| Wednesday September 8 1999 |
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Next Tuesday, Sept. 14, Seattle citizens have the opportunity to vote in the City Council primary elections. Five candidates stand out. These five candidates would all do an outstanding job protecting neighborhoods and guiding Seattle for the next four years.
Position 1: Judy Nicastro
Unlike her main opponents, Daniel Norton and Cheryl Chow, Judy Nicastro is specific when she outlines her goals for the city.
She supports light rail's Northgate extension and keeping the monorail funded.
She's not afraid to stand up for the population's neglected half, renters. Her struggle to rectify Seattle's weak rental laws is a fight for local control.
This plain talk will help to keep her accountable to citizens.
Among other endorsements, she won one from the King County Democrats. They picked her over Norton, their former leader, who lists his experience with the K.C. Dem,'s to seduce voters.
Nicastro is a lawyer, understands law and knows how to create effective legislation. She was able to get a housing bill heard in the state legislature, for example. While the bill died in committee, she pushed it far along in the process.
Position 3: Peter Steinbrueck
No good candidate thought it would be wise to run against incumbent councilmember Peter Steinbrueck. That makes deciding on Steibrueck for this race an easy choice.
Steinbrueck, an architect, chairs the council's Housing, Human Services and Civil Rights Committee. He spearheaded a city effort to reconsider the code to create more affordable housing using existing stock.
When many community members opposed his proposal to change the owner-occupancy requirement for accessory dwelling units, he listened.
He has championed civil rights by creating the Council Committee on Civil Rights to strengthen antidiscrimination laws. He also consponsored a public forum on the effects of Initiative 200 with the Seattle Human Rights Commission.
Steinbrueck is accessible. He returns calls. He tours neighborhoods with residents and responds to their concerns.
Position 5: Curt Firestone
Curt Firestone's election to the council would mean power to the people: the working class, the homeless and all others who lack a voice.
Firestone has worked in the mental health field and with nonprofits. With this experience, he is likely to know how to focus on people who are not helped by the system.
He promises to help correct the unequal distribution of wealth by funneling city money into vital social services like shelters.
Firestone was a small-business owner for 13 years. He is aware of challenges and city obstacles facing entrepreneurs.
He advocates for workers' right to choose a labor union, and has been endorsed by the King County Labor Council.
Thomas Whittemore is an activist in Ballard, where he lives. But his dedication to protecting Seattle neighborhoods and the environment extends beyond his backyard.
He served on the Ravenna Creek Alliance board, which worked to bring a submerged creek to the surface in North Seattle. This project gained support from Sen. Slade Gorton, among others, but lost support from the mayor this year.
As president of the Ballard District Council, he's worked on neighborhood planning. As a council member, he said he will remember the neighborhood's priorities when implementing parts of its plan.
Whittemore's opponents include Charlie Chong and Heidi Wills, both of who have gained substantial support during their campaigns. Chong, former council member, has made his name mostly by opposing actions. But he lacks fresh ideas and takes no active stance for improving Seattle.
Wills, though energetic and an excellent fund raiser, has experience in pushing other people's agendas, but not her own.
Right out of college, she took a job raising money for the Democratic Party. She then worked as an aide to King County Councilmember Cynthia Sullivan and to King County Executive Ron Sims.
Whittemore on the council would legitimize neighborhood planning.
A vote for Dawn Mason is crucial because she is a voice for South Seattle, neighborhoods that get run over by the city's planning efforts.
Like Firestone, Mason wants to direct money to all Seattle residents who need it.
Mason has worked with unions trying to assure equal pay for people in different jobs. Unions have endorsed her campaign for council.
She is familiar with public policy from having served as a state legislator. She also has worked for the Seattle Police Department and other city departments, which could give her the inside knowledge it takes to collaborate with bureaucrats while representing neighbors.
As a board member for Youth in Focus - a photography mentoring program for underprivileged children - and an advisor for First Place School for homeless children, she has proven her commitment to youths.
Position 7: Thomas Whittemore
Position 9: Dawn Mason
Whittemore for Seattle City Council campaign
2442 NW Market Street, No. 328, Seattle, Washington 98107
Telephone and Fax: (206) 783-7932
Return to www.Whittemore.org