caving on issues when politics gets tough (see his performance on Sound Transit board and backing down on density when NIMBYs in Ballard-Greenwood posed a modest threat).
District 7 — No vote. Downtown incumbent Sally Bagshaw represents passive-aggressive Seattle process more than anyone. Talk about climate change but then support a tunnel-freeway megaproject. Laud community engagement and then upend it by agreeing to a for-profit Chihuly glass museum in the middle of the Seattle Center. Hopefully a weak showing this year will inspire a stronger alternative next time.