Seattlest Voters' Guide: King County Council District No. 6 and 8

In case you've been keeping your political head under the sands of ignorance, you're well aware that there's a primary election coming 'round the bend. We at Seattlest having been giving you the low-down on this ballot's issues, candidates, and endorsements.

Which brings us to the King County Council positions. King County Council members, according to voters' guide, are charged with four tasks. They set policies and enacts laws, develop and adopt County budget, oversee County services, and of course, represent and serve the needs of the citizens.They serve four-year terms. This year we have two spots up for contention.

District No. 6 includes Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Redmond, and Yarrow Bay.

Patsy Bonincontri: Bonincontri is a sitting former Bellevue City Council member and architect who believes that "economic stability is the foundation of meeting community needs". She supports infrastructure improvements, quality of life issues like open space and environmental sustainability and investments in human capital and human services. She is the only candidate running without a party affiliation and has received no endorsements.

Richard Mitchell: Mitchell is an attorney and community activist with a background as general counsel to the Governor and member of the King County Housing Authority. He is critical of the current leadership and calls for more government accountability, fiscal responsibility, public safety and the environment. He is strong on transportation issues and supports the $20 car-tab Congestion Reduction tax. His laundry list of endorsements include the King County Democrats, Sierra Club Washington State Chapter, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, The Seattle Times editorial board, and The Stranger Election Control Board.

Jane Hague: Hague is the 17-year incumbent. Known as much for her conservative politics as her personal controversies she has repeatedly blocked tax increases to fund social services, refused to vote for the $20 car-tab and blocked cost-of-living increases. She thinks King County is "on the right track."Her endorsements include state Attorney General Rob McKenna; state Auditor Brian Sonntag; U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert; several Eastside Mayors and city council members; National Women's Political Caucus of Washington; and the King County Police Officers Guild.

John Creighton: Creighton is a business attorney and King County Port Commissioner. He wants to lower the number of seats on the Council to 7, reduce their pay to under $100,000 and is big on protecting Puget Sound from pollution. His endorsements include former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Director Bill Ruckelshaus, 32nd District Democrats, M.L. King County Labor Council, and unions representing construction workers, drivers, electrical workers and firefighters.

Bottom Line: This is going to come down to Hague and Mitchell. Reform or status quo? It's the fundamental battle in most elections, and while Hague has the support of the establishment, Mitchell's got progressive and media endorsements in spades.

District No. 8 includes West Seattle, North Highline, Vashon/Maury Islands, Burien, Normandy Park, SoDo, International District/Chinatown, Pioneer Square, West Beacon Hill, and portions of SeaTac, Tukwila and West Hill.

Diana Toledo: Toledo is a King County Enforcement Coordinator, Animal Cruelty Investigator, and Licensing Supervisor with a BA in Business. She is running on a "trim the fat" platform, and advocates eliminating departments and programs, such as the "elitist" 4Culture and the King County Ombudsman's Office, and redirecting funds to the public schools. She also wants to see Communication staff reduced in King County government to stop "sterilizing" public information. She is endorsed by multiple local business owners and animal right advocates, but no media or large organizations.

Goodspaceguy: is an amateur astronomer, economist, handyman and accountant, as well as an owner of Spaceship Earth who is "University educated in America." he wants to "stop the sabotage" of the competitive free market by implementing policies such as eliminating the minimum wage.
he also advocates for free parking, ending restriction on building height and invest in technology such as "recycling in our future orbital space colonies." He has no endorsements.

Joe McDermott: Joe McDermott is the sitting Councilmember in District No. 8. He gained his seat in a special election last November to fill the vacancy left by Dow Constantine's appointment to King County Executive. He has a M.P.A. from UW. McDermott is a straight-and-narrow candidate who advocates for the usual positions. He supports transportation (the South Park Bridge and the $20 car-tab tax are two favorites), government efficiency, small business, human services and the environment. He is endorsed by the 34th Legislative District and King County Democrats, Executive Dow Constantine, King County Labor Council; Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27; NARAL Pro-Choice Washington and The Stranger Election Control Board.

Bottom Line: This appears, in all fairness to the challengers, to be a one-horse race. And it's probably not going to be a space race.