Against the backdrop of an election year and what to do about the performing arts and conference center (PACC), the Federal Way City Council and mayor held their annual retreat.
Has the Republican Party become irrelevant? The Republican candidate for governor in the last election is among those asking.
Are you happy with our transportation system? Many businesses aren’t and believe it may be costing us jobs. Are you willing to raise your taxes to improve the system?
Last week, Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest unveiled his plan for downtown. It included a performing arts and conference center (PACC) at the former Toys-R-Us site, along with a park, open space, private retail and residential development at the old AMC Theatres location.
Since the selection of Diana Noble-Gulliford and Kelly Maloney as the two newest members of the Federal Way City Council, the level of discussion around town regarding the council’s action has increased.
Feeling their new power in the Senate, Republicans have introduced hot-button legislation on abortion, family leave and school performance.
We may have learned a lot about ourselves this past election cycle. As voters within the 30th Legislative District, we became more Democratic due to redistricting, and we generally agreed with the rest of the state on most issues.
The council takes seriously the opportunity to select a new member. Important issues will come before the council, and having members with similar views will make shaping city policy easier. But policy is frequently determined by political viewpoints and personal relationships. The chance to appoint two new members will affect the balance of the council.
Mayor Skip Priest is one of the most well known figures in town. Typically, mayors seeking a second term are difficult to beat, and Priest will be as well. But what he has accomplished, or not accomplished, as mayor may be the major news story of the year.
Rather than the Democrats controlling the state Senate, 26-23, Republicans (with the help of two conservative Senate Democrats) will be in charge, 25-24.
It will be hard to top the political drama of 2012. But it will still be an exciting year as the politics turn local.
We have reached the end of another year and election cycle. Even though many candidates are already running for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves.
Every year, human behavior provides comic relief, and some humor inadvertently sneaks into political campaigns. This was a particularly fruitful year.
I get many emails with questions, and some are also posted to The Mirror’s website. Here are a few, along with my answers.
The Port of Seattle is run by a board of five commissioners who work part time and are elected countywide. Commissioner Gael Tarleton was recently elected to the state Legislature and has announced she will resign from the board in January.
The election is over. Federal Way City Councilmembers Linda Kochmar and Roger Freeman are preparing to join the state Legislature and vacate their council seats.
The Democrats and Governor-elect Jay Inslee can thank marijuana and same-sex marriage, at least in part, for their election victory.
The 30th Legislative District is a swing district that leans Democratic. Pre-election conventional wisdom was that incumbent Asay should win, and with 14-year city council member Linda Kochmar running in the open seat, the Republicans might win both seats.
The election is over, but there will be another one. Some of you remain confused about whether you voted correctly.